Dillie jutted her jaw, pounced on the bed, and began to make monkey sounds just as their mother swung open their door and dashed into their bed chamber. Sophie Farthingale came to an abrupt halt. “Lily, I warned you all that studying would damage your constitution,” she said, staring at Dillie, who had frozen in mid monkey grunt. “I do wish you’d take the season more seriously. Why can’t you behave like Dillie?” She mistakenly pointed to Lily and flashed her a warm, maternal smile. “Now you’ve made me forget why I came up here. Oh, yes! Eloise’s carriage is at our gate.”
“We promised to take Meggie Cameron shopping today,” Lily explained, though only she had promised to take Meggie, but to now reveal that she was Lily would only confuse her mother, who seemed to have raised confusion to an art form. Not that she was to blame. Anyone would be attics-to-let trying to manage a household full of Farthingales for the season. They’d descended on Number 3 Chipping Way from all over England. Yorkshire Farthingales. Oxfordshire Farthingales. Devonshire Farthingales. Dozens, possibly hundreds, swarming like bees about John and Sophie Farthingale’s London townhouse. Honestly, couldn’t they find residences of their own?
Her mother glanced at the box on the bed. “What is your riding habit doing in that box? Never mind. Make sure Sally brushes the dirt off it. Oh, perhaps she has. It looks new, as though it’s never been worn. Well, hang it up with your other gowns.” She turned on her heels and hurried out.
“Must I go shopping?” Dillie asked when they were once more alone. “I was going to visit Daisy.”
“I’ll drop you off along the way. Give her a hug for me.” Daisy was due to give birth soon, though the newest addition to the family wasn’t expected for another month yet. Which meant Lily and her sisters would meet at least once more before the baby was born.
She thoroughly enjoyed their monthly meetings. Laurel was to host the next one this coming Thursday, and Lily looked forward to it. Not only did she miss her sisters, but she also wanted to speak to them about Meggie and ask for their help in easing the shy girl into some of the smaller family gatherings.
She could also ply them for gossip. Laurel’s husband, Graelem, was a friend of Ewan’s. Perhaps he knew more about the Cameron family bitterness.
After dropping off Dillie, she directed the driver to take her to Lotheil Court. Meggie stood waiting on the steps. She cast Lily a sweet, sincere smile, entered Eloise’s carriage, and settled in. “Good morning, Lily. I hope I haven’t put you out.”
“Not at all. I look forward to shopping with you.”
“I’m so glad.” She nibbled her lip. “You always look so elegant and I know so little about fashion.”
“I’m sure I know even less. My sisters, Rose and Daisy, are far more capable. They helped my mother choose my wardrobe. I asked them to join us, but Rose is busy entertaining her husband’s family and Daisy is about to give birth. Laurel knows horses, not clothes, and Dillie promised to visit Daisy today. So, I’m afraid it’s just the two of us. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, of course not. It’s just that—”
“You mustn’t fret,” Lily insisted when Meggie began to nibble her lip again. “Madame de Bressard knows what she’s doing. All you have to do is trust her judgment, and I’ll watch her prices.”
Madame de Bressard greeted Lily and Meggie with exuberance as they entered her salon, and then with a sharp clap of her hands and some hastily uttered orders in French, she had her staff scrambling for fabric samples. “See, I told you she’d know precisely what to do,” Lily said, watching half a dozen shop girls rush to obey those orders with the discipline and precision of the elite King’s Guard.
Meggie’s eyes brightened and she managed a genuine smile. “Oh, Lily! You’re right. This is going to be such fun.” Her trepidation now eased, she allowed Madame de Bressard’s girls to fuss about her. That freed Lily to listen to Madame’s design ideas—shockingly expensive ideas, all requiring exquisite fabrics—all of which were approved by Lily after a good bit of haggling.
After all, she would not allow Ewan to be duped. He was generous with those he loved—or those like her, to whom he felt he owed an obligation—but that didn’t mean she could spend him into the poorhouse.
“Lily, I’ve had such a lovely time,” Meggie whispered hours later as she was being fitted for the last of her gowns, an iridescent green silk that brought out the green in Meggie’s eyes and the reddish-brown of her hair. “I’m so glad Eloise introduced me to you. I can’t wait to meet the rest of your family. Are they as perfect as you?”