Page 49 of One Night with a Prince

“My lady,” the dressmaker said, “I’ve brought the gown Mr. Byrne wanted for tonight. Do you still need it now that he’s had to rush from town on business?”

Did Mrs. Watts mean the altered mourning gown? But wasn’t that supposed to be ready fortoday ? Not that it mattered, with Byrne gone. “No, I don’t suppose I need it for tonight.”

“Because I can have it ready if you require it. After you try it on, we can make the necessary adjustments before we leave. Indeed, that’s why I brought Lydia—she’s quickest with a needle.”

The name Lydia teased Christabel’s memory. “It’s fine, really. I don’t intend to go out tonight.”

“As you wish,” Mrs. Watts said deferentially. “Then we shall just see how they fit. Move aside, Lydia, so her ladyship can see the evening gown.”

Evening gown?

Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmlLydia moved and Christabel spotted what was behind her, draped over the settee. It was the beautiful rose satin, done up in the most stunning gown imaginable.

“Dear Lord,” Christabel whispered.

Mrs. Watts stiffened. “Does it not meet with my lady’s approval?”

“No…I mean, yes…It’s lovely. Just lovely.”

The dressmaker relaxed. “Mr. Byrne will be pleased, then. He was most intent upon having it ready for tonight.”

Their trip to the theater. He’d planned the gown for that. Despite herself, she turned to mush. He’d probably paid an exorbitant amount to have it ready quickly, just because she’d admired it.

Tears filled her eyes. Just when she wanted to hate him, he went and did something like that.

“Do you wish to try it on?” Mrs. Watts asked.

“Yes, please,” Christabel replied, not even bothering to hide her delight. Once it was on and Mrs. Watts had turned her toward the mirror, her mouth dropped open. Who was that…that gorgeous creature staring back at her?

She’d never cared much about gowns, but then she’d never had a gown that made her look…pretty. The rose lent color to her cheeks, and the subtle cut of the skirt hid her rounded belly, drawing the eye instead to her nicely displayed breasts. And when she turned, the satin swirled around her hips, then clung lovingly to the curves.

A blush touched her cheeks. She felt naked and wicked, even though the gown showed no more than those of Lady Draker and Lady Iversley two nights ago. But something in how it accentuated her

“assets,” as Byrne had put it—

“If the lack of embellishment disturbs my lady,” Mrs. Watts said, apparently misinterpreting her long silence, “it will only take a day to add some satin roses around the hem.”

“No, it’s perfect,” she whispered. “Absolutely perfect.” And perfect forher . As Byrne somehow had known it would be.

“Once you add the matching reticule and the adorable little hat—” Mrs. Watts looked around. “Oh, dear, I must have forgotten them in the carriage.” She frowned. “Unless I left them entirely—”

“Shall I fetch them, ma’am?” Lydia asked.

“No, no, I can’t remember if I even brought them. I’ll go myself, and if need be, I’ll send one of the footmen back for them.”

The dressmaker hurried out, leaving Christabel alone with young Lydia. The girl ventured near. “It looksGenerated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.htmllovely on you, my lady. Mr. Byrne will be entranced.”

Entranced. An oddly sophisticated word for a mere seamstress’s assistant. “Do you know him, then?”

The girl blushed. “Yes, my lady. He got me this position with Mrs. Watts.”

Christabel blinked. Then it hit her all at once.He said his little Lydia left him to work in some dress shop. Lord help her, this wasthat Lydia, the fetching young thing Byrne had been “taken with.”

“Of course he did,” she said sarcastically. Strange that Lady Jenner hadn’t roused jealousy, but this young woman did.

Her tone sent alarm flitting over the girl’s features. “Did he…that is…your ladyship knows how I met Mr. Byrne?”

“Playing whist, wasn’t it?” she said dryly.