said, laughing.
“Yes, well, I did say I couldn’t see relying on Clorinda,” Anne said. “I suppose I could send you and Philip about with a footman, but I can’t like that, either. I wouldn’t put it past you to bamboozle the poor man into letting you do any hare-brained thing that occurred to you.”
“Let me talk to Nicholas,” Mr. Parker-Roth said. “He’s not in Town yet, but I expect him any day. If he can’t ride herd on these fellows, I’m sure he’ll know someone who can.”
“That would be very kind of you.” Anne glanced at the clock on the mantel and blushed. Oh dear, it would have to go, too. The male and female figures entwined around the timepiece were misbehaving in a shocking manner. Who had been in charge of decorating this room? “Look at the time—or well, don’t look. But I’m afraid Evie and I need to get ready to go shopping.”
Mr. Parker-Roth’s eyebrows went up. “You sound as if you’re contemplating a trip to Newgate Prison rather than a pleasant excursion to Bond Street.”
“There’s nothing pleasant about shopping.” Anne could feel her stomach clenching already. She hated going to the mantua-maker. She was too tall and too thin and had red hair—Mrs. Waddingly’s face always fell when Anne came through her door. She’d taken to urging Evie to precede her; the anticipation of dressing her beautiful sister helped keep the poor woman from complete despair.
“Mama mentioned Miss Lamont as a dressmaker, Mr. Parker-Roth,” Evie was saying, “but Mama is not much for fashion either. Nor is Cousin Clorinda—she just shrugged and said one place was as good as another when I asked her.”
Mr. Parker-Roth’s eyes widened and he deftly turned a laugh into a cough. The man was the King of Hearts. He must be very familiar— intimately familiar—with ladies’ clothing makers.
“I’m afraid I can’t agree with your cousin,” he said. “Nor can I advise visiting Miss Lamont. Do you know where her shop is? I’ve not heard of it.”
“No-o.” Evie looked at Anne. “Do you know, Anne?”
“Of course not. I assumed Clorinda would.”
“Then I think Miss Lamont,” Mr. Parker-Roth said, “as estimable as she may be, must be eliminated.”
“I suppose you are right.” Evie bit her lip. “But then what are we to do?”
Anne knew what she would like to do—forget the whole thing, but even she realized she and Evie couldn’t attend the Season’s entertainments dressed in their country clothes.
“I will be happy to help. I happen to know a few of the more fashionable shops.” Mr. Parker-Roth didn’t even have the grace to blush. “I’d be delighted to accompany you and act as your guide.”
“You don’t need to—” Anne started to say.
“That would be wonderful—” Evie said at the same time.
They stopped and stared at each other, and then Anne looked at Mr. Parker-Roth. “People will remark on it if you escort us to the dressmaker’s.”
He grinned and his damnably attractive dimples appeared. “No, they won’t. I’m sure it is unexceptional for a man to help his betrothed and her sister find their way when they are so newly arrived in Town. It would be more remarked upon if I deserted you in your hour of need.”
“Well . . .”
“Mr. Parker-Roth must be correct, Anne,” Evie said. “He certainly wouldn’t do anything to put you in a bad light.” She laughed, shaking her head. “I still find it difficult to comprehend you’re betrothed.” She gave the fellow a sly look. “Not that I didn’t notice how you paid particular attention to any mention of Mr. Parker-Roth in the gossip columns, Anne.”
Mr. Parker-Roth’s eyebrows shot up.
She was going to strangle Evie, if she didn’t die of mortification before she could wrap her hands around her sister’s neck.
“But where did you meet Anne, sir?” Philip asked, looking up from rubbing Harry’s belly. “She’s not been to London—she’s not been
“Yes, well, I did say I couldn’t see relying on Clorinda,” Anne said. “I suppose I could send you and Philip about with a footman, but I can’t like that, either. I wouldn’t put it past you to bamboozle the poor man into letting you do any hare-brained thing that occurred to you.”
“Let me talk to Nicholas,” Mr. Parker-Roth said. “He’s not in Town yet, but I expect him any day. If he can’t ride herd on these fellows, I’m sure he’ll know someone who can.”
“That would be very kind of you.” Anne glanced at the clock on the mantel and blushed. Oh dear, it would have to go, too. The male and female figures entwined around the timepiece were misbehaving in a shocking manner. Who had been in charge of decorating this room? “Look at the time—or well, don’t look. But I’m afraid Evie and I need to get ready to go shopping.”
Mr. Parker-Roth’s eyebrows went up. “You sound as if you’re contemplating a trip to Newgate Prison rather than a pleasant excursion to Bond Street.”
“There’s nothing pleasant about shopping.” Anne could feel her stomach clenching already. She hated going to the mantua-maker. She was too tall and too thin and had red hair—Mrs. Waddingly’s face always fell when Anne came through her door. She’d taken to urging Evie to precede her; the anticipation of dressing her beautiful sister helped keep the poor woman from complete despair.
“Mama mentioned Miss Lamont as a dressmaker, Mr. Parker-Roth,” Evie was saying, “but Mama is not much for fashion either. Nor is Cousin Clorinda—she just shrugged and said one place was as good as another when I asked her.”
Mr. Parker-Roth’s eyes widened and he deftly turned a laugh into a cough. The man was the King of Hearts. He must be very familiar— intimately familiar—with ladies’ clothing makers.
“I’m afraid I can’t agree with your cousin,” he said. “Nor can I advise visiting Miss Lamont. Do you know where her shop is? I’ve not heard of it.”
“No-o.” Evie looked at Anne. “Do you know, Anne?”
“Of course not. I assumed Clorinda would.”
“Then I think Miss Lamont,” Mr. Parker-Roth said, “as estimable as she may be, must be eliminated.”
“I suppose you are right.” Evie bit her lip. “But then what are we to do?”
Anne knew what she would like to do—forget the whole thing, but even she realized she and Evie couldn’t attend the Season’s entertainments dressed in their country clothes.
“I will be happy to help. I happen to know a few of the more fashionable shops.” Mr. Parker-Roth didn’t even have the grace to blush. “I’d be delighted to accompany you and act as your guide.”
“You don’t need to—” Anne started to say.
“That would be wonderful—” Evie said at the same time.
They stopped and stared at each other, and then Anne looked at Mr. Parker-Roth. “People will remark on it if you escort us to the dressmaker’s.”
He grinned and his damnably attractive dimples appeared. “No, they won’t. I’m sure it is unexceptional for a man to help his betrothed and her sister find their way when they are so newly arrived in Town. It would be more remarked upon if I deserted you in your hour of need.”
“Well . . .”
“Mr. Parker-Roth must be correct, Anne,” Evie said. “He certainly wouldn’t do anything to put you in a bad light.” She laughed, shaking her head. “I still find it difficult to comprehend you’re betrothed.” She gave the fellow a sly look. “Not that I didn’t notice how you paid particular attention to any mention of Mr. Parker-Roth in the gossip columns, Anne.”
Mr. Parker-Roth’s eyebrows shot up.
She was going to strangle Evie, if she didn’t die of mortification before she could wrap her hands around her sister’s neck.
“But where did you meet Anne, sir?” Philip asked, looking up from rubbing Harry’s belly. “She’s not been to London—she’s not been
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