Chapter Eleven #2
Lavinia wanted him to order impeccably tailored white linen shirts to be worn beneath superfine tailcoats in blue or brown, paired with buff or fawn-colored pantaloons and waistcoats that would range from striped satin to plain cream.
Multiple cravats—some plain muslin for everyday wear, others embroidered silk for making calls—would need to be tied with the precision that marked a true gentleman.
For evening entertainments, the requisite black tailcoat and knee breeches would be accompanied by an ivory silk waistcoat and white silk stockings.
Whether braving London’s unpredictable weather in a greatcoat with triple shoulder capes or riding through his estates in waterproof wool, James would finally appear as his station demanded.
However, he suspected Lavinia’s ambitious plans would ensure his wardrobe commanded far more attention than he preferred.
James stifled a sigh. This was going to be a long morning.
Mr. Drayton adjusted his spectacles nervously as he read through her requests. “This is extensive, Lady Linley.”
“I realize some of these items will have to be purchased in London,” Lavinia said.
“But we’ll expect you to make the clothing.
Lord Ashford has insisted we have those done locally.
” She said this in a tone that expressed disapproval but resignation, as if she were an embattled soldier accepting the faulty missive of her superior.
“Yes, my lady,” Mr. Drayton said.
“Shall we get him measured? Up you go, my lord.” Lavinia flicked her fingers toward the pedestal.
James stepped onto the platform, watching Lavinia through the triple mirror as she circled him with narrowed eyes before taking it upon herself to step behind the counter to look at the various fabrics.
Mr. Drayton coughed and stepped in with the measuring tape. Lavinia continued dictating fabric weights and lapel shapes with the precision of a general planning an invasion. James stood stoically as the tailor’s cool fingers pressed the tape against his inseam, his chest, his neck.
Lady Lavinia continued without seeming to take a breath with instructions about materials and colors.
“Yes to ivory, pale blue, and burgundy. No to lemon yellow. It drains the color from Lord Ashford’s face.”
“I wasn’t aware I owned a lemon-yellow cravat from which you gathered this opinion,” James said, smiling.
“I don’t need to see it. I have an excellent sense for these things. Trust me when I say no yellow for you. Waistcoats should be one gold-threaded, one black brocade, and a third in deep green velvet. It sounds daring, but trust me. With your wide shoulders, you can carry it.”
James looked at the ceiling and counted to ten.
She moved closer to the tailor, lowering her voice to a theatrical whisper. “Ensure the jackets accentuate his height, Mr. Drayton. A man should look imposing in evening wear.” In a normal tone she said, “Should you have a walking stick, I wonder? Perhaps with the head of a lion?”
“A lion?” James asked, meeting her gaze in the mirror.
“You are, after all, being reintroduced to Society. We must create an impression.”
He gave a tight smile. “I don’t need a walking stick, Lady Linley.”
“Fine. We can discuss it at a later time,” Lavinia said.
“That will do for now, my lord.” Mr. Drayton stood.
“Thank you, Mr. Drayton,” James said.
When they finally exited into the crisp village air, he exhaled deeply, loosening his cravat with one finger.
“I am very pleased.” Lavinia adjusted her gloves with practiced elegance as her hat plumes fluttered in the breeze. “You will cause quite a sensation this Season.”
“I was hoping to avoid sensation and simply blend in,” James said.
“Too late for that. Your return alone is sensation enough. You’ll be the talk of the Season.”
At that moment, the door of the seamstress’s shop next door opened and out stepped Cecily and Georgiana, heads bowed together as they adjusted their bonnets.
James straightened instinctively, a tension of an entirely different sort claiming his body. Georgiana’s smile was still lit with joy as she glanced at her sister, sunlight catching in her light hair where it escaped her bonnet.
Lavinia paused beside him, her entire body going still in that way predators do when sensing competition. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Cecily spotted them and froze, her laughter dying mid-breath.
Georgiana’s gaze met James’s across the cobblestones. His stomach fluttered and his thoughts went fuzzy. She was so pretty standing there that he could scarcely breathe.
“Perfect timing, girls.” Lavinia’s voice carried a calculating edge. “I trust you’ve ordered everything Cecily needs for her debut? Though of course, we’ll need to discuss my wardrobe as well.”
James hesitated, watching color rise in Georgiana’s cheeks as she looked down, straightening her gloves with careful precision.
“Your wardrobe, Mother?” Georgiana asked carefully.
“Naturally. I’ll be accompanying Cecily to London as her chaperone.
