Alicia by Laura Matthews

granddaughter, she made no demur at the selection and had the parcel wrapped and given to the maid. Felicia had not returned with the bonnet, and Lady Stronbert quickly shepherded her party out the door as she promised to buy them a special tea. Miss Helen gave a last, lingering look toward the rear of the shop where Felicia had disappeared and followed in her grandmother’s wake.
    Mr. Dean sighed and Mr. Allerton wiped his brow. Alicia could not help but note these signs and asked, “Does Lady Stronbert always cause such a commotion when she shops?”
    “Yes, it is ever the same,”Mr. Dean remarked. “I would not have you think that it is only this shop she seems to hold in aversion. It is the same everywhere she goes. Poor Miss Helen. Your daughter is adept at decorating the bonnets, Lady Coombs. I myself have long passed the point where I can understand what is in fashion.”
    “Yes, Felicia has a certain knack and had already agreed to work on some of them for me. I had not intended...well, never mind. Shall we continue with the books?”
    Felicia arrived then with the finished bonnet and set it carefully on the shelf. An inspection of the other bonnets there showed a half dozen she felt could stand improvement, and she lifted them down. Each one was then taken to the ribbons and laces and she selected those items she would need for her work. Before she left the shop she poked her head into the doorway of the office to inform her mother that she would be at the inn. Her mother smiled her appreciation and returned to her work.
    An hour later Mr. Dean was obviously too fatigued to continue and she urged him to return to the cottage. As she could not continue the work without his assistance, she wandered into the shop and explored the smaller room while Mr. Allerton waited on some customers in the front. She was surprised to see Miss Helen enter again, this time accompanied by a man who looked vaguely familiar, perhaps because the girl resembled him somewhat. As Alicia approached them, the girl burst into speech, “We have come back to purchase the bonnet! Papa said over tea that it would be a shame if someone else were to have it, when it was fixed especially for me.”Her countenance glowed with her delight.
    “Lady Coombs?”The man spoke lazily and Alicia immediately recognized his voice. And that was why he had looked familiar; she had caught a hurried glimpse of him as she had slapped Mr. Parker. She felt a flush rise to her cheeks.
    “Yes. Lord Stronbert? I am pleased to meet you. Come, Miss Helen, you shall put on the bonnet for your father and see if he approves of it.”She led the girl to the shelf and lifted down the bonnet with steady hands, but inwardly she was quaking. The shame she had felt at her behavior at the fair had not left her. She arranged the bonnet on the brown curls and tied the ribbon in a bow under the girl’s chin.
    Miss Helen did a little dance step and smiled beguilingly up at her father, who had positioned himself a short distance away. “Well, Papa, shall I have it?”she asked mischievously.
    “Certainly, imp. It is enchanting.”His eyes sought Alicia. “I understand you added the ribbon.”
    “No, no, Papa. It was Lady Coombs’s daughter. Am I right, ma’am? She is your daughter, is she not?”Miss Helen asked anxiously.
    “Indeed she is.”
    Lord Stronbert regarded her with a puzzled frown. “You are perhaps purchasing the shop from Mr. Dean?”
    Alicia occupied herself untying the bonnet as she replied, “Yes. The purchase is almost completed, and Mr. Dean is teaching me the workings. He intends to leave shortly for Cornwall.”
    “Shall you live in his cottage?”Miss Helen asked curiously.
    “Yes, we have bought the cottage as well,”Alicia replied. She took the bonnet over to the counter and began to wrap it, then paused to ask, “Would you rather wear this one and have me wrap yours?”
    “Yes, please. You would not mind, would you, Papa?”
    “Certainly