Page 27 of A Naughty Proposal for His Winter Countess
“I think it would be the other way around,” Harriet said dryly. “If a man had called off on a wedding twice, that would be a sign to leave.”
Antony gave her hand another squeeze, “I’ll respect your promise to him, but when you face him again, find a way to tactfully ask about his mother.”
His mother? What does that have to with a curse?
Anxiety began to mount inside Harriet at his words—but she made sure not to show it and nodded. “I will. Good night, My Lord.”
“You too, Dear,” Antony replied, pulling her into a small hug. “Everything will be all right, I promise.”
When he left, Harriet stared down at the keys for a moment, then stood and tightened her robe. She went to her room, wrapped, in a haze of worry.
There was a scandal about his mother? Good heavens.
* * *
The following afternoon, Harriet accompanied Daniel and Emma to a costume shop situated on Bond Street. A tiny silver bell tinkled overhead as they entered, and soon, an assistant dressed in stately gray came to greet them.
“Good afternoon, My Lord and Lady, I’m Erasmus Dunn; may I be of assistance?” he asked.
After Daniel introduced them, making sure they understood that she was his betrothed, Harriet untied her bonnet. “Lord Carrington referred us,” she said. “He says you’re the best in the hand-crafted costume business.”
“For men, yes, Miss Bradford,” Mr. Dunn replied, removing the half-moon spectacles from his face. “My wife handles the ladies.”
“Do you have a collection of fashion plates to peruse?” Harriet requested. “My Lord is a little unsure about what he would like.”
Mr. Dunn nodded and produced some plates while leading them to a waiting room, quaint with gilt chairs, and a thick carpet.
“Please alert me when you’re ready,” he bowed.
A wide bow window let the afternoon sunlight into the shop, bathing everything in a mellow glow, while they sat and began going over the plates.
“Such a quaint place,” Emma remarked, while she sat, folding the mound of voluminous skirts under her. “I’ll visit here in the future.”
Harriet sat near to Daniel with the stacks of fashion plates between them.
“Oh, this looks nice,” Harriet noted, pointing to a gypsy costume. “Very eye catching.”
“If you mean, diaphanous and reveling like a Cyprian, yes,” Daniel said dryly. “I hardly think that is what your sisters would like to see you in.”
“Hm,” Harriet took three other plates. “Shepherdesses, Orange Girls, ooh, Circassians,that looks very nice, very royal.”
Plucking up the male version, Daniel canted his head to the side, “The dagger and sword additions look nice.”
“We’re agreed then?” Harriet said, “We’ll be Circassians?”
“You’ll be a royal, and I’ll be your loyal slave-guard,” Daniel replied, lightly, “armed with a sword and dagger.”
Stacking the plates, Harriet handed them to Daniel, “Alert Mister Dunn for us, please.”
He went off, and while watching him go, Harriet wondered how she could broach the topic of his mother.
“We have a little wait for the fitting rooms,” he said while nodding to the lady. “Thank you.”
Reaching for the offered cup, Harriet poured a dash of milk into her tea. “How was last night for you? After you went home, I mean.”
“Nothing much to speak of,” Daniel said, while leaning back into his seat and cocking his head on his fist, “I went home to an empty house and reports to look over. It’s so empty I’m considering getting a pet, dogs are good, but they take a lot of work, and cats are imperious. A bird, perhaps?”
Harriet felt excited, “A parrot! No, a popinjay. Songbirds! A macaw!”
