Chapter Five
A Visit to the Modiste
When Fiona reached the bottom of the stairs, she came face-to-face with Hansen.
“Good morning, Miss Rafferty. May I show you to the breakfast room?”
Did they have a dining room for dinner and another for breakfast? A third for lunch? She resisted the urge to giggle in front of the very proper majordomo.
In the breakfast room, Lord Seldon sat at the head of the table, partaking heartily of bacon and eggs as he scanned a folded newspaper. She hesitated, uncertain where to sit, but a footman who was standing against the wall came over and pulled out a chair to the earl’s right.
“Good morning, my lord.” Fiona sat and unfolded her napkin.
“Good morning, Miss Rafferty. Did you rest well?”
“Yes, I did.” The food smelled delicious.
The earl indicated the sideboard. “You must be famished.”
“I am, rather.” She took some scrambled eggs, potatoes, and toast, finding it a bit early for meat. The footman stepped forward and poured some tea into the china cup at her place setting.
She had eaten nearly half her breakfast before Lord Seldon put aside his paper.
“I trust you found your room comfortable, Miss Rafferty?”
“Oh, yes, it is quite lovely. And it was very thoughtful to send Betty up to help me.”
His brow furrowed slightly. “Betty?”
“The maid…”
“That would have been at my mother’s direction, or our housekeeper Mrs. Talbot. But I’m gratified you found her useful.”
She blushed. Of course, an earl would not be familiar with a lady’s maid. She had to remember it was a much bigger household than her former circumstances and not show her ignorance.
Taking another bite of eggs, she stole a glance at him.
The earl was handsome in an austere way.
His dark chestnut hair was cut somewhat short and carefully arranged to appear artless.
He had the most unusual eyes, blue-gray and set under dark brows.
She studied his classic profile, with its slightly aquiline nose. There was a hint of a cleft just below…
“Is there something that puzzles you?”
She jumped and nearly dropped her fork. “I just wondered…who tailors your coats?” She groaned inwardly at her ridiculous question, but it was the only one that came to mind.
He raised an eyebrow. “Maxwell in Bond Street. I hope you approve.”
“Very much,” she choked.
“But I think Madame Brigitte will do in your case,” he said, looking amused.
She pushed aside her plate. Immediately it disappeared, whisked away by the same liveried footman.
“About that, Lord Seldon—”
“I hope you won’t cross me on the matter of your wardrobe. It is a bit early for an argument. You will need the proper attire to appear to advantage. While the quality of your clothing seems suitable, it’s several seasons behind the current fashion.”
“I hope there is a compliment hidden somewhere in that observation.” She had reached the same conclusion just minutes ago, but he had no right to mention it. “The question is not if I need to expand my wardrobe, but whether you will pay the bill to do it.”
“I thought I made myself clear on that subject.”
Before she could respond, Valentina entered with a sweep of skirts and the scent of honeysuckle.
“Good morning. Fiona, how lovely you look. That is a very flattering shade of blue.” She settled in the chair opposite, shook open her napkin, and placed it across her lap.
Valentina wore a lovely high-waisted gown in yellow, and delicate gold earbobs.
“I do hope you slept soundly. How exhausted you must have been.”
“I was quite tired, yes,” Fiona answered automatically, eyeing Lord Seldon, who had finished the last bite of toast and returned to his paper. He evidently considered their conversation closed.
“Good morning, Richard. Was that your carriage I heard early this morning? We missed you at dinner last night.”
“After my business with Falworth, I decided to stay at the club.”
The ever-vigilant footman poured Valentina’s tea and removed the earl’s plate.
“Oh…was your headache worse?” Valentina took a slice of toast from the plate nearby, adding some jam.
“It abated. I thought of taking the four chestnuts out today. Perhaps an excursion in the landau around Hyde Park?”
“Oh, wonderful!” She clapped her hands in delight.
“Fiona, Richard has the most perfect set of matched chestnut geldings, all with white stockings. We set the town on its ear when he takes them out. Besides, it is always such a pleasure to watch Richard drive. They say he has the best hands in London.”
“An exaggeration,” the earl murmured. “My horses are excellent. Most come from County Wicklow, Miss Rafferty. I suppose you have a history with horses?”
