Chapter 15
Evan had caught only the last few seconds of the seamstress insulting Joanna, but that was more than enough for him.
He should have known better than to leave her alone in this shop by herself.
He knew how everyone viewed her father, how they regarded her family.
But she should have received respect anyway.
He strode into the modiste. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Joanna on the verge of tears, with her head bowed, and it just increased his fury.
The seamstress curtsied for him, her face pale. “Y-your Grace. How can I help you?”
“I am not the one you are supposed to be helping,” he growled. “I am disgusted with the way you treated Miss Thorne, and I can assure you that my family and I will not be shopping here again. Apologize to her right this instant.”
“I didn’t know—”
“Apologize.” He kept his voice at a low volume, but it was threatening all the same. The shopkeeper was practically trembling in front of him.
She turned to Joanna. “I am terribly sorry, miss. I hope you can forgive me.”
Joanna nodded stiffly, but she did not say anything.
Evan was still angry, however. He rarely got angry, but when he did, it was difficult for him to control it. “You would be lucky if I didn’t ruin your little shop forever, madam. You know I am capable of it.”
The woman was a stuttering mess now. Joanna stepped forward and placed herself in front of him. “Please, that’s enough, Your Grace. I believe you’ve made your point.” Her words were quiet but firm.
He nodded, taking a deep breath. “Let’s go. There are other modistes on this street. They offer better quality, too.”
They walked out, with Joanna’s chaperone trailing behind them.
“Did you have to humiliate the poor woman?” Joanna asked after they were out the door. “You certainly didn’t need to threaten her like that.”
“The way she treated you was unacceptable,” he said. “She should have been respectful of you without me standing behind you.”
“Perhaps, but that isn’t a reasonable expectation given my circumstances, is it?
” Her mouth twisted into a bitter smile.
“I believe my family name shows up in the scandal sheets enough as it is. I certainly don’t need to give the ton more gossip about me.
So I implore you to not cause a scene at the next modiste we visit. ”
“Very well,” he said. He could not bring himself to regret how he acted in the last modiste, but he could agree to try to be civil in the next one.
By the time they had walked down the street together, he had calmed down. Joanna seemed to be in slightly better spirits, but she still looked disheartened. He would do anything to take that miserable look off her face.
As they entered the next modiste, the shopkeeper smiled at them. “Welcome in, my lady. Your Grace.” She curtsied to both of them. “Is there anything I can help you with today?”
“Yes,” Evan said. “The lady would like a ball gown for the ball next week. She will also need some new afternoon dresses and evening dresses. Perhaps five of each. To start with.”
Joanna flashed him a wide-eyed look, and he felt the corners of his lips turn up. It felt good to surprise her now and then. He would only be able to spoil her for one Season, so he planned to do it right.
The modiste smiled. “Of course. Come right over here, my lady, and I will take your measurements before we discuss details for the dresses.”
Evan hung back near the entrance, as Joanna was measured behind a privacy screen. After her measurements were taken, they discussed dress styles while looking at the fabrics. He watched from a distance as the modiste slowly set Joanna at ease.
“You would look beautiful in dark blue, my lady,” the woman said. “We just got this new silk in that would be the perfect shade for you. It’s just over here.” She directed Joanna to the fabric sample.
“It’s beautiful,” Joanna said, smiling. “And it’s so soft. I love it!”
“I believe it will look nice with a pale blue ribbon. Perhaps some embroidery on the bodice as well? I can show you a few options for embroidery designs.”
“That would be wonderful. Thank you!”
Joanna spent hours choosing different designs and options for her dresses, but he didn’t mind. He loved seeing how excited she was as she talked with the modiste.
There were a few sample dresses that she could try on, so she would have a better idea about how different styles and colors would look on her, even though she was ordering custom made dresses.
Joanna disappeared into a changing room with the seamstress, and came out in a dark blue evening gown, embellished with beading and embroidery on the slightly low-cut bodice that accentuated her breasts.
The sight of her wearing it made Evan’s mind run wild with fantasies, as he imagined kissing his way down her neck, to the top of the bodice. “You look magnificent in that,” he told her.
Joanna blushed and looked down. “Thank you, Your Grace. But perhaps the bodice is a little too low cut. I think I might like a more modest neckline.”
He wanted to object, to insist at least one of her evening dresses had that neckline. But at the same time, he didn’t want any other man of the ton to see her with so much cleavage shown. “I hope you at least get a dress with embroidery like that on the bodice. It’s quite beautiful.”
Her blush was so pretty as she nodded. “I can do that, Your Grace.”
“I have a more modest dress that you can try on if you would like, my lady,” said the seamstress.
She nodded. “Please.”
They disappeared into the changing room again and Evan turned away, trying to think of anything other than the fact that Joanna was currently undressing with only a door between them.
When she next came out of the changing room, she wore a pale blue dress with a very modest neckline.
There was little decoration on it, but there didn’t need to be.
She smiled slightly as she twirled, watching the wide skirt fan out around her.
“I really like this one,” she said. “What do you think, Your Grace?”
He swallowed, his mind going blank for a moment.
Joanna always looked beautiful. But this dress made her look so innocent and vulnerable.
