The glass was emptied in two gulps. 'I swear, my lord, that if you ask me to be involved in such an enterprise again that I will hand in my notice.'
'I asked you to oversee the arrival of the seamstress – how could that simple instruction have caused you such distress?'
'So many young ladies, two of them chitter-chattering, contradicting, complaining, giggling and the others flirting. I doubt that I'll ever recover from such an experience.'
James felt a soupçon of unease. If his wards had already caused so much upset to his normally phlegmatic secretary then his well-ordered life might be at an end.
'You're talking in riddles. Tell me in simple language exactly who upset you and in what way.'
Smithers had removed a handkerchief from his jacket and was mopping his face in a somewhat dramatic fashion. 'Miss Sinclair needs no new ensembles but insisted on being present. She and Miss Colette were at daggers drawn the entire time, disagreeing about everything. At first Miss Brotherton did her best to smooth things over but then removed herself from the room and left them to it.
'Let me understand this, Smithers. Are you telling me that you remained whilst the young ladies were measured for the new gowns?'
His grasp of horror at the very idea reassured James that nothing untoward had taken place. 'This was before anything of that. They were merely looking at fashion plates, examining samples of materials, looking at magazines trying to make up their minds.'
'As Miss Sinclair has no need for new garments, I cannot see why there should be any argument with Miss Colette. Kindly elucidate – make it brief for God's sake.'
'That's the thing, my lord. Everything that was selected the other young lady contradicted her choice. Madame Duchey also brought with her three young ladies to help with the measuring I believe. These three took an unhealthy interest in myself and I believe that I wouldn't escape from that sitting room without being molested.'
'Have you any experience at all with members of the fairer sex, Smithers?'
His harassed secretary shook his head. 'Absolutely none, my lord. And I pray that it remains that way as I never wish to go through that experience again.'
James patted him on the shoulder as he walked past. 'I was examining the latest information from my bank and brokers; would you be so kind as to finish the perusal and record the details in the ledger?'
'I'd be absolutely thrilled to do it, my lord.'
The raised voices were audible halfway down the corridor. He knocked loudly on the girls' sitting room and the door was opened almost immediately by one of the girls who'd accompanied the seamstress.
Not waiting to be invited in he stepped around the girl. 'Be silent, both of you. Annabel return to your room this instant and remain there until told you can leave. Colette you will do the same.'
They took one look at him and were gone. He turned to the unfortunate seamstress. 'I must apologise for their behaviour, ma'am, I can assure you when Miss Colette returns she'll be alone and no trouble.'
The woman curtsied. 'Thank you, my lord. I swear I've never had such a scene. I cannot understand why the two young ladies couldn't agree on anything.'
'There's absolutely no point in asking me, my knowledge of young ladies is far less than yours. However, I can assure you that I intend to discover exactly what was going on and why.'
He knocked on the communicating door that led to Sofia's room. 'It's safe to come in now, my dear, so please select what you need.'
The door opened and she peered around as if not believing him. 'James, I've never known my sister to behave so badly. I thought Annabel to be both nervous and obedient, but she's just proved to be the opposite.'
'Remember, you can have whatever you want. Believe me, my pockets are the deepest in the county and I'm more than happy to spend it on my new family.'
'Honestly, I've no idea what I should choose, I've never had any interest in my appearance. James, do you think you could possibly select both materials and styles that you think suitable for somebody like me.'
He was going to refuse but she looked so wretched he decided to do his best although what he knew about women's attire was probably even less than her.
*
Sofia listened with amazement as James flicked through the fashion plates and the magazines pointing out gowns without hesitation. He then turned to bonnets, boots and slippers with equal authority.
'There, now you must choose the materials, I draw the line at doing it all myself,' he said with an exaggerated sigh.
'Young ladies are supposed to have pastel colours but I prefer brighter shades, especially blue and burgundy.'
James got to his feet and nodded at the seamstress. 'There, you have your answer, ma'am. Miss Brotherton will have her entire wardrobe in various shades of blue and burgundy. The gowns elegant and unfussy, the bonnets the same.'
Sofia simpered at him and pointed at a hideous deep brimmed hat. 'Oh, I've changed my mind I think I'd like at least one of these.'