One cannot simply send a young girl into Society unattended.
” Lavinia’s eyes were calculating, darting between James and Georgiana with dangerous intelligence.
“And since Lord Ashford has been so generous in settling my little difficulties with Mr. Craven, I’m sure he understands that a proper chaperone must be appropriately dressed.
I can’t accompany my daughter looking like someone’s poor cousin. ”
“I’ll be her companion,” Georgiana said quickly. “We’ve already ordered dresses for me.”
Lavinia continued on, as determined as a hawk driving for prey.
“Don’t be absurd. You wouldn’t send a girl into the lion’s den of Mayfair without her mother’s guiding hand.
A chaperone is required, and I am her mother.
Who better? Georgiana isn’t educated in the ways of the ton.
I’ve already begun thinking of where we’ll stay in Town. Somewhere fashionable, obviously.”
Georgiana shook her head. “No, Mother. I’ll be with her. This is not about you.”
“And we know you’ll take over and make it all about you,” Cecily said, flushing. “I want Georgiana.”
Lavinia waved her hand dismissively. “Your sister will be working.”
“I’ll take whatever time I need to ensure Cecily’s safety,” Georgiana said.
James could see by the worried dip of her chin that it would indeed be a sacrifice.
How was she to earn a living if she spent months in London with Cecily?
Then, the solution popped into his head.
It required a fib, but this was war. “In fact, I believe it’s the perfect time for Georgiana to be in Town.
I’ll be able to make introductions, sharing with everyone that she’s the one who restored my family’s country home.
We’ll make it a mission to find the next client. ”
Lavinia tilted her head. “That will hardly be helpful to Cecily. A proper debut requires presence, style. Influence. Not the older sister selling her wares.”
James spoke softly but firmly. “Lady Linley, since I’m the one paying for her Season, I get to decide how it’s all to go. Georgie will be the one to accompany Cecily. That’s final.”
“You just called her Georgie.” Lavinia stared at him, a glint in her eyes that made it all too obvious what she was thinking.
“We’re working closely together, Mother,” Georgiana rushed to say. “We call each other by our first names. It’s nothing to be concerned over.”
“Oh, is that right?” Lavinia asked, brows raised.
“Because to me, it tells an entirely different story. Lord Ashford sponsors your sister’s debut, settles my debts without question, and you address each other with such…
familiarity. You’re together day in and day out.
Only a fool wouldn’t see what’s going on here. ”
“Lady Linley, consider yourself lucky to have daughters looking after you,” James said, heat rising in his voice.
“You are not to criticize them or manipulate this situation to your own benefit. If you continue in this way, you will no longer be welcome in my home. As far as your accusations about the nature of our relationship, frankly, it’s none of your concern.
We are colleagues working together. That’s all. ”
Even as he said it, he knew it was not so. If he thought his reactions were that of a colleague, he was the fool.
What was he to do now? He was falling in love with his architect.
Lavinia’s lips parted, but no sound came out.
For one sharp second, she looked stunned.
Then she gave a brittle laugh. “Well, I guess you’ve put me in my place, Lord Ashford.
As usual, my daughters think of no one but themselves.
As far as the pair of you goes, I’m not an idiot.
It’s perfectly clear what’s going on here. ”
Georgiana’s cheeks flushed, but she held her mother’s gaze. “This is about Cecily’s future. Not yours. Not mine. The sooner you understand that, the better.”
Lavinia didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she smoothed her gloves as if the gesture gave her control.
“Go on, then. If it’s already decided, I’ll simply have to find a way to amuse myself in the country.
Alone. Excluded from my own daughter’s debut while you three are off to London.
I’ll wilt away out here in the middle of nowhere. ”
James raised an eyebrow. “I’m sure you’ll manage.”
Lavinia huffed, gave them all a withering look and then swept down the street like a wounded duchess, her plume bobbing indignantly with every step.
The village street was oddly quiet in her wake. A dog barked in the distance. Somewhere, someone was chopping wood.
“Well. That went about as expected.” Georgiana exhaled, closing her eyes for the briefest second.
James glanced at her, arms folded. “She really is something, isn’t she?”
A corner of Georgiana’s mouth twitched before she sobered. “I have a bad feeling about this.”
“I do as well,” Cecily said, sounding near tears. “She’ll ruin it somehow.”
“No, I won’t allow that,” James said. “Please, both of you, try not to worry. Everything’s going to be all right in the end.”
Was that true? Or was this whole thing ending with his heart broken over a woman who would never want him and sweet Cecily without a husband?