Typical for the English to expect everyone from Ireland to be in love with horses. She preferred to bet on one, rather than ride sidesaddle. “I don’t. As a child, I rode in the West Indies and became proficient, but I am a city girl at heart.”
He raised an eyebrow at her shortness. “I thought a drive in the park would be an excellent opportunity for you to make your initial appearance of the Season. Then, at Lady Sefton’s gathering tonight, we will offer a more formal introduction.”
“If I can find a suitable dress,” Fiona muttered, somewhat ungraciously. The earl ignored her.
“What plans have you today, Valentina?” he asked.
“Last night at dinner, Mama mentioned taking Fiona shopping this morning.”
“Excellent. Shall we plan on three o’clock for our drive, then? You will inform Mother.” The earl rose from the table. “I am sparring at Jackson’s with Denys Spencer this morning, so I will leave you both to your entertainment.”
“You must give my best to Denys. I hope he will attend tonight,” Valentina said wistfully.
“Lord Seldon, there are matters we must discuss.” Fiona stood up. “My clothing bill, for one, and any options I might have besides living here as your ward.”
He stared down his nose at her in the most arrogant way.
“Neither subject is open for discussion, Miss Rafferty. You will dress in the most current fashion and there is no alternative to your living arrangements. I am your legal guardian, and I expect you to comply gracefully and not fight me in these matters. It is my responsibility to arrange for a suitable husband and to see that you are comfortably settled. Unless you’d rather live as some reclusive spinster companion to my youngest sister. That is also an option.”
She disliked that raised eyebrow intensely. “My lord—”
“I am relieved that you aren’t going to argue with me, Miss Rafferty. That would make for an uncomfortable situation indeed.”
And with that, he was gone. Fiona stared after him, highly irritated, but also with some appreciation. She would need to sharpen her skills if she was going to cross swords with her guardian.
“Why are you so upset that Richard is responsible for your needs?” Valentina asked.
“He is very generous to all of us, and there is plenty to spare. My brother has managed things wonderfully and brought the estate back from the edge of ruin. I hope you’ll stay, Fiona.
I’ve always longed for a sister my age. We shall spend our first Season together and become great friends. ”
It was hard to remain peevish in the face of her goodwill. “I would love to be your friend, and I will try to be happy here.”
“I’ll confide a secret—it’s rather useless to cross Richard. He always has his way. It’s inescapable.”
“How do you bear it?”
She laughed. “Oh, he is mostly fair in his decisions. My brother can be impatient and high-handed and he forgets to have a sense of humor at times. He demands perfection of himself and others, and I often wonder if that’s not the source of his headaches.”
Fiona agreed wholeheartedly with her assessment but decided to change the subject.
“Do you have a piano in your home, Valentina?”
“Why, yes. Do you play? Mama had Richard buy the thing, hoping Octavia and I might become proficient, but neither of us developed the aptitude. Or the desire. It just sits and that is a shame.”
“I’ve played the piano since I was five years old, and three years ago, I was accepted into the Dublin Music Conservatory.”
“Oh, my. I didn’t know women were allowed to attend a place like that. You must be very good, and I can’t wait to hear you play something for us. Please use it as much as you like.”
“Your brother won’t mind? I have missed practicing so much. I’ll try not to disturb anyone.”
“There is no worry. Our so-called music room is at the back of the house. It’s a second drawing room we rarely occupy. My futile attempts to play never disturbed anyone. Richard played briefly as a boy. He loves music.”
“Really?”
“Yes. As I understand, he had quite an aptitude.”
“Do you think I could bring a small trunk of music to the room?”
“There is a corner that will be perfect. I’ll have Hansen see to it. Will you play for us today? Mama will be thrilled to discover your talent.”
“If the piano has not been played for a long time, it might need tuning.”
“I’m sure Hansen can make an appointment for that.
” She rose, shaking out her skirt. “I’ll go see if Mama is about yet and let her know about it.
She meets with Mrs. Talbot, our housekeeper, first thing in the morning, then does her correspondence.
” Valentina paused in the doorway. “And we will visit Madame Brigitte. Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes, I’m embarrassed to admit.
You will come with us tonight, won’t you?
Lady Sefton is one of Almack’s most influential patronesses. ”
“A poetry reading?” Fiona asked doubtfully. “And what is Almack’s?”