Page 26 of Murder in Disguise (Mary and Bright #5)

Portman Square

Marylebone, London

Teatime

Since Bright was out of the house with a couple of interviews on his agenda, and Mary had already checked on the children.

The week had proved so busy for them both that their sweet little forms were napping at the moment.

That allowed the nursery maid and the governess a couple of hours to themselves.

That left her the freedom to take tea with Adelaide, and wonder of wonders, the young woman wasn’t surrounded by a group of her friends.

“Are you having the day before the ball jitters yet?” she asked her niece once Adelaide settled on one of the chairs in the upstairs parlor. Her gown of orange silk embroidered around the bodice with small white daisies made her skin glow and her eyes dance.

“A bit.” She stirred the lump of sugar into her tea then laid the silver spoon onto her saucer. “I can hardly believe it’s almost tomorrow.” Yet her grin held enough excitement for three girls. “Everything looks so festive in here. Are you certain you won’t let me see the drawing room?”

“Quite. I want it to remain a surprise for tomorrow.” Mary took a sip of her tea. “I would imagine your friends are excited as well.”

“Most of them are. Some are frightened to go out after dark, especially since Uncle Gabriel’s case is still open.” Her lips turned down with a frown. “I hope the horrible write ups in the papers don’t keep the guests away. How embarrassing it will be to host a ball with no guests.”

“It’s true. Journalists haven’t been kind to Bright this week, but that just means there was no other news or they want to goad him because they know he’ll solve the case in spectacular fashion.

” She hoped. Her gaze drifted to a copy of The Times that sat haphazardly on a nearby occasional table.

A half-visible headline referred to her husband as a “deflector” instead of an “inspector.”

Poor Gabriel.

Adelaide nodded. “I imagine everyone in London is frustrated since this has been going on for two weeks since the first girl was taken.” Slowly, she sipped from her cup.

“The king and his cronies are no doubt out for blood, so their image will look better to the general public and thereby distract that same public from the corruption they’re really undertaking. ”

“What?” One of Mary’s eyebrows rose as shock went through her. “Where did you learn that? I had no idea you were interested in politics.”

A blush spread over Adelaide’s cheeks. “Uh, the inspector and I meet once a week to discuss topics of the day. He insists that a dim populace is a controllable one. Also, he says that women need to stay informed as much as men, for someday, it could prove vital to the fate of the country.”

“How marvelous! I had no idea.” Why had Bright not told her?

The younger woman shrugged. “I’m not particularly interested in politics, but some of what the inspector says is fascinating, so I humor him, at least while Papa is gone.” She offered a grin. “He likes having a captive audience and I enjoy spending time with him.”

“That’s sweet of you. I’m glad the two of you do that.” The fact her niece was growing up and maturing wasn’t lost on her. Tears prickled the backs of her eyelids, for Adelaide was no longer a little girl.

She nodded. “And it gives me a break from my cousins.” A trill of laughter escaped her. “I love those children, but sometimes, they tire me out.”

Mary snorted. “Yes, they do.”

A flurry of activity interrupted whatever else they would say, for Collins along with a footman, brought a stack of boxes into the parlor.

“Your gowns and fripperies have arrived from the modiste, Mrs. Bright,” the butler said as he set his burden down on one of the low sofas while the footman did the same.

“How wonderful!” Once Mary set her cup and saucer on the table, she rose to her feet. “Thank you, Collins.”

The butler nodded. “Would you rather we put these things in your respective rooms?”

One glance at Adelaide and seeing the excitement in her eyes made the decision. “That’s not necessary. Leave them here. I’ll wager Miss Swanson wishes to have a look at them.”

“Very well.” Collins departed the room with the footman trailing behind.

“Oh, I need to see it! May I remove it from the box, Aunt Mary?”

She nodded. “Go ahead. We should check it over in the event something needs mended at the last moment.”

Adelaide had barely set her tea dishes down then she’d darted over to the sofa and sorted through the boxes until she found the one containing her gown. “It’s more gorgeous than I ever thought.”

“Dearest, you saw it at your last fitting.” Mary smiled while she opened her box more slowly than her niece.

“But just look at it.” The girl pulled the garment from the box, shook it out, and then held it up to her chest. “The color is stunning.”

