“Thank you,” Addie whispered. “Sometimes, on set, I worry about tumbling over with the corset and small bustle. I think about the character—and about me—having to fight someone or run, and I thinksomeoneought to talk to the studio. You know there was a very popular show that did away with corsets?”
Toni nodded. “I’ll talk to the producer. The last thing I want isanywoman being limited, especially on a show for my book.”
They walked into the foyer where the woman waiting, Lady Dove, smiled at them. “Well, aren’t you just a picture!” She held up a mobile phone. “May I?”
“Only if you send us both copies,” Addie said firmly. “There were contracted terms about photography, as I’m sure you recall. Only preauthorized photography of anyone involved in the show.” She flashed a smile that softened her words, but only just. The sternness was still there even as she added, “You and the second Lady Dove ought to have signed the paperwork the studio sent over. Every guest shouldalsohave done so with their reservation. Have they?”
Her smile implied thatshehad no voice in the matter, that she was relatable and understood how difficult they were. Toni shot her an admiring gaze. Like Em, Addie had a way of managing people that seemed so natural.
Maybe I ought to ask for pointers there.
A few photos later, Toni summarized the room situation. She ended with, “I think Miss Stewart was shown to the wrong suite.”
“That was Nelly, my sister. The other Lady Dove,”thisLady Dove explained calmly, hands folded over her belly like a statue. “The note said that there was a person coming about the book, but your publisher only reserved the one room, Darbyshire.”
“Where am I to go?” Addie’s far-too-blue eyes filled with tears.
“The rest of the manor is full,” Lady Dove pointed out. “They failed to communicate—”
“Yes, I suspect there was a miscommunication,” Toni said, already mentally spinning the idea of their shared quarters as simply practicality. She couldn’t exactly have the star of the show left sleeping on the billiards table or somewhere else.
As if I’d allow that.
“No worries, Lady Dove. Miss Stewart can take my bed. I can sleep on the floor or a cot or something,” Toni cut in. As far as she was concerned, the matter was solved.
Addie’s hand tightened on Toni’s arm, but she remained silent, seeming content to let Toni resolve matters.
Toni, obviously, had no intention of sleeping anywhere other than at Addie’s side, but there were still appearances to consider.
“That simply won’t do,” Lady Dove said with a shake of her head.
“I can go to a hotel and travel back and forth or something,” Addie offered.
“Hush.” Toni patted Addie’s hand.
“Darbyshire,” Lady Dove murmured softly. “I assume you will introduce Miss Stewart as your intended bride if you’ll be sharing a room. Cape Dove Manor is not the place for inappropriate acts, and as you are not dressed as a woman—”
“She is! Women can wear trousers!” Addie interrupted with a scowl, eyes flashing, finger suddenly shaking like a furious governess. In a blink, the meek woman who had waited for Toni to handle things was gone. In her place was a fierce do-not-cross woman.
“Do you haveanyidea how many women actually wore split skirts?” Addie demanded.
Lady Dove nodded toward Toni. “Thatis not a split skirt, and respectable women do not wear suits in the Victorian era.” In a voice that was not open to negotiation, Lady Dove added, “We make allowances for those who would have had Boston marriages. Darbyshire has a valet and is wearing trousers. I don’t care what you have inside your drawers. To each her own, I say,butyou cannot be the sort whocompromiseswomen and share a room with a woman.”
“But it’s notactuallythe 1800s!” Addie retorted, releasing Toni’s arm and stepping closer to the older woman.
“It is in this house.” Lady Dove’s chin tilted like she was ready for a fight.
“So I should call the studio?” Addie said in a tone that sounded exactly like the threat it was.
And Toni was torn between the thought of bad press—which could hurt Addie—and the fact that Addie had defended Toni. It made something in Toni’s chest tighten in unfamiliar ways.
Foolishly, Toni offered, “Let’s have a wedding for the guests then.Turn the inconvenience into something fun.” She tucked Addie’s hand back in the crook of her arm. “That way there’s no hint of impropriety this weekend.”
Lady Dove smiled widely. “That’s acapitalidea. We do have a reverend on the grounds.”
“Toni?” Addie whispered.
“This is fine, love.” Toni patted Addie’s hand where it again rested on Toni’s arm. “The guests will be happy to participate. Lady Dove? Would you mind terribly if we imposed on the houseguests for an impromptu wedding? It would be a lovely chance for photographs, pending studio and publisher permissions, of course!” When Lady Dove agreed, Toni smiled wider and then added, “I know my lovely bride was not prepared, though. Is there a veil of some sort? A coronet of flower blossoms for her hair?”
