Page 16 of Marrying a Marquess (Widows of Mayfair #3)

“How had I never heard all of this?”

“Oh, look,” Lilly leaned forward, looking out the window just as the carriage stopped. “We have arrived.”

Priscilla realized Lilly didn’t want to talk about what led to her marriage to Langford.

Perhaps it was too painful for her. They exited the carriage and made their way to the milliner’s shop.

The weather was in their favor for shopping, which made Bond Street crowded, and the milliner’s shop was even more of a crush.

“Look at these white lace gloves,” Lilly said as she tried on several pairs. “They are nice and thin and soft. And a perfect fit. I must have these. My hands sweat in my cotton gloves during the heat of summer.”

Emmeline giggled at Lilly’s comment. “I know what you mean. I could use a pair of lace gloves as well.” She tried on several pairs and chose a pretty pale-blue pair and a white pair .

“You have both convinced me I need them, too. I’ll take this cream pair,” Priscilla said as she tried them on. “Perfect fit. I need a cream bonnet and perhaps some ribbon to go with them. Do you mind stopping at Madam Serena’s? I have a final fitting for a gown for the Greenville Ball.”

“Not at all,” both Lilly and Emmeline replied. “We do as well.”

“Will it bother you to return to where Viscount Redford attacked you?” Emmeline asked Lilly.

“Perhaps.”

“Attacked?” Priscilla gasped.

“Yes, well, I courted Viscount Redford briefly. He was after my money and would not take no for an answer to his marriage proposal. So he accosted me at the Greenville Ball at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens two years ago and then tried to kidnap me to Gretna Green and force me to wed him. Fortunately, my dear husband, Edmund—though he wasn’t my husband then, of course—fouled up Redford’s plans and rescued me with Caldwell’s help. ”

“How dreadful. Thank goodness you were saved,” Priscilla said as chills crept up her arms at the tale.

“Yes, indeed,” Lilly said.

When they arrived at Madam Serena’s, she called for Priscilla to have her fitting first, and she went through the curtain into the fitting room. Madam Serena and an associate pinned the beautiful blue-and-silver ball gown, ensuring it would fit her perfectly once the stitching was done.

When Priscilla was finished, Emmeline went in and she joined Lilly in the front of the shop. “Why are people looking at us and whispering?”

Lilly glanced around and nodded her head at several ladies.

“They whisper about Emmeline and me because we were widowed at such young ages and are happily married to a duke and an earl. As for you, I imagine it is because you ran off to Gretna Green to marry a naval officer who died in battle. I believe they find our tragic lives intriguing. And as for Emmeline and me, our love matches are also fascinating compared to many of their loveless marriages.”

“Truly, do they not have something else to gossip about?”

“Sadly, no. Lady Wilmington loves to gossip and make one feel uncomfortable. She is staring at you because she knows you and Hollingsworth are good friends and courting, and she wants him for her daughter, Lady Grace, who looks as though she wants to be anywhere but here. Be careful; Lady Wilmington is quick and cunning and not beyond resorting to inventing rumors to suit her plans.”

“I’ve never talked to Lady Grace, as she is shy, but she appears nothing like her mother,” Priscilla said as she smiled at Lady Grace to let her know they weren’t adversaries.

Except they were where Nick was concerned.

Oh, dear. She didn’t want to be rivals with her.

She wanted to be friends with Lady Grace because she appeared genuinely lovely and would probably make a good friend.

That was if she was ever without the company of her mother.

“I don’t know her well either,” Lilly added. “But when I first met her, I planned on joining her as a wallflower.”

“What happened?”

“Langford swept me off my feet. I never had time to stand on the outskirts with Lady Grace. Too bad, really. We could have become friends.”

Emmeline swept through the curtain separating the front of the store from the fitting room.

She looked striking with her black hair, blue eyes, dark-blue walking dress, pelisse, and matching bonnet.

Priscilla was jealous of her looks and lush figure.

Priscilla was tall for a woman and always felt she stood out for that reason alone.

“Your turn, Lilly,” she said with a wide smile.

As Lilly left to take her turn, Emmeline approached Priscilla and grimaced. “Lady Wilmington is making eyes at you. I believe you have gained an enemy. ”

Priscilla found all this quite shocking. Did everyone have ulterior motives? Did most people hide behind a facade? “If Nick wants or doesn’t want Lady Grace, that is his business. I’ve no say in it either way.”

Emmeline looked at her with narrow eyes.

“Don’t you? You are in his favor and courting him.

That makes you Lady Grace’s rival. Lady Grace may not see you that way because she is too kind, but her mother is something else entirely.

She might even stoop so low as invent things to keep you and Nick apart. Even so much as start false rumors.”

“Lilly said the same thing. Surely, she cannot be all that bad?”

Emmeline wrapped her arm through Priscilla’s. “She can. A determined Marriage Mart Mama can and will be ruthless.”

Her insides trembled at the thought of Lady Wilmington setting her sights on her, ruining her chances with Nick, David, or anyone else for that matter, inventing rumors meant to crush her socially.

How could someone be so cruel? Looking at the lady in question now, Priscilla shuddered at the hatred spurring from her eyes. Oh, yes. She had an enemy.

Emmeline’s driver met them outside with the carriage and took them to Berkeley Square, where Gunter’s was.

“Thank you, Thompson. We shall be back in an hour,” Emmeline said to the driver.

“Would you like to order and take our ices back to the park? We can return the cups and spoons when we finish. It’s such a lovely day,” Emmeline asked as they crossed the street.

“That would be lovely. I do so admire all the trees,” Lilly said.

“Trees?” Priscilla queried.

“I grew up in the country and miss all the trees and woods.”

“I see,” she said. Since Priscilla spent most of her life in London, the woods and forests appeared scary to her. When she needed to feel nature, taking to a park was perfect for her. Not to mention, most of the streets of Mayfair were lined with trees.

All three ordered lemon ices and sat on a bench in the park to enjoy the frozen treat.

“Tomorrow morning, I’m delivering baskets to the rookeries,” Emmeline said as she finished her ice. “Would you care to join me, Priscilla? I believe the duchess would appreciate me having another person to help me.”

Her father always warned her about the seedier parts of London and how she was never to travel into them. But he need never know. “I would like to do my part for the cause. I will devise an excuse for my parents if they ask where I’m going.”

“Wonderful. I’ll pick you up at half past eight.”

“That early?” Since the Season began, Priscilla had been staying in bed late. It was a good thing there was no social event on her calendar for that night which would keep her out until the wee hours of the morning.

“Are you attending anything tonight?” Emmeline asked.

“No. Half-past eight will be fine.”

“Good.”