“Ah,” Christopher responded, his brow furrowing in confusion. Graham remained mute.
After what felt like minutes, Percy clasped his hands together. “Well, gentlemen, like I said, I was on my way to the, uh… the milliner myself for new boots when I happened across Lady Barbara. I should be on my way.”
And with a glare and a tip of his hat, Percy made his way around Christopher and Graham and continued down the street.
Alaina had been looking over the velvets on the back table when a tinkling of the bell alerted her to the front door. Looking up from a deep emerald bolt of fabric, Alaina half expected to see Graham and Christopher enter the shop, but was surprised to see Lady Barbara filling the portal.
Georgiana was across the shop, in animated discussions with Madam Benoit about a number of dresses for the party. Her attention had not moved to the front door yet.
Like a serpent, Lady Barbara moved silently through the many tables piled high with stacks of fabric, until she came face to face with Alaina.
“Lady Alaina,” the lady sneered.
“Lady Barbara,” Alaina answered flatly. Lady Barbara continued to stand in front of Alaina, her glare never wavering. Hoping to avoid another confrontation, Alaina attempted to make polite conversation. “So, are you shopping for a particular event?”
Lady Barbara let out a huff and hissed, “Please do not put on airs as if you care a whit for what I am doing. If I were more suspicious, I might think you were trying to determine what ball I would be attending, so you could embarrass my family yet again; maybe even flaunt your courtship with the duke.”
“Lady Barbara,” Alaina said in a gentler tone. “It was never my intent to cause you or your family pain. It seemed to me …”
Lady Barbara interrupted Alaina with a sharp retort. “Oh, save it! I do not care to hear any of your mewling. Just go back to your books and leave me alone.”
Alaina caught a motion out of the corner of her eye, and was relieved to see Georgiana approach.
“Why, Lady Barbara, I am surprised to see you and Alaina conversing at all. I cannot imagine there would be much to say, or, I guess, muchniceto say,” Georgiana interjected, her tone overly cheery, as she moved to stand beside Alaina.
Now outnumbered, Lady Barbara seemed a bit reluctant to continue her attack, and her silence was quickly overshadowed by the chatter from Madam Benoit. “Oh! Mon dieu! Lady Barbara, I do apologize for not seeing you when you first entered! I have just finished with Lady Georgiana, if you have a particular interest in anything?”
Lady Barbara’s demeanor quickly changed, and she turned a smile toward the proprietor. “Madam Benoit, you are so kind. I had come in to see if I could order a few more evening dresses…”
Lady Barbara receded to the back of the store in animated conversation over the latest styles or something of the like.
“Alaina, are you all right?” Georgiana asked softly.
“I am now,” Alaina answered, sure that her encounter with Lady Barbara could have been much worse. “I must thank you for your timing. I fear she was about to tear me to shreds.”
“Well, I should apologize for not even seeing her enter,” Georgiana disagreed. “I should have been over right away. She did not say anything overly hurtful?”
“Nothing, thankfully. I understand her not being able to forgive me for rejecting her brother’s suit, however ill-conceived, but I had hoped the outward animosity would simmer to quiet disdain,” Alaina finished.
A tinkling of the bell on the door once more announced the arrival of more guests in the shop. This time it was Graham and Christopher, who wasted no time in approaching Alaina and Georgiana.
In a hushed voice, the duke inquired, “I hope you ladies fare well?” He looked to Alaina, where his gaze lingered, and then to Georgiana.
Alaina gave a slight nod, and Georgiana was quick to stop any further questions. “We are quite fine, thank you. I take it from you joining us in the shop that something is amiss?”
“Yes,” was all Graham said.
Christopher expounded further, “Lady Barbara was accompanied by Percy, who made his way to the milliner after the lady entered here. I fear any of your planned stops are tainted.”
“Oh, well, I have no wish to encounter Percy nor stay here with Lady Barbara,” Georgiana said quietly. “Alaina, would you forgive me if I cut our trip short? Maybe you can come back later with your mother?”
Alaina wanted to assure her new friend that there was nothing to worry about, even if she had no real need for a new dress. “Of course, Georgiana. Maybe I can even bring Evelina along, she was quite put out that she could not join us.”
“Perfect,” Georgiana chirped. “Then shall we be off?”
The group nodded in assent, and began to make their way to the front door. Alaina found that she still held onto the bolt of velvet, a beautiful deep emerald, and moved to straighten the fabric on the table. She looked up and was surprised to find Christopher rooted to his spot, an intractable look on his face.
Alaina’s thoughts raced; their arguments, their kiss, Christopher’s brooding stares, and his shows of concern all muddled in her head as she made to move past him.
