“It is nicer than anything I have ever owned,” she admitted, turning around to look at herself in the mirror.
He could fail to notice the way she would grab the sides of her gown and sway it about her, as if endeavoring to dance to a music that was playing only inside of her mind, leaving the rest longing for the sound. Alexander had seen many a beautiful gown during balls in his lifetime. Usually, it was the dress that made the wearer even more beautiful. But this time, it was completely the opposite. Without Marjorie to wear it, the gown was merely a colored piece of fabric. With her in it, the gown was brought to life, as if the sun itself decided to step into it and shine through.
“Well, if you like it, then you shall certain own it,” he acknowledged. “The ball at Hallworthy Manor is held tomorrow evening, and I’m afraid that we have little time to go for another fitting for another gown. That shall be left for another ball. As for this one, I would say that we have made our choice.”
Our choice?That was a curious selection of words, even for himself. He quickly found an excuse for this manner of thinking. It had to be their choice, because everything she did from now on reflected directly upon him as well.
“How much is the gown, Madam?” Alexander addressed Mrs. Ashbury, who stood in the corner allowing the two to make up their mind regarding the dress.
“Ten pounds, my lord,” Mrs. Ashbury stated her price immediately.
“Ten pounds!” Marjorie exclaimed, glancing down at her gown as if she were only now aware of the amount it all cost. Alexander was no expert when it came to the prices of women’s clothes, but the price seemed fair and appropriate to the amount of time and effort Mrs. Ashbury put into it. “I cannot possibly afford this gown.”
“You do not need to afford it,” Alexander said, standing up. “I shall purchase it for you.”
“Out of the question,” Marjorie shook her head, looking at herself in the reflection in the mirror. “I shall simply make something myself. This is… a beautiful gown, but I could not possibly accept something so valuable as a gift.”
“Now it is my turn to say that is out of the question,” he reiterated her own words back to her. “I’m afraid that once again, you show ignorance regarding social matters, my dear.” He figured he would soften the word he used with the addition of a term of endearment, but judging from the look on her face, he failed to achieve this mission.
“I know what is expected of me,” she snarled so fervently that for a moment, it seemed to him that her red hair took on an even more fiery hue than a moment ago.
“The ton knows you,” he explained. “They do not know much about you, but they do know you exist. Father has assured of that. Now, with his death, it is only natural for people to assume that I have taken you under my wing, and everything you do and say eventually comes back to me. In other words, if you show up at the ball tomorrow evening in a poorly made gown, that is a direct comment on me as a future earl.”
“I simply do not see what a dress has to do with all this,” she frowned, but he could sense that he won this round. This was her manner of letting him know that he could get her the gown, without saying it out loud.
“Nothing, and everything,” he smiled. “But this is no time to explain. You shall see what I am referring to tomorrow evening. As for now, Mrs. Ashbury, we shall take the gown, of course. Please, have it wrapped up, and sent to Miss. Leeson’s residence.”
“Of course, my lord,” Mrs. Ashbury nodded with a smile, then led Marjorie back to the separate room, where Marjorie would change back into her plain dress.
As he waited for her to change, he could not help but think about the conversation they just had. He could think of a dozen of women who would gladly accept the gift of such a dress and would not even bat an eyelash while accepting it with gratitude. Marjorie, however, reacted exactly in the opposite manner. The offer made her feel uncomfortable. She had downright refused it. Alexander had never had a woman refuse a gift he offered her.
A sudden realization dawned on him. If she truly wished to take advantage of the situation, would she not have immediately accepted the dress? In fact, would she not demand more than just one? Alexander was a decent connoisseur of women, but this one was unlike any other he had met before. This one left him speechless with just a look, she did not even need to say anything to make him falter.
“Are you ready?”
She reappeared not even ten minutes later, her body once again wrapped up in a dress that fell unflatteringly around her, hiding what instead longed to be accentuated.
“Yes,” he said, immediately getting up, with his hat in his hand.
He felt there was something else on the tip of his tongue, like a secret that wanted to be confessed, yet when his lips parted, his nerve disappeared with his breath. He paid for the gown, much to the pleasure of Mrs. Ashburn who shared a heart-warming about his late mother when she would come to see her, all those years ago. He thanked her for that.
“Mother would be very glad to know that people remember her so fondly,” he said, feeling something tug at his heart strings, but he refused to give in to the overpowering sensation.
“She was such a sweet, tender woman,” Mrs. Ashbury nodded. “Your betrothed reminds me so much of her, you know.”
“Oh, I am not– “ Marjorie immediately spoke up, but he interrupted her.
“Thank you, Mrs. Ashbury. Good day to you,” he greeted her, then gently took Marjorie by the elbow and led her out of the store.
He was in no mood to explain to this woman the complexities of their relationship. There would be enough of that the following night. While he believed the tone generally knew of Marjorie, there would be a lot of people who had not met her in person yet, and that would need much conversation. He had to prepare himself mentally for such strain.
“I shall have my carriage take you home now,” he told her, as they headed for his carriage across the street.
She seemed to expect something else. “Will you not join me?”
“No,” he shook his head. “I have some urgent matters to attend to while in town. Phillip will assure your safe return.”
They quickly reached his carriage, when he opened the door for her, and helped her get in. He lingered for a moment again, that same sensation of needing to tell her something, something he himself did not know the nature of, yet no sound manifested itself on his lips.
