An Unlikely Duchess by Balogh Mary

Author:Balogh, Mary [Balogh, Mary]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Class Ebook Editions Ltd.
Published: 2016-02-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

The village dressmaker did not have racks and racks of delightful fashions to choose among. In fact, she did not have even a single rack of fashions. Or any fashions at all, for that matter. Josephine purchased a plain wool dress for day wear and an even plainer silk for evenings, though both dresses needed to be shortened considerably before she could wear either.

But the very plainness of the garments, for which Mrs. Hennessy apologized profusely, eased Josephine’s mind. She would have felt vastly more guilty over sending the bills for pretty clothes to Mr. Villiers.

The spending did not end there, of course. Mrs. Hennessy happily rummaged through undergarments and nightgowns, while Caroline fingered ribbons, and lace and fans. Josephine stared out of the window into the street.

He would be at Lord Parleigh’s by now. He would be confronting Mr. Porterhouse, taking him firmly by the lapels of his coat and demanding her jewels. And he would be using those powerful fists on Mr. Porterhouse’s face. Right now. At this very moment.

What if Mr. Porterhouse did not go down as easily as he had done at the inn? Mr. Villiers had had the advantage of surprise on that occasion, and she had helped a little bit by smashing the china bowl over the man’s head. Though, of course, Mr. Villiers would have managed perfectly well without her assistance.

But would he manage perfectly well now? What if Mr. Porterhouse had a chance to punch back? He might break Mr. Villiers’s nose. He might kill him. Right now at this very moment. Mr. Villiers might be stretched out dead in Lord Parleigh’s drawing room or on Lord Parleigh’s lawn. And all because of her jewels. Worse than that—all because of her stupidity in going off with Mr. Porterhouse when all she had had to do was have a private word with Papa.

Of course, he would partly deserve his fate. She was very vexed over the sly way he had maneuvered events so that he could go alone to Deerview Park to fight her battles and to recover her jewels. Very vexed indeed.

But for all that, he did not deserve to die. And she would feel very guilty for the rest of her life if he really were hurt in any way.

“This silk nightgown, do you think, dear?” Mrs. Hennessy asked her with a smile. “It is so very fine. Do you think dear Mr. Villiers would approve?”

Caroline flushed and concentrated her attention on the ribbons.

“Oh.” Josephine gulped. “Yes, but it is almost winter, ma’am. Perhaps I had better buy the flannel.”

“You are afraid of being cold at night, dear?” Mrs. Hennessy exchanged a knowing smile with the dressmaker.

No. No, she was not at all afraid of being cold. She had felt as if someone had lit a roaring blaze inside her the night before when she had got all silly about Mr. Villiers’s safety and almost thrown herself at him. She had quite forced him to kiss her. And then she

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