Page 39 of Five Nights with a Rakish Duke
“Because I want to see you smile.” Adam’s words made her look back to him, revealing the smile he had sought so much. “There it is.” She giggled and lifted the locket to her neck.
“Help me put it on?” she asked. He nodded and took the locket from her, draping the jewelry around her throat until the clasp was fastened behind her neck. “What do you think?” She turned back to face him, looking for approval.
“It is quite perfect,” he answered, smiling at her as his eyes flicked up to meet her own.
“You are so kind to me, cousin,” she said then jumped to her feet. She hurried across the hallway until she reached the mirror and stood in front of it, moving the loose locks of hair over her shoulders so that she could have a better view of the locket.
It was beautiful indeed, and it must have cost a fair amount to acquire it.
“Adam, this is so kind of you,” she said softly. “You really didn’t need to buy this.”
“I know I didn’t need to, but I wanted to,” he said, appearing behind her in the mirror. “And that is not the only surprise for today.”
“There’s another?” Penelope asked, looking to him in the reflection to see him bending down to whisper in her ear.
“I can’t tell you that, or it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it? Ask your maid to bring your pelisse. We’re heading out.”
“What about Margaret?” Penelope asked.
“She wishes to practice her piano a little more, so this is a surprise purely that you and I can enjoy.”
Penelope smiled and hurried to fetch her maid.
* * *
“Adam, where are we?” Penelope asked as the carriage door opened, and Adam offered his hand, helping her down out of the coach.
“Bond Street,” he said in answer. As Penelope’s feet touched the cobbled path, she looked up and down the street around them. It was a busy day. With the road lined in seamstress shops, tailors, and modiste’s establishments, there barely seemed to be a path of road that was unoccupied. Gentlemen were wandering to and fro, escorting young ladies to their destinations, whilst footmen followed on behind, carrying bags and boxes to be taken home.
Penelope felt Adam take her hand again, just like the other couples in the street, and lead her toward one shop in particular.
“Madame Gerard’s?” Penelope said as she looked at the shop front. “She is just about the most expensive modiste in town, Adam! What are we doing here?”
“Ha! Can you let me reveal the surprise properly to you first?” he laughed, towing her inside.
The shop was full of the most elegant materials. Some silks draped the walls, others were wrapped up in bolts on tables, and a few even hung down from the ceiling. The effect was like walking into someone’s sewing box, all-encompassing and quite enigmatic.
Penelope let Adam lead her past some of the other young ladies in the shop who were perusing the materials until they reached the far point of the shop where Madame Gerard was just finishing up with another customer.
“Care to explain now?” Penelope teased, elbowing Adam for good measure and pulling a smile from him.
“The last new gown you had was your mourning weeds,” he said pointedly, making the smile momentarily falter from her face. “Oh no, keep that smile in place, for I am determined to correct that now. You are to have a new gown.”
“What gown?” she asked.
“Any that you would like,” he replied and turned to the modiste.
“Ah, Lord Larson, you are right on time,” Madame Gerard said as she pointed to the clock on the wall. Hearing that Adam had made the appointment in advance made Penelope flinch in surprise. This was hardly a spur of the moment thing, with the gift of the locket and now a new dress. He must have purchased the locket and made the appointment a few days in advance.
Why is he doing this?
“What can I do for you today?” Madame Gerard asked.
“It is for my cousin, Lady Penelope,” Adam said, pulling Penelope forward a little. “I would like to purchase a new gown for her. Any material that she wants, any style, no matter how expensive.”
“Adam!” Penelope said, flicking her head toward him in surprise. She wished to urge him caution. After how he had proved he had no qualms about gambling her father’s money away, she had no wish to see him spend it all either, even if it was on gifts, but it was hardly the time for such words when they were in the middle of a shop.
“It is a gift, Penelope, and I wish you to enjoy it,” Adam said with feeling and pushed her a little more toward the modiste again. “Anything you like.”
