“I appreciate it greatly,” Philip replied. “I must say, I will not rush your daughter, but I do see a future with her. However, there is something that I must ask of you.”
“Certainly, Your Grace. Anything.”
“You cannot tell her, nor can you tell Lady Elizabeth, as she would be too quick to tell her sister about all of it. I cannot have that happen as yet. I do not want her to feel pressured into marrying me out of gratitude.”
He knew that he and Jackie had already discussed it, but he also knew that Jackie thought duty to be one of the most importantthings for her to uphold. He could not have her feel as though her hand was being forced, not when he felt so close to falling for her completely.
Her father nodded, his smile still on his face.
“You have my word. I shall keep this between the two of us, and when you believe the time is right, remember that you need not ask me a second time if you can take my daughter as your wife. There is nobody in this world more deserving of her than yourself.”
With that, Philip was left alone once more to contemplate all that had happened, not least of all that, when all was said and done, he would be out in society again sooner than he had thought.
Chapter 20
It was only a ball, yet it would be one of the most important nights of Jackie’s life.
She was sure of it as she wandered from shop to shop with Elizabeth and the Dowager Duchess. It had been at the latter’s insistence, of course, but this time Jackie did not feel as much guilt as she had done the first time.
“Now, girls,” the Dowager explained, “if it were up to me, the two of you would have chosen the designs for the gowns yourselves, but given how preoccupied the two of you have been, I thought it might be best if I handled the matter myself.”
“That was most thoughtful of you,” Jackie smiled. “And my sister and I shall adore whatever it is that you have chosen for us.”
“Here is hoping!”
As they entered the shop, the seamstress was nowhere to be seen, but they could hear a rather sharp tone coming from nearby, one that Jackie had come to recognize all too well. They approached the voices, and even though Jackie did not want to listen in, she could not help herself.
“You cannot expect me to pay that much!” Ophelia thundered. “If you believe your work to be of that quality, then you are quite mistaken. Why, I have half a mind to tell my father of this behavior.”
“You are the only customer of mine that takes issue with the price,” she replied gently. “Perhaps, if I am more than what you can afford, you might wish to try Madame Dupont.”
“I cannot use her! Her fashions are more akin to what my grandmother might have worn.”
As she said this, she turned to Jackie, looking her in the eye before flushing scarlet.
“Never mind,” she said quietly. “The price is not in question. Do what you must with the gown, for I simply must be perfect.”
“If that is what you want.” The seamstress nodded, turning her back and walking away.
Ophelia then strode over with a bright smile, as if they had not heard the commotion that she had caused.
“Good afternoon, how are you all?”
“We are well,” Elizabeth said shortly. “We are here for a fitting for our gowns, and yourself?”
Jackie nudged her sharply.
“Well,” Ophelia said slowly, as if trying to think of what to say. “I had the perfect gown for the ball, but it is from a few years ago now, and so I thought it best to bring it here to be fixed.”
“Why not purchase another gown?” The Dowager Duchess asked, and Jackie wondered if she had not heard the exchange between Ophelia and the seamstress.
“I did not wish to have too many gowns. It is far better to appreciate something you already have than to go chasing after something new, I believe.”
Jackie tried not to scoff—could Lady Ophelia hear the words as she spoke?
The three ladies seemed to simply blink at her, as if lost for words, before Elizabeth cleared her throat.
“I shall go first,” she said brightly. “Might you come and give me your opinion, Your Grace?”
