CHAPTER10
A DAY OF RECKONING
The following morning
The heavens had apparently decided they favored David Engleston’s new life. At least, that’s what he thought when he awoke at dawn to discover the skies were clear.
After kissing his wife to wakefulness and enjoying a morning tumble, he rang for a bath. They ate their breakfast in bed, and after a rather raucous time in the tub—he was sure there was more water on the floor than in the tub when they finished—he helped Marian into her clothes.
About to don the same clothes he had worn the day before, he remembered he had formal attire in his dressing room. “What color gown will I be buying for you today?” he asked as he selected a top coat and dark breeches.
“You won’t be buying my gown,” Marian replied as she pulled a stocking onto her leg. “I intend to have it put on my uncle’s account.”
David watched as her leg disappeared into the knit fabric, the oddest sensation making him wonder if he would always react the same whenever he saw her naked limbs.
He hoped so.
“Does he know that?” he asked.
Marian giggled as she tied the ribbon at the top of the stocking. “He won’t even notice,” she murmured. “His man of business pays his bills. As for color... why do you ask?”
David stuffed his shirt into his breeches. “I thought to wear the same color waistcoat.”
Halting in the middle of pulling on her other stocking, Marian regarded him with a grin. “Do you have a yellow one?”
Disappearing into the dressing room for a moment, David emerged with a pale yellow satin waistcoat embroidered with birds and leaves. He held it up. “It’s the only yellow one I possess.”
“It’s perfect,” she said as she finished tying the ribbon of the stocking. She made her way to stand before him and helped with his cravat as he saw to buttoning his coats.
Then they were off, her arm on his as they made their way down the stairs, out of the house, and into the coach. The trip to Suzanne’s in Oxford Street was quick. David was offered a cup of tea whilst Marian disappeared into a dressing room. When she emerged a few minutes later, wearing a pale yellow gown sprigged with birds and leaves, David nearly spilled his tea.
“How...?” he sputtered, glancing down at his waistcoat.
“Birds and leaves are fashionable,” the modiste remarked. “Shall I wrap it up for you?”
“Thank you, but no. I’ll be wearing it for my wedding today,” Marian replied.
“Then I shall wrap up your other gown,” Suzanne offered. “And best wishes to you both.”
Amazed the visit to the modiste hadn’t taken even an hour, David was helping Marian into the coach when he spotted a florist shop. “I’ll be only a moment,” he said as he hurried off. He returned with a bundle of hothouse daffodils and tulips.
“They’re gorgeous,” Marian whispered as he offered her the beribboned bouquet.
“Not as gorgeous as you are,” he replied. The coach jerked into motion, and all at once, nervousness had David struggling to breathe.
“What is it?” Marian asked, her nose hidden by the yellow and red blooms.
“I hope your uncle doesn’t plant a facer on me when we arrive at the Soho Club,” he said.
Marian tittered. “He won’t. I promise,” she replied. “He might... scold you. Probably scold me,” she added with a grin. “But if the footman relayed your message correctly, then he can’t say he wasn’t warned.”
“Let’s hope Viscount Huntley isn’t still smarting over his wager with your uncle,” David remarked.
Marian’s happy expression faltered at the reminder of the wager. “Huntley is a petty man,” she murmured. “I don’t know why Uncle spends any time in his company.”
David gave a start at hearing the rebuke in her voice. “Haven’t they been friends for a long time?”
She shrugged. “I suppose.”
