was not, Tony. Aunt Westfield would never allow me to wear something unacceptable.”
Anthony smothered a smile. “I am sure if you and Aunt Westfield picked it out, the dress was perfect.” The poor girl looked terribly distressed, and Anthony didn’t believe it all had to do with a gown. “What other things are they driving you mad about?”
She glanced away. “You. His mother has made a few comments under her breath about Lindal marrying Somerton’s sister. I think she wonders if it will look bad on them.”
He fisted his hands wanting to throw something across the room. What he did should have no impact on Genna. Although, he knew it always would. More and more, the respectable wife idea was seeping into his brain.
“Do you love him, Genna? And I mean truly deep down in your heart?”
Genna stared at her jonquil gown.
“Can you imagine your life without him?” he whispered.
She nodded slightly. “I can. And sometimes I think it might be better.”
Anthony closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the sofa. His father would be furious and probably blame her backing out of the wedding on him. According to his father, everything was his fault. Why should this be any different?
“Genna, if you honestly believe that then you need to put a stop to this wedding before the plans go any further.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I just don’t know how to tell him.”
Anthony didn’t need to ask to which “him” she referred. Lindal would take her rejection with a stiff upper lip. Her father, however, would not.
“If you would like to tell him before Thursday, I will stand with you. But I leave for a country party on Thursday and won’t return until the following week.”
“Thank you, Tony. I shall let you know what I decide. I believe I may take the weekend to think about my feelings for Lindal. Aunt Westfield and I are also attending a party with Lindal’s family.”
“Enjoy yourself, then.”
“And you, brother.”
Anthony knew he would not be able to enjoy himself this week. Along with getting this job done, he would also be fighting a damning attraction to a petite blonde.
Chapter Six
Victoria stared at the blue velvet material and sighed. She had never felt any fabric this fine. Somerton insisted that the dressmaker create a gown out of the velvet. While she would have the week to wear it, after she returned home, she would have to either give back the dress to him, or perhaps sell it. Of all the material chosen so far, this was her favorite. Maybe he would not mind if she kept just this one dress.
“It will look beautiful on you,” he whispered near her ear.
She started.
“Are you all right?”
“I did not realize you were so close,” she replied.
“As I told you before, you must become used to it.”
She would never grow accustomed to having him so near. His presence overwhelmed her senses and created unruly sensations in the pit of her stomach. Somehow, she had to keep their relationship on a professional level. Nothing personal.
She almost laughed aloud at the thought. With Somerton, it was all too personal.
“Come and see the other fabrics I have chosen for you,” he said, taking her elbow. “You will need two more silk gowns for the evenings and a riding habit if the weather is fair enough for riding.”
“Somerton,” she said, coming to a stop. “This is all too much. Surely, I don’t need all these gowns for a simple house party.”
He squeezed her elbow in warning and drew her nearer to him. “You need all this and more. Do not argue with me about it.”
The dark sound of his voice made her realize that arguing would be futile. “Very well.”
He brought her over to a table where the shopkeeper draped two silk fabrics. Victoria could not take her eyes off the deep red material. She wanted to reach out and stroke the fabric to see if it was as luxurious as she imagined. The dressmaker insisted on green trimming to make the gown look more festive
Anthony smothered a smile. “I am sure if you and Aunt Westfield picked it out, the dress was perfect.” The poor girl looked terribly distressed, and Anthony didn’t believe it all had to do with a gown. “What other things are they driving you mad about?”
She glanced away. “You. His mother has made a few comments under her breath about Lindal marrying Somerton’s sister. I think she wonders if it will look bad on them.”
He fisted his hands wanting to throw something across the room. What he did should have no impact on Genna. Although, he knew it always would. More and more, the respectable wife idea was seeping into his brain.
“Do you love him, Genna? And I mean truly deep down in your heart?”
Genna stared at her jonquil gown.
“Can you imagine your life without him?” he whispered.
She nodded slightly. “I can. And sometimes I think it might be better.”
Anthony closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the sofa. His father would be furious and probably blame her backing out of the wedding on him. According to his father, everything was his fault. Why should this be any different?
“Genna, if you honestly believe that then you need to put a stop to this wedding before the plans go any further.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I just don’t know how to tell him.”
Anthony didn’t need to ask to which “him” she referred. Lindal would take her rejection with a stiff upper lip. Her father, however, would not.
“If you would like to tell him before Thursday, I will stand with you. But I leave for a country party on Thursday and won’t return until the following week.”
“Thank you, Tony. I shall let you know what I decide. I believe I may take the weekend to think about my feelings for Lindal. Aunt Westfield and I are also attending a party with Lindal’s family.”
“Enjoy yourself, then.”
“And you, brother.”
Anthony knew he would not be able to enjoy himself this week. Along with getting this job done, he would also be fighting a damning attraction to a petite blonde.
Chapter Six
Victoria stared at the blue velvet material and sighed. She had never felt any fabric this fine. Somerton insisted that the dressmaker create a gown out of the velvet. While she would have the week to wear it, after she returned home, she would have to either give back the dress to him, or perhaps sell it. Of all the material chosen so far, this was her favorite. Maybe he would not mind if she kept just this one dress.
“It will look beautiful on you,” he whispered near her ear.
She started.
“Are you all right?”
“I did not realize you were so close,” she replied.
“As I told you before, you must become used to it.”
She would never grow accustomed to having him so near. His presence overwhelmed her senses and created unruly sensations in the pit of her stomach. Somehow, she had to keep their relationship on a professional level. Nothing personal.
She almost laughed aloud at the thought. With Somerton, it was all too personal.
“Come and see the other fabrics I have chosen for you,” he said, taking her elbow. “You will need two more silk gowns for the evenings and a riding habit if the weather is fair enough for riding.”
“Somerton,” she said, coming to a stop. “This is all too much. Surely, I don’t need all these gowns for a simple house party.”
He squeezed her elbow in warning and drew her nearer to him. “You need all this and more. Do not argue with me about it.”
The dark sound of his voice made her realize that arguing would be futile. “Very well.”
He brought her over to a table where the shopkeeper draped two silk fabrics. Victoria could not take her eyes off the deep red material. She wanted to reach out and stroke the fabric to see if it was as luxurious as she imagined. The dressmaker insisted on green trimming to make the gown look more festive
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