A Certain Wolfish Charm(57)

Lily could only nod. She thought she was ready. She assumed time would tell.



"Then let's get started." Alice clapped her hands together, and servants immediately arrived carrying buckets of steaming water. They filled the tub and then left. Maids bustled through Lily's wardrobe, removing clothes, undergarments, and slippers and lining them up for the duchess' inspection.



"Into the tub, dear," Alice directed as she began to peruse the assembled dresses.



Lily stepped into the tub, and the hot water lapped against her calves. Then she sank deeper until she was almost completely covered. While one of the maids washed her hair, another scrubbed her arms and legs. Lily felt like a child. She couldn't remember the last time someone had bathed her.



Too soon, she was plucked from the water and wrapped in a robe, while a maid went to work drying her hair with one plush towel after another.#p#分页标题#e#



Finally dry, Lily opened her eyes to find Alice regarding her quietly. The duchess's gaze was nearly as dark as Simon's. "I have a feeling you are quite unprepared to marry my son. But I will do my best to rectify that." She held out the box Simon had passed to her. "Let's start with this, shall we?"



Lily opened the small satin box, and the air rushed out of her lungs. A translucent grey stone, oval in shape, lay inside. It was unusual in its color. Lily ran her fingers over the smooth surface, and then she lifted the stone to look at it closer.



"It's beautiful. What is it?" she whispered. She laced its delicate gold chain through her fingers. As it caught the light, the stone shimmered.



"It's moonstone," Alice answered, touching her shoulder. "It belonged to his grandmother."



Lily's heart began to pound. What a sweet gesture. Not one she would have expected from Simon.



"Now," Alice's voice broke into her thoughts, "about your dress…"



Lily turned her attention to the line of her serviceable gowns laid out on her bed. Only one dress looked even close to what a duchess would wear. Alice ran her fingers over Lily's new green silk. "This one is very lovely."



"Thank you. Prisca Hawthorne designed it for me."



Alice smiled at that. "Such a sweet girl, and very talented." She picked the gown from the bed and handed it to Lily. "This is the one, dear."



Lily agreed. There wasn't another viable choice.



***





"Nervous?" Will asked, handing Simon a whisky.



"Why would I be nervous?" Simon sank down in the chair behind his mahogany desk, hoping his brother didn't notice the amber liquid tremble in his hands. He placed the tumbler on his desk. He didn't need to imbibe this early.



"I don't know," Will replied, slipping into an empty chair. "I've often heard that some men get nervous right before their freedom is sucked away."



"I'm fine," Simon barked.



Will chuckled. "Yes, fine indeed." He downed the whisky in his own glass and placed it on the edge of Simon's desk. "In all honesty, it was probably time for you to settle down anyway."



The last person who should tell him to settle down was Will. His brother had cut a larger swath through London than Simon had. "Well, then I suppose you'll be next, William."



His brother scoffed at the same time there was a scratch at the door.



"Come," Will called, apparently not wanting to discuss his turn to find a bride.



Billings peeked inside. "Your Grace, the vicar Mr. Bostic has arrived. I put him in the blue parlor."



"Excellent." Simon rose from his seat. "Is he alone, Billings?"



The butler cracked a smile. "The vicar left his wife at home, Your Grace. If that is what you are asking."



"Thank God!" Simon started for the door with Will quick on his tail. "Please inform Miss Rutledge and the duchess that we are all waiting for them, Billings."



"Yes, of course."



Simon and Will started down the corridor toward the blue parlor. When they stepped over the threshold, Simon was surprised to see that Mr. Bostic was not alone. Prisca Hawthorne also sat on the settee, talking to the vicar.#p#分页标题#e#



Will sucked in a breath beside him. "I thought Billings said he was alone," he grumbled, only loud enough for Simon to hear.



"No. He said the man didn't bring his wife," Simon whispered back. Then he stepped toward the vicar. "Ah, Mr. Bostic, thank you so much for coming."



"Miss Hawthorne, what a surprise," Will said, bowing over Prisca's hand.



"Indeed. I felt certain you had turned tail and left forever, William."