Chapter 6 #2
“Allow me to introduce my companions,” Lady Astrid said, stepping back from Johanna to give her a better view of the other two ladies.
“This is Hu Jiumei, who prefers to be called Mei, and Miss Jeanne Yates. And this is Lady Stark, the Dowager Countess of Pike, and Lady Johanna Ashmore, sister of the Earl of Falmouth.”
“Best wishes on your engagement, Miss Yates,” Lady Stark said, smiling at the starry-eyed young brunette. “I saw the announcement in the Gazette this morning.”
“Thank you! It is all thanks to Mei and her grandmother. They are wonderful matchmakers,” Miss Yates gushed, looking adoringly at the young Chinese woman who was quietly standing beside her and Lady Astrid.
Dressed in English fashion, her forest-green gown hugged her body, emphasizing the slight tan of her skin and the depth of her dark eyes.
A long sheet of black hair hung straight down her back, exactly as Johanna’s would without the expertise of a maid to curl it.
“Lady Stark.” Mei dipped a curtsy. “Lady Johanna. It is truly my grandmother who is the matchmaker. I but assist.”
Something about the look that Lady Astrid shot Mei made Johanna question that assertion, but the lady did not speak up to argue.
“We are here to choose a wedding gown.” Miss Yates beamed, practically bouncing on her toes.
She was clearly very excited about her upcoming nuptials. Far more than Johanna was about her own. But she’d also obviously had a say in her match, even if she had chosen to use a matchmaker. At least she had not been purchased off a stage by her groom-to-be.
“Best wishes to you.” Johanna echoed Lady Stark’s words.
“Thank you!”
They did not get to speak further with Miss Yates as one of Madame Allard’s assistants came over to draw the young lady away. Lady Astrid lingered, though Mei accompanied her client to go examine some bolts of fabric.
“Now that I know you are in London, you must come to call. I gather we have a lot to catch up on,” Lady Astrid said, sliding a glance at Lady Stark.
She was quick to put two and two together, although Johanna knew that she could not possibly guess how it had come about.
The curiosity in her eyes was hard to miss. “Tea. Tomorrow at two.”
It was a command, not a question.
Johanna looked to Lady Stark. She had no idea what the duke’s grandmother had planned for tomorrow, or if there were other things she should be doing.
“She will be there,” Lady Stark said.
“My mother is having some friends over, if you would like to join them as well, Lady Stark.” Lady Astrid smiled widely at her.
“No, no. I have my own plans for tomorrow afternoon, but it will be good for Johanna to be with her friends.”
“Very well.” Lady Astrid focused on Johanna again. “I will see you tomorrow.” Nodding her head firmly, Lady Astrid swanned off after Miss Yates and Mei.
Seemingly pleased, Lady Stark led Johanna out of the shop. The footmen who had come in to fetch their boxes followed them and loaded up the carriage while the coachman helped Lady Stark and Johanna inside it.
“How close are you with Lady Astrid?” Lady Stark asked as soon as they were both seated. She had a gaze like a hawk, and Johanna felt very much like a mouse.
“She is a neighbor, of a sort.” Johanna had not seen much of the other lady while they were growing up, though she knew where Blackstone Manor was.
“But you attended her house party.” Lady Stark tapped her lower lip with her fan, obviously thinking.
Johanna was not certain if she was supposed to reply, so she just nodded.
She assumed the duke had told his grandmother about how they’d met before…
well, before. “It is a good connection. She seemed pleased to see you with me. She’ll know what that means.
But you should not tell her the full story. Tell her Matthew sought you out.”
Johanna nodded again. She understood why Lady Stark wanted her to lie.
It was the story they would tell the ton as a whole.
Although she felt bad about lying to Lady Astrid when the lady had been so kind to her.
She’d run into Johanna on a visit home during the Season and had been quite pleasant in conversation.
The invitation to her house party had arrived several days later, an unexpected boon.
It did not mean that she could trust Lady Astrid with the scandalous truth of how the duke had found Johanna again.
“Good. That’s settled.” The older woman nodded decisively, and the carriage lurched into motion. “On to Bond Street.”
“Bond Street?”
“Yes, you need hats. And gloves. Reticules.”
More shopping. Johanna wanted to sag in her seat, but she doubted that was how a duchess would behave.
Besides, she should be grateful to Lady Stark for taking the time to ensure that Johanna was properly outfitted.
Straightening her spine, she rolled her shoulders back, trying to summon some energy.
Watching her, Lady Stark frowned.
“Perhaps something to eat on the way—and you will eat, girl.” She stabbed the end of her fan toward Johanna. “Your family will not be saved by you starving yourself while you are here.”
The guilt that thinking of eating had stirred was not assuaged, but she understood Lady Stark’s point. Johanna nodded meekly.
She would eat. And try not to think too hard about her family. They would be here soon enough, and eating soon enough, and it would not do anyone any good if she did not eat until then.
“Good.” Lady Stark nodded again, resting her fan down in her lap, clearly pleased that the world was being sorted to her order.
Johanna could only hope to have that kind of confidence one day. And her energy. She did not look nearly half as tired as Johanna felt, despite her age. If she could keep onward, Johanna could do no less.