Emmeline stared at her. Amelia could imagine her thinking furiously, trying to work out whatconnectionto a duke’s family could take Amelia away so suddenly and mysteriously.
As she’d expected, Emmeline’s eyes dropped to her waist. She was looking for the swell of a baby in her belly, along with signs that the dress had been let out recently.
There was, of course, nothing that could imply that a baby was due in two or three months.
Emmeline relaxed a little, but confusion lingered in her eyes.
“Very well,” she said at last. “I’ll hire another girl. When you come back, we’ll decide whether the girl stays. Perhaps I will need extra hands, after all.”
Amelia let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Emmeline.”
Emmeline offered a nervous smile, still eyeing her as if she were not sure about her. Perhaps now she saw her seamstress in a slightly different light. Only time would tell if they could go back to normal.
Perhaps I don’t want things to go back to normal.
“Oh, Amelia, come and look at this!” Letitia cried.
Amelia hurried across the floor. Letitia had half-pulled out a roll of deep emerald fabric. The material had an iridescent sheen to it, so that when the light hit it just right, glints of brown, blue, and even gold could be seen.
“Everybody remarks on this one,” Amelia sighed. “They are always so disappointed to learn how much it costs.”
Letitia smiled thoughtfully at her. “I want to buy this for you. I’ll have it made into a dress. It would go beautifully with your hair.”
Amelia reddened. “You’re too kind, but I must decline. It’s too expensive.”
“Nonsense. My companion must look the part.”
Emmeline drifted nearer, clearly sensing that a sale was about to take place. “You would suit it, Amelia,” she ventured. “Many young women don’t suit dark colors, but Her Grace is right. This would look perfect on you, with your skin, your hair…”
“But it costs too much,” Amelia insisted.
Letitia’s eyes sparkled mischievously. “Do you hear that, Stephen? Amelia thinks you cannot afford it.”
“I did not say—” Amelia began, but Stephen interrupted coolly, not bothering to turn from where he stood in front of the window, staring out at the street.
“Miss Holt, I suggest you bow to my grandmother’s taste. If she thinks a fabric will look good on you, then it will.”
“It is ten shillings a yard!”
Stephen turned around to face them, meeting her gaze. She waited for shock, perhaps embarrassment, that he’d so easily assured her he was willing to spend all that money on a gown, of all things. Instead, he gave a slow, almost amused smile.
“You ought to listen more carefully to me, Amelia,” he murmured. “Did I not say that you can have whatever you like?” His gaze dropped to the fabric. “A pretty color. I suggest you buy enough for a gown and a matching pelisse.”
“I—” she stammered, only for him to interrupt her once more.
“As I said, Miss Holt,” he drawled, meeting her eyes. “You can have whatever you want.”
CHAPTER 15
“Oh, heavens, I quite forgot!” Letitia exclaimed during the carriage ride home. “I have to call on Mrs. Timmons. She’ll never forgive me if she knows I was out and about and didn’t visit her. She’ll also never forgive me if she hears of my return to town from someone else.”
Apart from that remark, the carriage ride home had been very quiet. Amelia had spent the time staring at her scruffy boots, holding a box on her lap which contained a pair of bright, shiny, new brown boots. They were proper ladies’ boots, with a little heel and buttons on the side.
Letitia had pushed her to buy a pair of stunning yellow ones in faux crocodile skin, with much higher heels. Amelia had declined, pointing out that she’d never walk in them.
How much money had been spent today? After a while, Amelia had given up thinking of the cost. Letitia ordered enough fabric for five or six dresses of her own, as well as several gowns for Marjory and Nancy. They bought ribbons, buttons, gloves, a hateach—including a rather feathery yellow silk bonnet that Amelia would not have bought for herself but had to admit suited her rather well—shoes, coats, and more. And then there were Amelia’s gowns. The emerald fabric was the most expensive thing they had bought, true, but Letitia refused to let her choose from amongst the cheap muslins.
After the sum climbed past twenty pounds, Amelia could no longer allow herself to think about it. Neither Stephen nor Letitia seemed concerned about the hideous bill hanging over her head.