She wasn’t wrong. The plum hue fairly embodied the autumn season. A half inch band of silver sequins lined the low bodice as well as the hem of the skirt. A silver satin ribbon went around the waist and would lay in a beautiful bow at the small of her back.

“And there are matching slippers and a reticule!” The squeal she uttered had Mary’s widening.

“Of course there are. It’s your ball.” When Mary pulled the lid from her own box, she sucked in a quick breath, for her own gown was amazing.

Made from a blend of silk and satin, the dark red color would ensure she’d find notice tomorrow night, at least from Bright.

Tiny clear glass beads had been sewn all over the skirt.

Where Adelaide’s gown had been trimmed in silver, Mary’s gown favored gold around the bodice, the hem, and the bottoms of the short, puffed sleeves.

A golden satin ribbon went around the waist. The gold satin slippers had the clear glass beads to match.

“Aunt Mary, your gown is quite lovely.” Adelaide tenderly folded the gown then placed it in the box.

“I can hardly wait to wear this tomorrow night!” Her smile could light the night.

“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever owned.

Thank you for everything you and the inspector have given me.

Not only for this night, but throughout the whole of the Season.

” A sheen of tears went through her eyes. “It’s been a wonderful experience.”

Mary nodded, and moisture filled her own eyes. “Well, you deserve to feel special. I’m only sorry your father isn’t here to see you. He would be so proud to see his daughter at her ball.”

“Me too.” Adeliade nodded. She brushed at an escaped tear on her cheek. “Of course I’m a bit sad. I hope he comes home soon.”

“No doubt he’ll arrive in good time for the Christmastide season.

” Mary’s brother was always so busy as an English ambassador, but she didn’t mind sharing this rite of passage with her niece in his stead.

“Your uncle will no doubt be quite emotional tomorrow night once he sees you in that gown, so be kind to him.”

A delighted laugh escaped Adelaide’s throat. “He’s such a dear.” She danced about the morning room as if she were being partnered in a set. “It’s going to be such fun!”

“I agree. We’ve been planning this for so long that I can’t believe it’s finally here.

” She shot a grin at her niece. “Is the flush in your cheeks only due to excitement for the ball or are you hoping to see a certain young man?” Though she didn’t want the girl to toss her life away on the first man to pay her attention, she also hoped she had a lovely time that might end with a chaste kiss.

Every young lady deserved to feel wanted and appreciated during her Come Out.

“You are quite shrewd, Aunt Mary.” The girl joined Mary, put her arms around her, and bussed her cheek before bouncing over to peer out the window that overlooked the rear garden.

“Yes, there is a lovely young man called Mr. Hollis. He’s the third son of a viscount, and he’s been with a counting house for about a year.

I don’t know if he wishes to become an accountant or an actual banker, but he’s got a head for numbers. ”

“I look forward to meeting him.” As she spoke, Mary put her gown back into the box. In a smaller box, she pulled out a masquerade mask lined with gold glitter. “I thought you didn’t wish to marry so quickly after your Come Out.” There was another mask that matched her niece’s gown as well.

Another blush went through the young woman’s cheeks.

“Don’t worry, Auntie. Marriage isn’t uppermost in my mind at the moment.

There is much I wish to do and explore and learn before I settle into being a wife and mother, and besides, a man who wants to win my heart will need to come up to a mark set by Uncle Gabriel. ”

“Ah, good. That’s probably for the best.” Yet she was inordinately pleased Adelaide wouldn’t fall for the first man who paid her attention. “What about your friends? Are they anxious to be married and start families?” It was as good a reason as any to have the girl talk about her friends.

“I think many of the girls are curious.” She shrugged. “Perhaps half of them are split—some want to be married and some don’t.”

Mary smiled as she returned to her chair and took up her now tepid tea. “Which of them is the most desperate?”

“Lady Beatrice or even Miss Madison.” Adelaide chuckled then tumbled into her own chair.

She grabbed a jam tart from the tray. “Those two will be the first married, I’ll wager.

Beatrice, for certain. Theresa, I don’t know, but it’s all she talks about.

” With a shrug, she nibbled on the tart.

“The rest of us are keen to wait. No use marrying a bounder who is in disguise merely to attract a wife.”

“Good thinking.” Mary drained her teacup. “Have any been acting oddly in the past two weeks? Have they done or said anything out of the ordinary?”