Page 35 of Married to the Icy Duke
She gestured to a mannequin, and Charlotte rose to inspect it further, resolutely putting all thoughts of Isaac and his incomprehensible ways aside.
It was a very fine dress, nowhere near as flouncy and showy as she had expected. It was a dull burgundy color, which she did not much like, but the cut of the gown was remarkably shapely. The neckline dipped around the collarbone, skimming the tops of the shoulders. The bodice rippled with sequins, almost like fish scales, and tightened around the waist only to flare out again in layers of silk and petticoats.
“It’s beautiful,” Charlotte admitted. “Do you have it in other colors?”
“Of course. What is your favorite color, my lady?”
She thought for a moment. “I rather like blue. An almost greenish shade, if you understand what I mean?”
Behind her, Tommy appeared to be wriggling around. When Charlotte turned, she saw that he was trying to get off Mary’s knee.
“Let him cover here,” she said. “He wants to see the dress.”
Mary nodded and released him. Tommy came trundling over to where Charlotte stood, beaming up at her. She crouched beside him, impulsively placing a kiss on his cheek.
“Isn’t it pretty?” she whispered.
He nodded eagerly, reaching out to touch the material. Suddenly nervous, Charlotte grabbed his hand, aware that his fingers must be sticky after those candied fruits.
“No need to be concerned, my lady,” Madame interjected quietly. “We areverygood at cleaning fabric here.”
Smiling gratefully up at her, Charlotte released Tommy’s hand, letting him touch the fabric.
“We’re going to get this fabric in blue,” Charlotte whispered. “Do you like blue?”
He paused, pushing out his lip, considering. A shake of the head.
“Hm. Well, how about another color? How about green?”
His eyes lit up, and he nodded.
Charlotte glanced up at Madame and smiled. “Could I try on this gown in green, if you please?”
Madame’s eyes flashed with amusement.
“At once, your ladyship.”
Isaac was not enjoying himself.
Sybella had suggested that he leave the wedding dress shopping to the ladies, but could not stop thinking about what Charlotte had said to him the previous night, regarding the time he spent with Tommy.
“No, not if you have time to spare. You must make time. This is important, Isaac.”
She was right; that was the rub of the matter. He knew, in a begrudging sort of way, that he wasnotmaking his time with Tommy a priority. Of course, there were other duties which demanded his time, but if he were honest with himself—and lying to oneself was always a waste of time—Isaac knew that he often looked for excuses to avoid seeing Tommy.
After all, every interaction was a harsh reminder that he was not succeeding in drawing his nephew out of his shell, that he was failing his brother once more, and that Tommy wasnotthriving.
Better to avoid the child, and then he could blame the nursemaids.
Except, of course, Charlotte did not seem to entertain that excuse at all.Shehad placed the responsibility for Tommy’s wellbeing where it belonged—directly upon Isaac’s shoulders.
He rolled his shoulders as if to shift the burden. It would not be budged, not even an inch.
So, he was determined to come out with them today. Perhaps this would make Tommy see his uncle as less fearsome than before. Perhaps.
So far, Tommy appeared to be enjoying himself. He scampered around the modiste’s receiving room, adored by all, full of candied fruits and whatnot, and clearly enthralled with all the colors and textures at his disposal. He was free with his smiles, even bestowing a few on Isaac.
It made Isaac’s heart leap when his little nephew came up to him and beamed like that. It made him feel as though somehow, miraculously, he was succeeding at raising the child.
