The Reluctant Escort. Mary Nichols

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СКАЧАТЬ to limit her spending was abandoned in the face of her pleasure.

      ‘Which shall it be?’ she asked, looking from a carriage dress and matching pelisse in soft green velvet to an afternoon gown of blue sarcenet. ‘I cannot make up my mind, so you choose.’

      ‘Then have them both.’

      ‘Oh, you are the most generous of men!’ she exclaimed as Mrs Solomon began folding the gowns to pack into boxes before he should change his mind. ‘I am beginning to revise my opinion that you are not chivalrous.’

      He bowed towards her. ‘And I am gratified to hear you say so.’

      ‘Madam will need underthings?’ Mrs Solomon queried, determined not to let this customer go until she had wrung every last drop out of the transaction.

      ‘Naturally she will,’ he said.

      ‘And she must have at least one ballgown,’ she went on. ‘I have just the thing.’ She disappeared through a curtain at the back of the premises and came back carrying a large dress box. ‘This was made for a young lady who changed her mind about buying it. You are of a size, I think.’ She opened the box and held the gown up against Molly.

      The overskirt was made of the palest blue-green crepe with an open front which floated round her like shimmering water. It had puffed sleeves and a deep round neckline filled with rouched lace and the bodice was caught under the bosom with a cluster of silk flowers in pale colours of pink, blue and lilac; more of the flowers trimmed the hem. The underskirt was of white satin. Molly ran her hands lovingly over it. ‘Oh, it is beautiful, but I do not know…’

      ‘Try it on,’ Duncan said.

      He watched as she disappeared into an adjoining room to put it on, a procedure which had been going on all morning. He had thought he would be bored by it, but he was captivated. She was so easy to please and he guessed she had had few such pleasures in her young life. He was prepared to wager that Harriet had all the gowns she needed, while her daughter had nothing but what would suit a schoolgirl.

      He looked up as Molly came back to stand before him. The gown fitted perfectly and her simple beauty took his breath away so that, for a moment, he could not speak.

      ‘What do you think?’ she demanded. ‘Is it not beautiful?’

      He swallowed hard. ‘Indeed, yes.’

      ‘It could have been made for the young lady,’ Mrs Solomon said.

      ‘But it was not,’ Duncan put in. ‘It has been left on your hands…’

      Molly held her breath; she wanted to have the gown so very much and if the Captain haggled the woman might not let him have it.

      ‘I am sure we can come to an arrangement,’ she said with a simpering smile. ‘For such a good customer.’

      ‘Wrap everything up, put it into a trunk and send it to The Bell Hotel,’ he instructed, pulling a purse out of his frockcoat. ‘And I want a discount for cash.’

      ‘Certainly, sir.’ The sight of Duncan’s hoard of hard-won coins was too much to resist.

      Molly could hardly contain her excitement. Somehow or other, she was going to make an opportunity to wear that gown when they arrived in London. Already, she could imagine the occasion—the ballroom, the lights and music and the elegant young men clamouring to dance with her. Her mama would be very proud of her and not ashamed of her as she always seemed to be.

      She chose to ignore the fact that they still had a long way to go before reaching the capital and she was almost sure the Captain was a wanted man. A more crucial problem was that she did not know how to dance. ‘Captain,’ she said, as they left the shop and turned back towards their lodgings, ‘can you dance?’

      ‘Tolerably well,’ he said. ‘But if you think I am going to take you to a ball…’

      ‘No, not that; I was hoping you might teach me the steps. Mama always said there was plenty of time for that and so I never learned. And I should like to waltz.’

      ‘I am not sure young unmarried ladies are allowed to waltz.’

      ‘Why not?’

      ‘I believe it is considered improper.’

      ‘Why?’

      ‘Because of the way the man holds his partner. It is a little…’ He paused and smiled. ‘A little too intimate for unmarried ladies.’

      ‘Oh. There is a very great deal I do not know, isn’t there?’

      ‘Yes, I am afraid there is.’

      ‘Then you must teach me.’

      ‘Oh, no,’ he said, laughing. ‘I have undertaken to take you to your mother, nothing more. It is her place to instruct you.’

      ‘Yes, but she is always so busy and it would be so much better if I could learn it all before we arrive in London. Then if an important invitation should come my way I would be ready.’ ‘No.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘I have more pressing things to do.’

      ‘Like holding up coaches and gaming. I wish you would not do such dangerous things. I cannot bear the thought of you being shut up in that castle.’

      He turned to look at her, trotting along beside him, trusting him completely, and a twinge of conscience smote him. What he was doing was highly improper and what was worse he was allowing himself to use her to allay the suspicions of the custodians of law and order. The fact that he had spent almost his last sovereign paying for her clothing in no way relieved his feelings of guilt.

      ‘I have no intention of allowing myself to be shut up inside it,’ he said brusquely.

      ‘Why are you so blue-devilled? Is it because you have laid out more money on me than you intended? Mama will reimburse you, I am sure.’

      ‘I have not laid out more than I intended,’ he said, knowing perfectly well he would never accept repayment from Harriet, even if it were offered, which he doubted. ‘What use are sovereigns except for spending?’

      ‘Especially when they are not your own,’ she retorted.

      ‘I did not notice you refusing to take advantage of them,’ he snapped.

      ‘You said your pockets were at my disposal. I think it is very unkind of you to fly into the boughs just because I said I should not like you to be shut up in the castle.’

      ‘Then there is no more to be said on the subject.’

      ‘What are we going to do now?’

      ‘Go back to The Bell and eat a good dinner.’

      ‘Do you think Mr Upjohn will have arrived?’

      ‘I certainly hope so.’

      He shut his mouth so firmly after speaking, she knew it would be unwise to pester him. She walked on beside him, hobbling a little because the tight shoes were pinching her feet, and she wished she had asked if she might wear a pair of the new СКАЧАТЬ