Her arms were bare, showing just how delicate they were.
The wide, blue sash tied just under her breasts illustrated how thin she was.
She looked like a strong wind could break her.
She certainly didn’t look like someone who belonged on the arm of someone nicknamed the Duke of Ice.
A wave of possessiveness filled him at the sight of her. He wanted to protect her and ensure that she was well cared for, for the rest of her life. All because of a damned dress.
“Your Grace?” She looked uncertain now. “What do you think?”
He turned away. “It’s beautiful.” His voice was slightly huskier than he meant it to be. “If you like it, then you’ll have a dress just like it.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Even though he wasn’t looking at her, he could hear the smile in her voice.
That dress reminded him that she was a lady, and a vulnerable one at that.
He had no business thinking rakish thoughts about her, and he needed to work better at controlling himself.
They simply had a business arrangement. She would get him out of dating every eligible lady of the ton and he would ensure she and her sister would have a chance at finding decent husbands.
When she was finished trying on dresses, she made an appointment to try on the new ball gown for alterations in a few days. Evan paid for the dresses, including a small bonus for making the ball gown in such a short time.
After they left the store, Joanna was giggling. “I haven’t ordered a dress since my first Season! I forgot how much fun that was!”
“I am glad,” he said softly. “Truly. It was a joy watching you.”
She blushed a little. “I suppose I am still entertaining for you, then?”
“You are always entertaining to me. I believe some jewelry and accessories are next. You will be needing some new gloves and shoes to go with the dresses, after all.”
“Oh, I can borrow those things from Penelope. It’s all right.”
He raised an eyebrow at her. “I insist. You must look the part of a future duchess.”
“Why would you go through all of this trouble for me?” Her brow furrowed as she looked up at him. “Especially considering that this isn’t a real courtship,” she whispered the last part so quietly, he doubted even her maid had heard.
Because you deserve all of this and more. I cannot give you my heart, but I can at least make you comfortable. He smirked at her, hoping his thoughts and emotions were not playing out on his face as he spoke. “It’s because I want to. And I am used to getting what I want, Miss Thorne.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes, but grinned anyway. “Of course, Your Grace. How could I have forgotten?”
They stopped at more stores, where he bought her several pairs of new gloves and new shoes, all in the latest styles.
Their last shop was the jewelry store. The salesman showed her many pairs of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. She carefully chose ones that would match her new dresses.
“There is another necklace, which I believe you would like,” the man said. He produced a box from under the counter and opened it up. Inside, nestled in a bed of satin, was a necklace encrusted with blue diamonds.
Joanna’s breath caught as she looked at it. “It’s beautiful,” she said. As if she were transfixed, she reached out to touch one of the gems.
“This necklace is truly one of a kind,” the jeweler said. “These oval-cut blue diamonds range in size from half a carat to ten carats. They are held together with a strand of pure gold.”
Joanna blinked and pulled her hand back. “This is lovely. Truly. But I think it’s too much—”
“You should put it on,” Evan interrupted. “I want to see it on you.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “I suppose there is no harm in trying it on.”
Evan took the necklace from the jeweler as Joanna positioned herself in front of the mirror. He stood close enough to her to inhale her perfume, which was a delightful mix of lavender and lilac.
He carefully draped the necklace around her neck. As he fastened the clasp into place, his fingers brushed against her soft, cool skin. Her breath hitched slightly from the touch, which sent a fresh wave of desire through him.
Joanna stared at her reflection, a slight smile on her face as she looked at the jewels, which sparkled in the light.
“We will take it,” Evan said.
She turned to look up at him, eyes wide. “No, really, I cannot—”
“You like it, do you not?”
“Yes, of course I do.”
He smiled. “Then I want to see you wearing it at the ball. I think it would look absolutely stunning combined with your new gown.”
She blushed and nodded slowly. He unclasped the necklace for her, careful not to brush her skin again, for fear of truly losing his mind. He turned to the jeweler and handed the necklace back to him. “We will take the necklace.”
The man beamed. “Excellent, Your Grace.” He wrapped up their purchases for them, and they left the shop.
Once they were outside, Joanna turned to him. “Thank you,” she said. “For all of this. It’s truly amazing. I am sorry I cannot buy all of these for myself, and I promise you can have all of them back when this is over. It’s only fair.”
He didn’t like the idea of her returning the presents at the end of the Season. It left a bad taste in his mouth. So he simply smiled. “You don’t have to worry about that,” he said. “As long as I am courting you, you don’t have to worry about what things cost. Just if you enjoy them.”
She bit her lip, which was a nervous habit that was quickly becoming distracting for him. “But I should worry about them. It’s too much.”
“Is it really so bad that I want to dress you up in beautiful things?” Without realizing it, he moved closer to her.
Her maid was busy arranging the packages with all of their purchases into his carriage, so she wasn’t paying attention.
“I want the lady on my arm to look like a goddess. I think that’s a worthy investment. Don’t you?”
He leaned down, wondering how nice it would feel to kiss her soft, plump lips.
Let me kiss you, my dear. I think I will go mad if I don’t kiss you at least once before we must say goodbye forever.