Chapter Ten #2
She almost thought loved, but it was too soon to bring love into the equation.
Indeed, she knew without a doubt that she still was in love with Samuel.
Always had been, always would. However, she didn’t want to put that pressure on him.
It had been years, and perhaps he had feelings for another.
She was the one who had asked him to stay.
Led him to her bedchamber. Mentioned they were free and unmarried.
She was anyway. But maybe he was courting someone. Or had a lady friend.
No. No. That couldn’t be right. Hadn’t he said he wanted to spend all his time with her before he left for Newmarket? Could his lady friend live in Newmarket? Oh dear, tears leaked from her eyes, and the last thing she wanted was for Samuel to notice.
“You’re being quiet? Are you regretting . . .”
“No. Never,” she interrupted. Even if it turned out he had a special someone, she would never regret what had happened between them.
Sharing herself with Samuel before her marriage and dreaming about doing so again was what had kept her sane during her unpleasant marriage.
Chesterfield was no kind old man. He was the type who snatched treats from babies, stole donations from the church, and looked down his nose at almost everyone.
“I apologize, but I must go.” His lips brushed the back of her neck. He climbed off the bed and pulled up the covers. She immediately missed his warm body against hers. With heavy-lidded eyes, she watched him dress. The bed dipped when he sat down and tugged on his boots.
“Must you leave?”
“We don’t want to make it easy on the gossip rags.
With my carriage parked outside your townhouse all night, it would give them proof that we are having an affair.
Even if I send it home, some busybody who prides herself on spreading the latest gossip—like Lady Hornsby, who lives across the street—would put the pieces together.
” Once he finished pulling on his boots, he stood, leaned down, and brushed his lips across hers.
“It’s probably too late for rumors, but I don’t want my late-night visit causing you any embarrassment. ”
“Lady Hornsby does love to gossip, but believe it or not, since Chesterfield passed, she has been kind to me. I hope she will continue to be my friend and keep my private affairs to herself. She always did before.”
“I apologize for offending Lady Hornsby. Maybe I am mistaken about her.”
Clarice laughed. “Oh, she loves to gossip, just not about me or Letitia.”
He leaned in and kissed her again, this time lingering, sweeping his tongue in and tasting her, which sent heat rushing through her. “Good night. Sleep well, my love.”
He exited and quietly shut the door. She wasn’t worried about her servants seeing Samuel leave late in the evening or perhaps early in the morning, depending on the case.
She had removed anyone who wasn’t loyal to her.
Williamson, Mrs. Shelley, and the housekeeper, Mrs. Jones, managed them well.
With a contented sigh, Clarice snuggled beneath the coverlet and fell asleep with a smile and a full heart.
“Good morning, my lady,” Mrs. Shelley said cheerfully as she entered her chambers as the next morning came all too soon.
She placed her breakfast tray on the table next to her comfortable chaise longue and continued to open the curtains on the mullioned glass windows.
“It is a lovely day. The sun is actually shining.”
Clarice blinked several times, adjusting to the light streaming through the windows.
She pushed the covers off her, swung her legs off the bed, and stood with her arms up, stretching to ease the pleasant soreness in her muscles from last night.
Her lips curled upward into a smile, and her cheeks warmed as the pleasant memories resurfaced.
She slipped into her robe, which matched the night rail she had donned during the night, and made her way to the chaise longue, laughing as she relaxed on it.
“You’re in a good mood today, my lady. I take it the dinner party last evening was worth attending?”
“Hmmm, yes, Mrs. Shelley, it was. I ran into an old friend whom I haven’t seen since before I married Chesterfield.”
“I’m happy for you. You need more friends. If you’ll excuse me, my lady, I’ll leave you to your breakfast and come back in half an hour to get you ready for your Bond Street adventure with Lady Rutherford.”
“Thank you.”
No matter how hard she tried, Clarice could not stop staring at nothing and smiling.
When she realized Mrs. Shelley would be back any moment, she drank her now lukewarm tea, ate her cold toast with jam, and her poached eggs.
It wouldn’t do to have her stomach grumbling while shopping with Letitia.
