Page 77 of Wedding the Widow

“I can borrow Bella’s pearl necklace. Now I’ll just need something new myself.”

They arrived at the bookseller’s, and she began to avidly search the many volumes. “Do you know of any new works by Sir Walter Scott?” she asked Jemmy. “Papa was quite entertained by Guy Mannering last year.” She hailed the stall keeper. “I wondered, has Sir Walter Scott brought out a new volume this year?”

“Yes, ma’am.” The older man with gray and white hair reached behind him to retrieve a two-book set. “This is the latest by Sir Walter—his new series Tales of My Landlord; this is the very first subset of that series. Both bound in lovely calfskin.” He handed the set over to her.

Before the books touched her hands, Jemmy had swooped in and grabbed them “I’ll take those, my dear. Too heavy for you to lift both at once.” He handed her a single volume.

The maroon leather tooling was exquisite, embossed with gold and black. So soft in her hand. She rubbed the spine lovingly.

“What do you think, my dear? Will your father enjoy these?”

“I believe he will.” She smiled at Jemmy. How pleased Papa would be with these volumes. “He will sit right down and begin the first one after dinner tomorrow if we give him leave.” They had all teased Papa dreadfully about reading novels, but it didn’t deter him one bit. “I will take them both.”

Another parcel wrapped and handed over to George.

“You are an efficient manager.” Jemmy took her arm and patted it. “I will relish turning my household over to you.”

The praise warmed her heart. She had been a good manager of Dickon’s small household, and she missed running it. Always she had loved making sure the accounts balanced at the end of the month, refurbishing items when necessary. Not that there’d been much of that. They hadn’t been together long enough to wear out carpets or draperies. She squeezed Jemmy’s arm, drawing a grin from him. Pray God, they would be married long enough to wear out many sets of household furnishings.

“Where to next?”

“The toy stall is just around this corner unless they have moved. No, here they are. Oh, Jemmy, look at the wooden horse!”

It stood at least a foot and a half high, a slender maple-colored leather horse with wheels and a seat that doubled as a handle. It was elaborately carved to make the mane and face look as real as possible. Colin would love this. He rode his rocking horse all the time in the nursery. She ran a hand over the polished body.

“I don’t even have to guess who this is for.” Jemmy chuckled.

“Am I being too extravagant?” Biting her lip, she debated the merits of the purchase. She had been more indulgent of the children after their father had died. Did this go a bit too far?

“Extravagant?” Jemmy scoffed. “Wait until our child is born. You will declare a new meaning for the word once I begin to acquire things for him. Or her,” he hastened to add.

Elizabeth sent up a fervent prayer that this child would be a boy. All men needed to secure the succession, and it would make her feel proud to accomplish her duty so efficiently.

Not stopping to count the cost, Elizabeth paid for the horse, and George left to cart it to the carriage. His shocked face proclaimed he hadn’t a clue where it was going to go.

“Now we must find something just as fine for your daughter. Young ladies should be spoiled just a trifle more than boys. They are the most special, after all.” Jemmy started off to explore the tables and displays of children’s toys.

Before he had gotten too far, Elizabeth called to him. “I think I’ve found it, Jemmy.” She pointed to a porcelain doll with eyes that opened and closed and clothing that small fingers could remove and replace as often as desired, down to her tiny black boots. “Isn’t it perfect for Kate? It even looks a bit like her. She will love it.”

“What little girl wouldn’t?” His voice turned wistful.

Perhaps she had been mistaken that he would want a boy first. A fire spread throughout her, warming her toes and fingers—indeed, every inch of her was flaming with desire for him. Goodness, she must get hold of herself.

“Now I wish to find the jewelry stall,” she said as the stall keeper carefully wrapped the beautiful doll. George had failed to return, likely still wrestling with the horse, so the man handed it to Jemmy. “I’d like to purchase a necklace for Mama. And then I believe we shall be finished. We will have certainly earned our tea and scones.” She giggled as she dragged him through the ever-swelling throng of shoppers. “Almost there.”

The jeweler’s stall glittered with trays of trinkets, rings with paste stones, necklaces of exotic beading, bangle bracelets, colorful earrings with glass stones. A mouthwatering display. Excitement coursed through Elizabeth at the sight of such a wealth of possible gifts. She faced Jemmy and threw her hands up. “However am I to decide?”

“If this is for Lady Wentworth, you must think of a favorite color of hers or a gown and choose a necklace to compliment it.” He watched her keenly. “I had no idea you were so fond of jewelry, Elizabeth. I shall have to order the Blackham jewels for you to wear as soon as we are established. They have been languishing at Richardson’s since my mother died.” He chuckled. “I do not even know what they look like.”

“I am certain they are beautiful, Jemmy. I shall be proud to wear them.” Thrilling to the idea of wearing his family’s jewels, Elizabeth happily went about choosing the necklace for her mother. As Jemmy suggested, she searched for a piece that would complement her mother’s favorite green gown, with the ecru trim. She would likely wear it during the holidays and could show off the necklace then.

A string of green, white, and black glass beads, with small clusters of beading strung to resemble flowers, lay in a tray to the side. “How pretty.” She lifted them up, and the light struck them so that the beads turned iridescent. “These will be perfect.”

She handed the string to the shopkeeper and turned to find Jemmy looking at a tray of gold rings.

His brow furrowed in concentration, he picked up first one, then another ring. They were a variety of widths, all solid gold, but some with fancy carvings. He glanced at her and smiled. “Will you come help me choose your wedding ring? We will have need of one shortly.”

Heart swelling with love, she blinked back a tear and nodded. Her gaze fell on a narrow band, carved with vine leaves. She picked it up, and he slid it on her finger, where it fit perfectly. Looking into his eyes, Elizabeth wanted him to hold her and never let go.