To that end, he was dressed in formal livery, the stark black and white garb fitting his tall, muscular frame to perfection. He was the epitome of virile grace, the snowy folds of his cravat emphasizing his clean-cut handsomeness. The gleam behind his wire frames caused her insides to flush with heat.
“Let’s ’ave a look at you.” Dressed in an emerald silk banyan, a matching tasseled cap on his head, Grandfather made a twirling motion with his finger.
Tessa did an obedient spin. Made of champagne-colored velvet, the gown was cutà la mode: the neckline was low and off the shoulders, the bodice fitted, the skirts full. Ermine trimmed the décolletage and elaborate sleeves, and fur had also been sewn to the back of the dress to resemble a short tail.
She thought the costume was beautifully made. There was only one potential problem.
“Ain’t you a pretty kitty?” Grandpapa said with approval.
Drat.When Mama had first seen the costume, she’d also assumed Tessa was dressed up as a cat. Which meant that Tessa’s clever idea was missing the mark entirely.
Why, she thought sulkily,would anyone think I’d go as something as mundane as a cat? And then take such lengths to keep my costume secret?
“I don’t think Miss Todd is a cat, sir.” Bennett’s deep voice held a hint of humor.
“With those ears, fur, and a tail, what else would she be?” Grandpapa demanded.
Bennett’s eyes smiled at her. “I believe she is a ferret. Her favorite animal.”
Andthatis why I love him. No one had ever understood her like Bennett did.
She beamed at him, and his lips twitched.
Her grandfather glowered at her. “God’s teeth, Tessie, you could ’ave chosen any animal you wanted, and you’re going to a duke’s ball dressed as a bloodyrodent?”
She glowered right back. “First of all, ferrets aren’t rodents—”
“That’s enough,” Mavis called from the chaise. “Tessa, we don’t require a lecture on ferrets. Father, everyone will mistake her for a cat, so don’t worry about it.”
Grandfather snorted; Tessa rolled her eyes.
After a moment, he said with a grunt, “Your costume’s missing something.”
“Obviously. Since only Bennett recognized that I’m a ferret.”
Grandpapa raised his gaze heavenward before reaching into the pocket of his banyan and pulling out a small velvet box. “Been waiting for the right time to give you this. Belonged to your grandmama, one o’ ’er most prized possessions. She would ’ave wanted you to ’ave it.”
Tessa dropped any pretense of being miffed as she reverently took the box from Grandpapa. Even though she’d never met her grandmother, she’d heard countless tales of the other’s beauty, courage, and virtue. Althea Bourdelain Black was the stuff oflegend.
“What is it?” Tessa breathed.
“Open it, and you’ll see.”
With hands that trembled, she lifted the lid. Her throat cinched at the sight of the familiar, heart-shaped ruby framed in gold. Small but distinctive, it was the pendant Althea wore in her portrait. In real life, the ruby had even more fire. When Tessa turned it over, she saw words engraved in the gold.
To A. B. The Pride of a Family.
“Oh, Grandpapa,” she said tremulously, “how Grandmama must have cherished this gift from you. I’ll strive to be worthy of it.”
“I didn’t give Althea that necklace or the matching ring. Both were from ’er family.”
Tessa looked at Mama, who’d worn the ruby ring for as long as she could recall; the other, too, looked surprised.
“I always thought you gave Mama these jewels, Father,” Mavis said.
A misty, faraway look entered Grandpapa’s eyes. “When Althea made ’er choice to be my wife, it weren’t without sacrifices. The Bourdelains came from noble stock and refused to forgive Althea for marrying beneath ’er. Not only did they disown ’er, they wouldn’t let ’er see ’er younger brother. She adored the lad. A few years later, she discovered ’e’d died, and she ne’er got to say goodbye. For years, the sight o’ those rubies brought tears to ’er eyes.”
Tessa’s chest ached at the tragic tale. “Poor Grandmama.”
