talent for drawing . " He smiled as he gazed at the picture again. "However, I can’t say it isn’t a grand thought."
James could have cheerfully strangled his friend. "I believe I’ll head over to Jackson ’s. You look like if you could use the exercise. Care to join me?"
Stephen continued to grin. "I certainly know better than to box with you when you’re in such a foul mood."
"Tell me about your new ladybird."
A shuttered look fell over Stephen’s face, and he put the paper on the table. “She is a lady of unusual talents and has an engaging sense of humor. I enjoy her company."
"Did you two really meet in Vauxhall? She reminds me of a lady’s companion who circled the ton several weeks ago. You wouldn’t happen to be chasing the ton wenches, now, would you?"
Stephen gave him a horrified glance. "I would as soon chase a lady of the ton as you would marry."
James smiled in satisfaction. "Then I think you’d better save your hide and give up this particular lightskirt. There’s something shifty about her."
"I am quite content with the way things are at the moment, but I appreciate your concern." Stephen absently rolled a cigar through his fingers, pausing to smell its aroma. " However , I am curious to know why you’re so interested in my lady friend."
The conversation was heading into territory best avoided. "You have recently returned from a serious situation on the continent. Is it wise to give your trust to a new acquaintance?"
Stephen visibly relaxed. "Times are changing, James. Perhaps it’s time you let down your walls a bit."
James stiffened and changed the subject.
They fell into a comfortable discussion and the tension diminished. This was Stephen. It was inconceivable that something as trivial as a woman should ever come between them.
"Stephen, I really don’t think new clothes are necessary. I have many to choose from in the wardrobe department, and I’m not above making modifications if a garment doesn’t suit."
Stephen had been nattering her for the past week about purchasing new clothes. He swung the curricle wide of a large rut in the road and frowned.
"Calliope, it’s not just evening gowns you require. There are day dresses, morning dresses, bonnets, turbans, gloves, fans—"
"Yes, yes, I’m well aware of what constitutes fashion." She tried to keep the disgruntlement from her voice.
"In your previous post with Lady Simpson weren’t you required to dress for the occasion?"
Calliope shrugged. "Yes, but I could service the same unexceptional frocks and accessories for many occasions. Black, gray and brown are rather easy to use over and over. "
He grimaced. "Those obviously won’t suffice."
"Where are we headed?"
"Madame Giselle’s."
Calliope went rigid. "She is the most exclusive modiste in London ."
"And she will make you gowns damn well better than serviceable."
She mentally tallied her savings. She could not afford more than a few gowns from the renowned French émigré. Calliope looked down at the only gown she possessed that passed for a fashionable day dress. Stephen was right, her wardrobe needed updating.
She sighed. Two gowns. She would purchase two outrageously priced gowns and consider it a necessary expense.
They reached Madame Giselle’s shop in time to see Lady Simpson and Lady Flanders exit.
"I can’t believe the nerve of that woman. I will have Flanders speak to her right away. Refusing us both, the gall!"
Calliope ducked her head as the two angry ladies entered the waiting carriage in front of the shop. It was more of a reflex, because she knew they would never connect Esmerelda to Margaret Stafford.
Calliope grabbed Stephen’s arm as the ladies’ carriage navigated into the street. "Stephen, Madame Giselle will never outfit me with so much as a bolt."
Stephen grinned. "I’m confident if Giselle knew you were
James could have cheerfully strangled his friend. "I believe I’ll head over to Jackson ’s. You look like if you could use the exercise. Care to join me?"
Stephen continued to grin. "I certainly know better than to box with you when you’re in such a foul mood."
"Tell me about your new ladybird."
A shuttered look fell over Stephen’s face, and he put the paper on the table. “She is a lady of unusual talents and has an engaging sense of humor. I enjoy her company."
"Did you two really meet in Vauxhall? She reminds me of a lady’s companion who circled the ton several weeks ago. You wouldn’t happen to be chasing the ton wenches, now, would you?"
Stephen gave him a horrified glance. "I would as soon chase a lady of the ton as you would marry."
James smiled in satisfaction. "Then I think you’d better save your hide and give up this particular lightskirt. There’s something shifty about her."
"I am quite content with the way things are at the moment, but I appreciate your concern." Stephen absently rolled a cigar through his fingers, pausing to smell its aroma. " However , I am curious to know why you’re so interested in my lady friend."
The conversation was heading into territory best avoided. "You have recently returned from a serious situation on the continent. Is it wise to give your trust to a new acquaintance?"
Stephen visibly relaxed. "Times are changing, James. Perhaps it’s time you let down your walls a bit."
James stiffened and changed the subject.
They fell into a comfortable discussion and the tension diminished. This was Stephen. It was inconceivable that something as trivial as a woman should ever come between them.
"Stephen, I really don’t think new clothes are necessary. I have many to choose from in the wardrobe department, and I’m not above making modifications if a garment doesn’t suit."
Stephen had been nattering her for the past week about purchasing new clothes. He swung the curricle wide of a large rut in the road and frowned.
"Calliope, it’s not just evening gowns you require. There are day dresses, morning dresses, bonnets, turbans, gloves, fans—"
"Yes, yes, I’m well aware of what constitutes fashion." She tried to keep the disgruntlement from her voice.
"In your previous post with Lady Simpson weren’t you required to dress for the occasion?"
Calliope shrugged. "Yes, but I could service the same unexceptional frocks and accessories for many occasions. Black, gray and brown are rather easy to use over and over. "
He grimaced. "Those obviously won’t suffice."
"Where are we headed?"
"Madame Giselle’s."
Calliope went rigid. "She is the most exclusive modiste in London ."
"And she will make you gowns damn well better than serviceable."
She mentally tallied her savings. She could not afford more than a few gowns from the renowned French émigré. Calliope looked down at the only gown she possessed that passed for a fashionable day dress. Stephen was right, her wardrobe needed updating.
She sighed. Two gowns. She would purchase two outrageously priced gowns and consider it a necessary expense.
They reached Madame Giselle’s shop in time to see Lady Simpson and Lady Flanders exit.
"I can’t believe the nerve of that woman. I will have Flanders speak to her right away. Refusing us both, the gall!"
Calliope ducked her head as the two angry ladies entered the waiting carriage in front of the shop. It was more of a reflex, because she knew they would never connect Esmerelda to Margaret Stafford.
Calliope grabbed Stephen’s arm as the ladies’ carriage navigated into the street. "Stephen, Madame Giselle will never outfit me with so much as a bolt."
Stephen grinned. "I’m confident if Giselle knew you were
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