Page 72 of The Duke's Indecent Match
“The dogs will be out in the kennel, and Telemachus rarely leaves the house other than to go in the garden.”Hereford shrugged.“Their paths should not cross.”
“Until Fiona crosses them,” Emma muttered quietly beside Kalina, quietly enough that neither of her siblings appeared to have heard.
Kalina made a mental note to find a way to keep an eye on Fiona.She was not old enough for a lady’s maid, but she could certainly use some kind of governess… one who was very good with animals.
Fiona came skipping back into the room, effectively ending that conversation and returning it to the more important one of shopping.At first, silently eating, Kalina listened to the sisters discussing what kind of dresses they might get, only to find herself drawn into the discussion as they began to ask her about the current fashions in London.
At the head of the table, Hereford stayed silent, listening attentively.Did he think she would steer his sisters wrong?She hoped he did not think that lowly of her character.
Though if he did, she could hardly blame him.
The others were finished with their meals before her, having started so much earlier.The three sisters dispersed to go ready themselves for the trip, chattering happily.Kalina looked at her husband, who was also finished but far too polite to leave her at the table alone.At least he felt she was due that much courtesy.
Looking at him, she could not help but feel the heat rising in her cheeks again.Now that they were here, she was glad that he had come to her in the darkness.It had given the experience a dreamlike quality.One that helped separate it from the cold man she now faced.If she’d actually seen him as he’d touched her…
But she had not.
“They will likely need more than gowns,” she said quietly, because she did not know what else to say to him.She was not going to bring up the previous night, after all.Everything in their past only touched on the sore topic of how she’d become his wife.His sisters were safe.
“What?”He blinked, looking at her for the first time and meeting her gaze.
Kalina’s heart leapt up into her throat as his hazel eyes locked with hers, but she managed to keep speaking.
“They will likely need more than gowns.They’ll need small clothes.Possibly nightgowns.”She hesitated, but pushed on because she had a feeling that he had not thought beyond the immediately obvious since that was all he’d stated.His sisters might be loath to press for more, but that was what they needed.“Hats and bonnets.Gloves.Fiona’s shoes appear to pinch her feet.”
Hereford sat for a moment, his expression blanking.Not as if he was angry, but as though he was running through a tally in his head of what it would cost.She had a feeling that was second nature to him.
Having seen the state of Hereford Hall, she was no longer as sure that her dowry would cover all necessary debts and repairs, yet his sisters needed to be properly outfitted.She was also not sure of his relationship with the local shops.The ones in London would continue to cater to thetonon credit, but eventually, even they would close their doors for nonpayment.
“I do not have enough ready cash, but as long as they do not opt for anything extravagant, the local shops should be willing to extend the credit.They know we would not ask for it if we did not think we could fulfill it.”
Kalina nodded, relieved that he had not taken umbrage at her comment and that she would not have to announce that it would be two gowns each in order to afford the rest of the necessities.
Now that her plate was cleared, her husband moved his chair back.
“If you will excuse me, I need to spend the day going over the accounts.”
“Of course,” she said, getting to her feet so he could as well.
“Madam.”He nodded his head in acknowledgment, turning and striding from the room.Kalina felt her heart sink as she watched him go.
She understood why, but she’d hoped…
It appeared that last night had not earned her any softening of his attitude toward her.
Nathanial
The clatter of a carriage arriving outside drew Nathanial from his desk to the window to watch his sisters and wife exit the house along with her lady’s maid.Even from a distance, the difference in their dress was obvious.His wife looked every inch a duchess, in a dark rose gown that was the height of London fashion and adorned with intricate lace in unusual patterns and a matching hat perched smartly on top of her head.His sisters… the material that made up Julianna’s dress was far finer than that of Emma’s or Fiona’s, but it was so far out of fashion, it was clearly too old to be hers.His wife’s lady’s maid was better dressed.
They will have new dresses by the end of the day.
He blew out a long, slow breath.
At some point, he would also need to make his way to his tailor.
He was grateful that his wife had pointed out there were more than gowns to consider.Nathanial was not certain what state the girls’ small clothes were in, and he would not have thought to ask.Julianna and Emma would certainly need new underthings to go with their dresses, as fashion demanded.
Watching his wife and sisters get into the Earl of Harrington’s carriage, he imagined a day—not too far from now—when they would get into a carriage bearing the Hereford coat of arms and not the Harrington’s.A carriage very much like the one he’d traveled in with his parents when he was younger.Back when he’d thought his father could do no wrong.
