Alex shook his head.“No, let them call you whatever you wish.You carry yourself with the grace of a duchess.They’ll know you are one whether you toss the title at them or not.You look very pretty, by the way.”
She blushed and glanced down at her gown.“The color of this muslin is incredibly beautiful, isn’t it?The dye is Venetian blue and comes from the indigo plant.The intensity of the color is enhanced by mixing the indigo with other sources of blue, such as minerals like lapis lazuli, and did you know that snails also emit a blue dye?”
He laughed.“Seriously?”
“Yes.The ancient Egyptians cultivated this snail.The Romans also had snails, but theirs exuded a purple dye, one that was quite rare and expensive.Which is how the European monarchs chose purple as the color for their royal robes.It became a symbol of wealth and power.Commoners could be killed for wearing that color.Even wearing a small square of it could be viewed as a treasonous threat to a ruling monarchy.”
“Fascinating,” he said and actually meant it.
She smiled.“Isn’t it?I love to hear my uncles speak about the science and history of their fabrics.I think this is why their Farthingale cloths stand apart from the rest and are so popular.They seek out the unusual, the best weaves and the rarest dyes.They will not accept just anything.Uncle Rupert picked up these vibrant muslins along with some exquisite silks and velvets on his last trip to Italy.”
“Ah, yes.I’ve heard a little about those silks, in particular.They do not actually come from Italy, do they?”
Tulip nodded.“Some do, but most are brought along the Silk Road from China and make their way to the Continent.Several centuries ago, the European traders discovered the secret of making silk and smuggled silkworms out of China in the hope of creating the fabric here.But there must have been more to the process because the Europeans still have not figured out how to create the same luminous shine to the fabric.”
Alex grinned.“I’m surprised your uncles do not take you on their buying trips.You seem to know as much as they do about their merchandise.”
“Oh, I’ve only learned this recently.It is one thing London has to offer that is unmatched anywhere else in England.The wealth of scholarly information available just about any day of the week and only a short carriage ride away.I attended so many interesting lectures at the Royal Society, the British Museum, and the Huntsford Academy.I particularly loved the Huntsford lectures and their exhibit hall, especially the Hall of Dragons.I got a special after-hours tour because I was friendly with Adela, Syd, and Gory,” she said, referring to the wives of the Thorne brothers.
Alex knew the Thornes had built the Huntsford Academy to honor their father who was a noted naturalist and admirer of all the sciences.It was a family undertaking and their bluestocking wives were heavily involved.“I enjoyed the lectures, too.Unfortunately, I was too busy solving crimes to attend many that I would have loved to hear,” he admitted.
“Uncle Rupert used to travel the world and has so many exciting stories to tell.But he confines his trips mostly to Italy and Greece now.Uncle George’s son, William, is the one who takes the more adventurous journeys along the ancient trading routes through Samarkand, the Himalayas, and on to China.”
“Is William as clever as his father?”
“Oh, yes.The men in my family are all very smart.”
“The ladies, too,” he said.“I clearly saw that, especially in you.”
Tulip appeared surprised.“You did?”
“Oh, yes.It was obvious in the liveliness of your eyes.You have no idea how excruciating it can be when trying to make conversation with someone who looks back at you with vapid eyes.If I try to broach any topic that is remotely intellectual, they look at me as though I am talking gibberish.”
“Oh, that is awful.”
He winced.“Excruciating, as I said.But do go on, you were telling me about the Farthingale fabrics.”
She laughed.“And you find this topic fascinating?”
He nodded.“Yes, I do.”
Mostly, he enjoyed hearing Tulip speak.
She had an inquisitive mind and was smarter than she gave herself credit for.But this was most likely because going about in Society was difficult for her.The false facades, schemes, and manipulations were not suited to her temperament.
They weren’t suited to his, either.
Nor did he have any patience for gentlemen like Lord Caruthers who took pride in never doing anything worthwhile, and yet, felt themselves worthy above all others.
“My uncles used to send me bolts of their prettiest cloths and I would sew gowns for myself and my aunt.The Italian velvets are my favorite, I think.The colors are so striking, the deep reds and dark greens.The exquisite blacks and these magnificent blues.And they are so soft and warm.Of course, once I arrived here, none of my gowns would do.”
“Why not?”
She grinned.“You are no London dandy, are you?My gowns were stylish enough for Somerset but never the height of fashion.They would never pass muster here in London.”
“I doubt any man would care or notice the difference,” he said with a snort.“We look at the girl, not at what she is wearing.Forgive me if I sound crude, but let this come as a warning to you.A man’s object is to get the girloutof the gown, not just stand around and admire her in it.”
She blushed.“I assume this is what Caruthers meant to do.”