The two of them had only recently started going out shopping on Thursday mornings.
Shopping while in mourning was not enjoyable.
The two of them had been stared at and whispered about, so they’d stopped until both their mourning periods were over.
While Clarice waited for her maid, she opened the wardrobe and rummaged through her walking dresses, pulling out her favorite green one with a matching spencer.
She laid the dress and spencer on the bed, then entered her dressing room where her hat boxes were stacked.
Somewhere in the pile was a green bonnet to match her dress.
Sighing, she decided to wait for Mrs. Shelley.
No doubt, she knew exactly which hat box it was in.
“I see you picked your favorite green dress. It always highlights your brown eyes and the green hidden within. I’ll get the matching bonnet.” It took Mrs. Shelly two tries, and she found the correct box. “Ah, here it is. The flowers on the band just need a little fluffing.”
Clarice stood as Mrs. Shelley removed her robe and night rail, replacing them with a linen chemise, corset, and petticoat.
Finally, her dress was slipped over her head and pulled down into place.
The dress featured a scooped neckline and short, puffed sleeves trimmed with the same lace as at the hem.
The high waistline was encircled with green ribbon, which Mrs. Shelley tied in the back with a perfect bow.
She sat on the dressing table chair as Mrs. Shelley slid her stockings up to her mid-thigh and tied them with ribbon to keep them secure.
“Let’s do your hair,” Mrs. Shelly said as she picked up a brush and began to run it through her long tresses. “I swear your hair has grown and gotten thicker since yesterday.”
“I know. It’s too much,” she said with a frustrated exhale. She always wanted to have straight blonde hair.
“Most young ladies admire your hair. The color isn’t your typical plain brown. It has stunning auburn and blonde highlights. It shines in the sunlight and under lantern light. It also falls in soft, natural curls. I rarely need a curling rod, which is good because they can damage hair.”
Mrs. Shelley twisted Clarice’s hair into a nice, neat chignon, and secured it with multiple pins. To complete her outfit, she placed Clarice’s bonnet on her head and secured it with several pearl hat pins and a ribbon sash tied to the side beneath her chin.
“See, you look perfect.” Mrs. Shelley helped her stand and patted her arm. “You are a vision. Perhaps you will see your gentleman friend during your shopping outing.”
Her mouth dropped open, then she quickly closed it. “I never said my friend was a man. Perhaps she is a lady friend I haven’t seen in forever.”
“Not by the twinkle in your eye and the smile on your face this morning. Your friend is most definitely a man. And good for you, my lady.”
Clarice’s stomach fluttered at the thought that she might see Samuel today. He did know she was shopping on Bond Street. So perhaps. “Thank you, Mrs. Shelley, for everything. I don’t know what I would do without you.”
She dabbed at her teary eyes. “Oh, pish-posh, my dear lady. You would do just fine without little ole’ me taking care of you.”
She did something she’d always wanted to do but never had. Clarice hugged her—quickly, not wanting to ruin everything Mrs. Shelley had worked so hard on. Before tears welled up in her own eyes, she headed toward the door, paused, and then turned around. “Mrs. Shelley, we forgot my walking boots.”
“Oh my, we can’t have you leaving the house in your stockings. What will the neighbors say? Sit down. Let me get them.” She hurried into the dressing room and returned carrying a green drawstring pouch and two brown walking boots that tied at the mid-calf. “Now you are ready.”
“I am.”
When Clarice reached the front door, Williamson bowed and said, “Lady Rutherford’s carriage has just arrived.” He opened the door.
She exited and, with the help of Letitia’s footman, Clarice entered the carriage and sat beside her friend. “Thank you for picking me up. What a lovely day for shopping.”
“Yes. It is,” Letitia replied with a smile. “Perhaps we should go to Gunter’s for ices or confections after shopping.”
“Yes, that’s perfect. Where should we go first?”
“I was thinking about Marietta’s Milliner Shop.
I could use a new cream bonnet. I left mine on my bed, and the new puppy tore it apart.
Little Freckles is quite the naughty puppy, but I love him, and Percy smiles and giggles whenever he sees him.
It warms my heart. They are nearly inseparable.
