her, but he did not. He had ventured so far from his usual haunts and changed his long-ingrained habits, just to find her. What could be the meaning of it?
Five
Molly had waited outside Lady Cecelia Montague’s house for almost an hour before the woman finally emerged with a female companion, both dressed in walking gowns and lavishly trimmed bonnets. Lady Cecelia’s outfit was the grander of the two, her sleeves puffier, the hem decorated with an overabundance of frills and rosettes. But the style shortened her height and squared off her figure. It always hurt Molly’s eyes to see a woman treat her shape so poorly and fall victim to fashion’s less flattering foibles. Her friend, dressed in a simpler style, was lighter and more elegant. As Molly had often observed, those with the coin did not always have the taste to go with it. Fortunately, she was there to change all that.
At least the rain had stopped today, and spring was in the air. Molly hoped it might make her ladyship think of new dresses and a refreshing change of style.
Dashing across the street, she slipped between passing carriages and managed to align herself directly in the lady’s route. Some encounter was now unavoidable. Unless, of course, the lady chose to snub her completely, as she well might. But Molly was quite desperate and prepared to make this mad attempt, even at the risk of her own humiliation.
Heart beating steadily, she approached along the path.
It would not be proper to speak unless she was noticed and acknowledged, but it seemed as if that would not happen. There was only one thing to be done. Molly gathered a deep breath and then exhaled in a low squeal of distress. Fanning her hands around her bonnet, she danced in a rapid circle.
“A wasp, a wasp. Oh!”
Her anxious gaze following the invisible path of the fantasy insect, she cried out for Lady Cecelia to be mindful of it. Instantly the other woman and her companion twisted about in a similar state of panic, Molly’s performance being so gravely convincing that they both swore they heard the villainous buzzing around their bonnets. In fact, the effect was far greater than she’d expected, and as those two ladies spun like children’s tops, another small group walking behind them were stirred into the same action. Not even knowing the cause of their plight, they became infected by fear of something unseen.
Molly hurried forward, removed her glove, and slapped it against Lady Cecelia’s skirt and then her sleeve. “Begging your pardon, your ladyship, but I should not like you to be stung.” She stamped her foot hard upon the pavement. “There! You are saved.”
The lady’s friend had almost staggered dizzily into the path of a passing curricle, but Molly grabbed her hand just in time, pulling her to safety by the width of a bonnet ribbon.
“Robbins, is it not?” Lady Cecelia muttered breathlessly, straightening her gown. “You are back in London? I thought you had gone into the country.”
“Did you not receive my card, your ladyship? I left one with your footman at the door some days ago.”
“I…do not remember it, but I—”
“I returned to open my own dressmaking business.” Molly briskly pulled on her glove and looked away down the street, as if she were Lady Mercy dealing with a passing acquaintance. “In fact, I am on my way now to a fitting for a special client.”
Lady Cecelia blinked against the bright sun. “Indeed?”
“I did not expect such a demand for my services, but it seems there are many ladies in Town eager for something different, a daring change of style.” She gave the highly decorated lady a hasty up-and-down glance and then turned her eyes back to her glove. “They are quite bored by the usual overdone fashions, and…well, it was most pleasant to see you, Lady Cecelia. You must forgive me, but I am in rather a hurry.”
“I see.” Lady Cecelia managed a tight smile, and as Molly moved to pass, she touched her arm
Five
Molly had waited outside Lady Cecelia Montague’s house for almost an hour before the woman finally emerged with a female companion, both dressed in walking gowns and lavishly trimmed bonnets. Lady Cecelia’s outfit was the grander of the two, her sleeves puffier, the hem decorated with an overabundance of frills and rosettes. But the style shortened her height and squared off her figure. It always hurt Molly’s eyes to see a woman treat her shape so poorly and fall victim to fashion’s less flattering foibles. Her friend, dressed in a simpler style, was lighter and more elegant. As Molly had often observed, those with the coin did not always have the taste to go with it. Fortunately, she was there to change all that.
At least the rain had stopped today, and spring was in the air. Molly hoped it might make her ladyship think of new dresses and a refreshing change of style.
Dashing across the street, she slipped between passing carriages and managed to align herself directly in the lady’s route. Some encounter was now unavoidable. Unless, of course, the lady chose to snub her completely, as she well might. But Molly was quite desperate and prepared to make this mad attempt, even at the risk of her own humiliation.
Heart beating steadily, she approached along the path.
It would not be proper to speak unless she was noticed and acknowledged, but it seemed as if that would not happen. There was only one thing to be done. Molly gathered a deep breath and then exhaled in a low squeal of distress. Fanning her hands around her bonnet, she danced in a rapid circle.
“A wasp, a wasp. Oh!”
Her anxious gaze following the invisible path of the fantasy insect, she cried out for Lady Cecelia to be mindful of it. Instantly the other woman and her companion twisted about in a similar state of panic, Molly’s performance being so gravely convincing that they both swore they heard the villainous buzzing around their bonnets. In fact, the effect was far greater than she’d expected, and as those two ladies spun like children’s tops, another small group walking behind them were stirred into the same action. Not even knowing the cause of their plight, they became infected by fear of something unseen.
Molly hurried forward, removed her glove, and slapped it against Lady Cecelia’s skirt and then her sleeve. “Begging your pardon, your ladyship, but I should not like you to be stung.” She stamped her foot hard upon the pavement. “There! You are saved.”
The lady’s friend had almost staggered dizzily into the path of a passing curricle, but Molly grabbed her hand just in time, pulling her to safety by the width of a bonnet ribbon.
“Robbins, is it not?” Lady Cecelia muttered breathlessly, straightening her gown. “You are back in London? I thought you had gone into the country.”
“Did you not receive my card, your ladyship? I left one with your footman at the door some days ago.”
“I…do not remember it, but I—”
“I returned to open my own dressmaking business.” Molly briskly pulled on her glove and looked away down the street, as if she were Lady Mercy dealing with a passing acquaintance. “In fact, I am on my way now to a fitting for a special client.”
Lady Cecelia blinked against the bright sun. “Indeed?”
“I did not expect such a demand for my services, but it seems there are many ladies in Town eager for something different, a daring change of style.” She gave the highly decorated lady a hasty up-and-down glance and then turned her eyes back to her glove. “They are quite bored by the usual overdone fashions, and…well, it was most pleasant to see you, Lady Cecelia. You must forgive me, but I am in rather a hurry.”
“I see.” Lady Cecelia managed a tight smile, and as Molly moved to pass, she touched her arm
Similar Books
