Although Lady Stark did not say that Johanna was to marry her grandson, Madame Allard seemed to understand that instinctively and did not even blink when Lady Stark ordered a wedding dress to be prepared immediately.A bonus was offered to have it done in two days, and all Madame Allard did was nod.
The modiste also provided Johanna with several more day dresses that had been altered to fit her perfectly and a promise that the wedding dress would be delivered in two days.
As they walked out into the main shop area again, Johanna felt as though she might list to the side and faint.It was sheer grit keeping her upright—that and her determination not to disappoint Lady Stark.Which was why she did not immediately notice Lady Astrid and her companions until the lady called out to her.
“Johanna!What are you doing here?”Lady Astrid’s tone of shock cut through Johanna’s exhaustion, jerking her back to attention.
“Shopping?”The answer came out as a question because Lady Astrid’s query echoed so many of the thoughts tumbling through Johanna’s mind.
What was she doing here?What was she thinking?How did she think she could ever be a duchess?
It is not as though I had another choice.
“Lady Astrid,” Lady Stark greeted the startled redhead.They exchanged cheek kisses, then Lady Astrid came to do the same with Johanna.
“I apologize for my outburst,” Lady Astrid said ruefully, stepping back from greeting Johanna.As always, the lady was impeccably attired, currently in a dark orange-and-black jacquard, with black gloves and a necklace of carved amber.The effect with her red hair was quite striking.“I did not expect to see you in London.How is your mother?”
Tears sprang into Johanna’s eyes—another measure of her exhaustion—and she felt her throat clog.
Lady Stark patted her on the shoulder, bolstering her.
“She is better,” Johanna managed to answer, feeling as though she was trying to speak through a foghorn.“No longer ill.”Only starving.Which would soon be remedied.Surely, if Lady Stark was willing to spend so much on clothing, she and the duke would see to it that Johanna’s family was well fed, too.They’d certainly reassured her as such during breakfast this morning.
“I am so glad to hear that.”Lady Astrid clasped Johanna’s hands, utterly sincere in her relief, which made Johanna want to cry again.
She did not know what she had done to attract Lady Astrid’s friendship, but she was so grateful for it.Lady Stark cleared her throat, gave Lady Astrid a pointed look, and glanced at the women beside her.Lady Astrid started as she realized she had forgotten to make introductions.
“Oh, please excuse my poor manners, Lady Stark.I was so startled to see Lady Johanna here and concerned about her mother, I forgot myself.”
“Of course, Astrid.”Lady Stark smiled reassuringly.
“Allow me to introduce my companions,” Lady Astrid said, stepping back from Johanna to give her a better view of the other two ladies.“This is Hu Jiumei, who prefers to be called Mei, and Miss Jeanne Yates.And this is Lady Stark, the Dowager Countess of Pike, and Lady Johanna Ashmore, sister of the Earl of Falmouth.”
“Best wishes on your engagement, Miss Yates,” Lady Stark said, smiling at the starry-eyed young brunette.“I saw the announcement in the Gazette this morning.”
“Thank you!It is all thanks to Mei and her grandmother.They are wonderful matchmakers,” Miss Yates gushed, looking adoringly at the young Chinese woman who was quietly standing beside her and Lady Astrid.Dressed in English fashion, her forest-green gown hugged her body, emphasizing the slight tan of her skin and the depth of her dark eyes.A long sheet of black hair hung straight down her back, exactly as Johanna’s would without the expertise of a maid to curl it.
“Lady Stark.”Mei dipped a curtsy.“Lady Johanna.It is truly my grandmother who is the matchmaker.I but assist.”
Something about the look that Lady Astrid shot Mei made Johanna question that assertion, but the lady did not speak up to argue.
“We are here to choose a wedding gown.”Miss Yates beamed, practically bouncing on her toes.
She was clearly very excited about her upcoming nuptials.Far more than Johanna was about her own.But she’d also obviously had a say in her match, even if she had chosen to use a matchmaker.At least she had not been purchased off a stage by her groom-to-be.
“Best wishes to you.”Johanna echoed Lady Stark’s words.
“Thank you!”
They did not get to speak further with Miss Yates as one of Madame Allard’s assistants came over to draw the young lady away.Lady Astrid lingered, though Mei accompanied her client to go examine some bolts of fabric.
“Now that I know you are in London, you must come to call.I gather we have alotto catch up on,” Lady Astrid said, sliding a glance at Lady Stark.She was quick to put two and two together, although Johanna knew that she could not possibly guess how it had come about.The curiosity in her eyes was hard to miss.“Tea.Tomorrow at two.”
It was a command, not a question.
Johanna looked to Lady Stark.She had no idea what the duke’s grandmother had planned for tomorrow, or if there were other things she should be doing.
“She will be there,” Lady Stark said.