Just last night, I caught Freckles sneaking into his room and curling up on the foot of his bed. ”
“How sweet,” Clarice said, thinking of Letitia’s precious little boy.
A heaviness and sadness tugged at her heart.
She shook her head—no sense torturing herself with the past when what was done was done.
“I could use several pairs of white kid gloves for all our upcoming social events. Some of mine have yellowed from overuse and cleaning. I know Mrs. Shelley frets over getting them back to pure white, but it’s time to admit they are old and worn.
And some colorful pairs will be fun for the daytime. ”
“You must,” Letitia commented.
“I know. You should too. Tell me, how was your time with Greyson last night?”
Letitia sighed and relaxed against the squabs. “He is so handsome and kind and witty. It’s strange, but I feel as though I’ve known him for longer than I have. How is that possible?”
“It happens, or so I’ve been told. Two souls meet and connect.”
The carriage came to a gentle, rolling stop. A footman opened the door, lowered the stairs, and helped them out of the carriage one by one.
“Thank you, Herbert,” said Letitia. “We will be shopping for a while.”
Arm in arm, they entered the fray of fashionably dressed shoppers strolling down Bond Street.
Some window shopped, while others went into the shops to make purchases.
Clarice and Letitia nodded to acquaintances as they navigated the crowds.
Clarice should have known that on a pleasant day, weather-wise, Bond Street would bring out the shoppers en masse.
“Marietta’s is just ahead,” Letitia said.
When they reached the door, it opened, and several ladies exited the shop. One of them spoke, “Good luck, my ladies. It’s a veritable crush inside.”
“Thank you for the warning,” Clarice said as they went in anyway. “Maybe there’s a sale. I’ve never seen so many buying bonnets.”
“Oh, look,” Letitia said as she approached a display filled with bonnets in every color imaginable. She picked up an ivory one with a wide brim across the front, but not in the back. It was trimmed with white and ivory ribbon and flowers, and tied beneath the chin with wide ivory ribbon.
“It’s lovely,” Clarice said. “Try it on.”
Letitia removed her hat, put it on, and turned to her, smiling. “It fits perfectly. How does it look?”
“It’s like it was made for you. The contrast against your dark hair is striking, and your blue-and-cream dress looks lovely. I would wear it today.”
“I shall.”
After she made her purchase, leaving her old bonnet in the new hat box with the proprietor to be delivered to Rutherford House later, they exited the shop and entered the bustling crowds, only to come face to face with Samuel and Mr. Jacob Hunter.
They both bowed and said, “Ladies,” at the same time, making Clarice smile.
When she looked at Samuel, who was looking at her, she knew by his look that he was remembering last night, as she was, and her cheeks burned.
“We were just thinking of going to Gunter’s for ices,” Samuel said. “Would you ladies care to join us? My carriage should be pulling up momentarily.”
Letitia and Clarice looked at each other and smiled. “As a matter of fact,” Clarice said, “we were planning on going there as well. We would love to accompany you.”
“Perfect,” Samuel said as his easily recognizable carriage pulled up. “Good thing I didn’t bring my phaeton; there wouldn’t have been room for four.”
The footman opened the door and lowered the stairs.
Samuel helped Letitia and then her into the coach, and she found herself sitting beside Samuel, their knees brushing.
Remaining quiet during the ride, Clarice listened to the men discuss the upcoming racing tour.
All the while, her body burned with desire for the man beside her.
Could he feel the heat radiating off her? She didn’t know how he could miss it.
They arrived shortly after at Berkeley Square and found a nice table for four against the wall. They all ordered lemon ices charged to Samuel’s account.
When they were finished, Mr. Hunter asked, “Would you ladies care for a walk in the park before going back to Bond Street?”
“That would be nice,” Letitia replied. Then she asked, “Where is Greyson today?” Hunter winced, and she blushed before immediately saying, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to imply your company is not enough.”
He chuckled. “I understand. No harm done. He’s escorting his sisters to a luncheon at their aunt’s house on the Thames.” He winked at Letitia. “I’m quite positive he would rather be here with you.”
She blushed a deeper shade of red.