Lily ran her palm down the fabric. “It be beautiful. Nicer than what you be wearing.”
“I had some made for me too but asked this be finished first so I could bring it. Along with these.” She lifted out the school dresses and set them down. “There’s another nice dress that I will send to you once it is finished.”
Lily examined the school dresses, then returned to the cream muslin. “Where’d you get the blunt for this, Rose? Mrs. Farley said—” She stopped abruptly.
“What did she say?”
Lily shrugged. “When she saw you come up in that carriage, she got a funny look on her face.Last time a root cart, and this time a closed carriage, she said.Your sister’s done made the devil’s bargain.Now this fancy school, and this dress.”
Rosamund had not missed that look on Mrs. Farley’s face. It had remained there the whole time she visited and gotten worse when she explained she was taking Lily out of the Farleys’ care and putting her in a school.
She took the dress from Lily and set it aside. Then she made Lily sit beside her on the bed. “I have made no devil’s bargain.” She wondered if Lily even knew what that meant. “I inherited a lot of money, Lily. It came as a surprise. An unexpected gift. And it changes everything for me and you. Everything.”
She described it all, then. About the legacy, and the new house, and her plans for her shops. “I would have written and told you but decided to wait so I could explain it all at once.”
Lily appeared skeptical. “That devil’s bargain is more likely than this tall tale.”
“I suppose so, but this is the truth. When you visit me, I will show you the documents.”
“Why would that duke leave you all that blunt after one talk?” She gave Rosamund a very mature look. “You can tell me if you were his woman. I won’t go scolding or acting like you be doomed.”
“If I had been, I hope I would have rolled up on the Farleys’ farm in more than a dirty cart last autumn when I came to see you. If I ever did make such a bargain, I’m not so stupid as to wait on getting my due till after the man died.”
Lily seemed to accept the logic of that. “So I be the sister of an heiress. That might make it easier, being here with those girls we saw.” She stood and lifted the muslin dress. “I want to try it on.”
Chapter Seven
Rosamund stepped out of the cabinet maker’s shop. Beatrice followed.
“That is a fine table you just bought.” Beatrice fell into step beside her, the ribbons of her bonnet flying in the breeze. “Big enough for a banquet.”
“I don’t think I be needing—I’ll beneeding it for that, but the chamber it goes in b—islarge, and anything smaller would have looked stupid.” She had been trying hard to catch herself on this small part of talking properly. Even after a whole week of it, sometimes mistakes slipped by her.
“You’ll be needing a side cabinet too.”
“Mrs. Radnor owns an old one with beautiful inlay, and I hope to find one like that.”
Beatrice slid her arm through Rosamund’s own. “Shall we go to one of the warehouses? I’ve a list from the girls.”
They spent the next hour shopping. Rosamund bought some materials for hat-making while Beatrice filled her basket with scents and laces and a few undergarments. Rosamund saw her admiring a chemise and joined her.
“Lawn,” Beatrice said, palming the smooth, finely woven cotton. “It is so nice in summer. So much cooler than linen.”
Rosamund took the chemise and folded it. “I will buy it for you. As a gift.”
“That is too generous.”
“It is not without cost to you. I want to ask you something.” She leaned in close. “Is Kevin Radnor a patron of the house?”
Beatrice pursed her lips. “You know we don’t—”
“I know. However, I really want to know and am willing to bribe you with this chemise.”
Beatrice strolled away. Rosamund moved in closely again.
“I suppose it really can’t hurt. He is. Actually, he is one of my gentlemen.” Beatrice turned her attention to some silk flowers.
“How long?”
