Hortense pointed toward a dress draped over the back of a chair at the opposite end of the room. “That would do.” Not impressive for a future marchioness, but no matter. She wouldn’t be one for long, she was certain of it.
Mariana’s eyes went wide with incredulity. “No, no, my dear. You arenotwearing gray on your wedding day.”
“I’m not?”
Oh, this marriage farce was truly beginning to grow legs of its own.
Mariana shot to her feet. “Lucky for you, you have me as your sister.”
Hortense wasn’t sure she felt lucky in the least as Mariana dashed across the room. “Where are you going?”
“To my carriage,” Mariana said, hand on the door handle, “to retrieve a few items, and people.”
Chapter Thirteen
People?
But Mariana was gone before Hortense could ask. She sank back in her seat. A whirlwind had swept through the room and would soon be doubling back to wreak yet more mayhem. All she could do was wait.
She glanced down at Sir Bacon, who had hopped onto the bed and was now resting his muzzle on his front paws, content to watch the proceedings from a distance. “Wise choice.”
Soon—too soon—footsteps began ascending the staircase, more than one pair. What did Mariana have planned?
The door swung open and in tromped Mariana, arms full of what appeared to be fabrics, colorful,finefabrics. “Have you turned dressmaker?”
“No, I leave that to the professionals. Today, I’m simply a delivery woman.”
It was then Hortense noticed the figure entering the room behind Mariana. Small of stature with lustrous sable hair and large dark eyes set within a face of delicate beauty that belied the steel beneath the surface, the woman swept in with great bustling energy as she settled her bags on the floor and directed the girl at her heels to do the same. “Nell,” came the woman’s soft, yet firm, Spanish accent, “retrieve the stand from the carriage.”
“Yes, Señora Galante.”
Señora Galante?Hortense had only met the woman once, but she knew her as Mrs. Eva Gardiner, the sister of Isabel Galante, who was now Lady Percival Bretagne. Hortense had met the sisters last year when Percy was helping them through a precarious family situation. Although the woman had a small child, Hortense suspected the widow story was a complete fabrication.
“Señora Galante is one of the owners of Galante: Dressmakers Extraordinaire and has graciously agreed to work up a bride’s dress for you on short notice,” explained Mariana.
Hortense met Señora Galante’s eye. “We are acquainted.”
Mariana’s brow furrowed. “Acquainted?”
“We were briefly introduced at Gardencourt Manor last summer,” the dressmaker replied, “And you must call me Eva.”
Mariana smiled in understanding, the air suddenly ripe with the events of a late June day. A shadow crossed Eva’s face, but in the next moment, she was squaring her shoulders. At once, it was clear she would be taking charge. Her assistant stomped into the room, a little out of breath, carrying a large, circular stool. “Where should I put this?”
Eva pointed toward the room’s single window, coated with the dust of a few dozen years. “There will have to do.” Clearly, the woman was none too impressed with Hortense’s abode.
She contained a snort. Her lodgings were functional and clean. Her domestic skills didn’t extend any further.
“Well, if everyone is settled, I must away,” said Mariana, slipping her fingers into her kidskin gloves. “The headmistress of Lavinia’s school has called for an emergency meeting of the board of directors, which consists of myself and my sister. Apparently, the school’s French cook is being too French. Mrs. Bloomquist’s words.” She shrugged. “What time shall I send the carriage for you, Eva?”
All business, the woman consulted the silver timepiece hanging from a chain at her waist. “One hour hence.”
Mariana tossed a wink toward Hortense and exited the room.
“Nell,” said Eva, “please move the mirror to the window as well.” As the girl set about her task, Eva gestured toward Hortense. “And you,” she began, “disrobe.”
Hortense blinked. She wasn’t sure what she’d expected to emerge from the woman’s mouth, but it wasn’t that. “Entirely?”
“Of course,” Eva replied, absently, the majority of her attention concentrated on removing the tools of her trade from the various bags strewn about the room.
