“Butit is as you said. I was not kind to Lady Lydia.”
“No.But forgiveness has to start somewhere.” Miss Edirisinghe looked atthe sky. “It is starting to rain.”
Sera held outher hand. A drop fell on the leather of her glove, beading andclinging to the surface. “The linen-drapers is not far.”
Miss Edirisinghegrinned. “Shall we rush?”
At Sera’s nod,Miss Edirisinghe tugged her into a run, giggling all thewhile.
They entered thelinen-draper’s, shaking the rain from them. Miss Edirisinghegrinned at her. “I am to the wools.”
Shaking hercloak, Sera watched as the girl dashed off. An assistant approachedand offered a drying cloth, which Sera accepted gladly, and sheidly examined cloth swatches until she heard Miss Edirisinghe’svoice. “I do not understand. Why can you not assist me?”
The shopassistant froze. “I…have to get Mrs Penn.”
Serafrowned.
A moment later,a woman who presumably was Mrs Penn appeared. “We are appreciativeof you attending our establishment, but perhaps a different shopwould be better suited to…you.”
MissEdirisinghe’s smile dimmed, her shoulders falling slightly. “Isee.”
Well, Seradidn’t see. This woman would serve her sister and be grateful ofit.
It took lessthan a moment to be at her sister’s side. “I do not believe youknow to whom you speak,” Sera said as haughtily as she couldmanage.
“Sera, don’t.” Gaze averted, her sister’s ever-present smilehad disappeared.
“Shewill not be allowed to continue this disrespect.” She turned to thewoman. “You address Lady Charuni Edirisinghe-Waller, daughter tothe Marquess of Tidswell. I am her sister, Lady SeraphinaWaller-Mitchell.”
The woman’s gazedarted between them. “I cannot in good conscience allow her kind inmy shop. You understand, my lady.”
“No.I do not understand. Explain it to me.”
“Well, because she— That is to say— She would be better withher own kind.”
“Herown kind, madam? Sheiswith her own kind.”
Her sister laida hand on her forearm. “Sera.”
Sera fellsilent.
Her sisterlooked at the woman. “You make a mistake…Mrs Penn, was it? It is asmy sister says, I am the daughter of an English marquess.” Shesmiled gently. “I am ever so sorry, but I did not realise your shopwas not for the those of the peerage. My sister and I will let itbe known amongst our circle, and I’m sure word will quickly spread.It will be that none of the peerage frequent yourestablishment—none of my kind, as you said. I thank you for theeducation.”
“No,but…I didn’t mean…” the woman spluttered.
“Oh?Then what did you mean?”
Impotently, thewoman stared at them.
Charuni smiledagain. “I bid you good day.” She turned to Sera. “Shall wedepart?”
They had leftthe linen-draper and were walking down the street—thankfully, ithad stopped raining— before Sera spoke. “I cannot believe her. Whata terrible woman.”
“Sheis not unusual.”
Sera stopped andstared at her sister. “What do you mean?”
Charuni smiled.“I am a brown-skinned girl in a country of pale English roses. Iknew what to expect. Father’s privilege affords me some protection,but it is not absolute.”
