Page 29 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“Say no more. Once we are in London, you and your sister will have several appointments to attend and each of you will have a proper wardrobe made for the coming season.”
“Oh, thank you!” Katrina said.
Just then, Holly returned. Glancing between her sister and Gavin, her expression grew suspicious.
“There wasn’t any issue with the laundry, my lord,” she said. She looked at Katrina. “Why do you look so pleased?”
“Oh, no reason,” her sister said, unable to completely hide her own smile.
Chapter Seven
Lady Violet Wintersarrived at Kingston House two days before the house’s departure for London. The dark-haired beauty, who had led a very privileged life, had surprised Holly in many ways, but then she did recall Clara’s letters, stating that while Violet could be prone to dramatics, she possessed an overall genuine and kind soul. Katrina had taken an instant liking to her, and they became fast friends.
With Katrina’s debut set for mid-May, Holly hoped to have begun reconstructing some of her old gowns herself while still at Kingston House, but found Gavin insisting that they leave for London at once.
“It’ll be better if we leave tomorrow instead of next week,” he said one morning to Holly over breakfast. “The sooner we arrive, the better.”
“I suppose so. This way Mrs. O’Kirk will be able to begin the task of stripping gowns herself, as opposed to me starting to do so.”
“There’s no need,” Gavin said, leaning back from his empty plate. “There are plenty of fabric stores in London.”
Sticking his hand in the breast pocket of his coat, he pulled out a small sweet, unwrapped it from its parchment paper, and popped it into his mouth. It was something that Holly had become accustomed to. After every meal, he would reach for one of his candies.
“There may be,” Holly said. “But we haven’t the capital.”
“My uncle made it very clear in his will that you should have all that you needed for Katrina’s season, Holly. I’m sure that included clothing.”
Holly opened her mouth to argue, but she wasn’t sure why she would. Katrina would fare far better in newly made gowns, and Holly had far fewer qualms about accepting assistance when it came to what was best for her sister.
“Very well. Katrina will have a few new gowns made.”
“You will as well.”
Holly as she frowned at Gavin. Why would she need anything new?
“I’m in mourning.”
“Mourning is reserved for parents, spouses, siblings and the like,” Gavin said, flipping the candy in his mouth with his tongue. “Not uncle-in-laws.”
“John was my friend.”
“And by the time Katrina makes her debut it will have been three months since his passing, more than an appropriate amount of time for a friend to have put off mourning.”
Holly bristled. She wouldn’t be dictated to by Gavin, even if he did make a valid point. It didn’t matter. She would mourn for as long as she wanted.
“Thank you for the offer, but I really must insist on keeping my dresses as they are.”
A slight, annoyed frown crossed Gavin’s lips as he gazed back down at his paper, and though he didn’t speak, Holly understood that their conversation was far from over.
“Where in London will we be staying?” Katrina asked, her cheerful tone sounding a little forced. Holly assumed she was trying to break the tension. “I’m terribly frightened. I’ve never been to London before.”
Gavin’s head lifted; his brow scrunched together as if she had spoken in an unknown language.
“Excuse me? What do you mean you’ve never been to London?”
“Just that,” Katrina said, glancing at Holly. “We’ve never been.”
Gavin followed her gaze, and Holly felt her cheeks warm.
