Pamela turned to Camelia and gave her a bright smile.
“There’s no need for pleasantries, Pamela.”
“I’m glad to see the two of you getting along well.”
Perhaps too well.
“The seamstress will have options. Make sure it’s fitting for a Brentmere,” Raph added.
“You may leave the dress choices to us, Your Grace. We’ll be getting lace for Pamela, and perhaps something daring for me? What do you think, Your Grace? A gown to turn heads at the ball?” Camelia’s smile was playful as she teased him, testing his limits.
Raph’s gaze darkened as he imagined her in a scandalous gown, the fabric clinging to her curves, while her skin glowed temptingly beneath it.
“Just choose wisely, Duchess,” he warned, but his voice was thick with desire. “You’ll be on my arm the entire night, and I expect you to reflect Brentmere’s dignity.”
But he wanted her in something that drove him wild, something only he would get to peel away later.
Pamela glanced between them curiously. “Will it be a big ball? I’ve never been to one. What’s it like?”
“I haven’t attended many balls, but the ones I have were whirlwind experiences for me. They were both intense and utterly thrilling.”
“They’re big, loud, and full of people watching your every move. But you’ll handle it, Pamela. You’re a Brentmere; we were born to handle the pressure of Society,” Raph added.
“It’s just a dance, Pamela. When the time comes, you’ll dazzle everyone, and we’ll choose that dress together, too. When it was Margaret’s turn to debut, we dressed her in a gown fit for a princess! The preparations were so much better than the actual event.”Camelia smiled at Pamela reassuringly.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I look forward to experiencing it with you and your sisters,” Pamela said shyly.
“I’ve arranged a carriage for your sisters as well. They’ll join you at the seamstress. It’ll be a… lively outing,” Raph mused.
“A lively outing… What do you mean bylively?” Camelia raised an eyebrow at him.
“I meant nothing by it,” he replied coolly.
Camelia let out a soft laugh. “I’m sure you meant nothing by it, mydarlinghusband.”
Raph caught the wit in her tone.
Her sisters… God help poor Pamela and me. She’ll have to deal with more of Camelia’s chaos.
Nevertheless, he wanted them to have a pleasant outing, and he knew how much Camelia adored her family and loved being around them.
His thoughts drifted to Camelia’s laughter and the way she lit up every room in Brentmere with her soft voice and presence.
Her sisters probably miss her.
“Will they be shopping for a gown too?” Pamela asked quietly.
“Yes, I believe they’ll be attending the ball as well.” Camelia beamed.
This should be interesting.
“Would they help me design my dress? I have no clue about dresses.”
Raph felt a pang of guilt.
I left her alone for too long. She needed a mother, and I took my time to find a woman worthy enough to help her.
“Don’t you worry about that, Pamela! They’ll be fighting over who gets to style you. But I’ll make sure you get the lace you want.”
