“Are you assuming she’s poor?”
“If she had money, she wouldn’t be living on Milsom Street. And she wouldn’t be so desperate for a fortune.” Colin’s voice dripped with condescension.
I wanted to roll my eyes. “Perhaps she has money and simply wants more. That’s usually how it goes.”
“It doesn’t matter, does it?” Colin strode toward the door, gesturing for me to exit the room. “The point is that she is treating men and their hearts like stuffing for her reticule. We are putting an end to it.”
I nodded, holding my tongue. It wouldn’t do any good to argue. “So I am to wander Milsom Street and hope to stumble upon her?”
“If you discover where she resides, you might even call upon her.” His lips curled into a devious smirk. “How I wish I could witness this all for myself.”
I was quite glad he wouldn’t be witnessing it. I lacked confidence that I wouldn’t ruin the charade on my very first day. I made a cake of myself under immense pressure, but Colin seemed to have forgotten that fact. “Don’t forget,” he said, “Miss Sharp is often with her aunt, Mrs. Julia Cresswell, and her friend, Mrs. Kate Ollerton. Miss Sharp is tall with dark hair, dark eyes, and she usually carries a parasol.”
“Attractive?” I asked with raised eyebrows. I did appreciate a woman with dark hair and dark eyes.
He shrugged. “Moderately.”
With a deep breath, I started for the door. “I’ll report back.”
“Be charming,” Colin said on my way out of the room.
“How could I not be?” I called as I hurried down the stairs. I checked my reflection one last time in the gold-framed mirror in the entrance hall. Heavens, I looked exactly like Colin. I gulped, tearing my gaze away from my reflection. The sight had a way of making my skin crawl.
With one last deep breath, I made my way out the door and down the narrow steps. The Circus was crowded that morning with carriages, horses, and several people parading about on foot. The average age of the crowd seemed to be slightly older than in London, as Bath was often considered an escape from the overwhelming nature of London society. Here, the pressure wasn’t quite as great to move and speak perfectly. For me, however, the pressure was still strong. I was not permitted to act as I usually would. I had to be like Colin.
Putting one foot in front of the other, I tried to imitate his gait as I walked down the cobblestones toward Milsom Street. I kept my back rigid, my chin high, which wasn’t hard to do above that awfully stiff cravat. My arms were hardly able to swing with each step, locked tightly inside the jacket as they were.
A gentleman nodded in greeting as he passed me, and I returned the gesture as I moved along. Colin was not overly friendly; I doubted he would stop to converse with anyone. The shops lining Milsom Street supported several upper floors of apartments. As I walked, I traced my gaze across the many curtained windows. Miss Sharp could be living in any of them. If I didn’t find her today, I would fall behind schedule. I had no time to waste.
I stopped just outside a perfume shop where a group of ladies was exiting through the front door. I searched without success for a tall brunette among them.
“Good day, Mr. Campbell.” The eldest lady in the group stopped in front of me with a polite bow. The young ladies at her side—there were three of them—stared up at me with looks of deep curiosity.
I had never been looked at with such eager anticipation.
I froze. My brother, the fool that he was, hadn’t considered that I wouldn’t know the names of all his acquaintances. This woman obviously knew him, and I would look horriblyimpertinent if I didn’t address her by name. I examined her dress and bonnet. Both appeared to be outrageously expensive. The young ladies were dressed similarly, all wearing fine necklaces and earrings. The manner in which they all held themselves, and the trail of maids carrying their purchases, gave me enough confidence to assume that this woman had a title. It was a risk, but it would save me from knowing her name.
“Good day, my lady.” I dared the words, and she didn’t flinch. The woman simply continued smiling up at me. My shoulders slumped in relief. Was she a viscountess? A countess? I didn’t know her title, but I had guessed correctly about her status.
“What brings you to the shops this morning?” she asked.
I searched for a proper reply. ‘I’m impersonating my brother to teach a young lady a lesson against fortune hunting’ was unfortunately not an option. “I thought I might pay a visit to my tailor.” It wasn’t a lie at all. I tried to cross my arms, but the jacket prevented the movement. Whether Colin liked it or not, I would have to let out a few seams.
“I am not surprised. You are always dressed so very well.” The woman grinned again, and I tried to keep my expression neutral.
“Thank you.” A short response seemed most fitting, but then an idea crossed my mind. “Do you know where I might find Miss Arabella Sharp’s residence? She lost her necklace at the Pump Room and I have been meaning to return it to her.”
The woman’s thin brows lifted in surprise at my change of subject, but she cleared her throat. “I cannot say I am acquainted with a Miss Sharp.”
One of the young ladies, whom I assumed to be the woman’s daughter, shot a confused glance in her mother’s direction. “We passed Miss Sharp just up the street.”
Her mother cast her a pointed glance, as if to scold her for leading me in the direction of another lady.
“She was wearing a pale yellow gown,” the daughter continued, eyes fixed on my face. “I believe her lodgings are above Newbury’s.”
I cast the young lady a grateful smile before remembering that I was not to be overly friendly. Her cheeks flushed pink.
“That is very helpful, thank you. I wish you all a good morning.” I gave a nod before leaving them there by the shop door. I had no idea what Newbury’s was, but I would surely see a sign of some sort if I paid attention.
