Neanderthal Seeks Duchess: A Smartypants Romance Out Of This World Title (London Ladies Embroidery Book 1) by Laney Hatcher

Author:Laney Hatcher [Hatcher, Laney]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Smartypants Romance
Published: 2022-05-04T16:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

I have memories of watching my mother as a young girl. In the mirror, I’d witness her doing this magical feminine preening that doesn’t appeal to me now, as a grown woman. But as a child of seven or eight years of age, I was completely entranced as my mother, this beautiful and elusive woman who adjusted her jewelry or tried on cloaks, fiddled with the curls along her hairline. It was like being admitted entrance into a secret world in which women were not always perfectly attired at all times. Seeing this version of my mother, witnessing the transition from woman to marchioness was captivating to my young mind.

As I grew older and later after her death, I came to realize that those were times my beautiful mother had been readying herself to meet one of her paramours. As I sat unnoticed and ignored in her chambers while maids bustled about with discarded fabric and curling implements, my oblivious father wasn’t preparing for a night out at all.

Perhaps that is why now, as a woman who should enjoy being attended to and made society-ready in appearance, I often found myself resentful of the excess. The jewelry, the lip color, the extravagant hairstyles, and lavish gowns. It was just one more deception. The circumstance and ceremony signaling the fraud and selfishness within.

It’s strange that that was all I could think of now as I watched Eliza fuss over my appearance in the standing mirror in her dressing room. Eliza’s lady’s maid, Meg, assisted with my riotous auburn waves and neatly managed them into a braided chignon at the base of my neck. I had a hat ready to pin in place, but Eliza was busy fluffing my dress. The palest of pinks, my morning dress was nearly white, with lace at the neck and sleeves. It was snug along the bodice and mostly modest near the neckline. Nearly.

“Stop fidgeting,” Eliza scolded.

I worked to still my nervous fingers and return my hands to my sides. Despite my lack of response, my friend seemed to know exactly what was troubling me. “You’re completely covered. Not immodest in the least. Calm down.”

“You don’t think it’s too much?” My eyes narrowed on my ample bosom in the gilt-edged mirror.

Eliza followed my gaze. “Nonsense. You look beautiful. Lord Dashing will swallow his tongue when he sees you.”

“I don’t want him to swallow his tongue. And I don’t want tongues wagging at my appearance. We’ll be parading through the park. Everyone will see us. No tongues whatsoever,” I insisted.

“Fine, take my shawl. Will that make you feel better?”

“Yes, thank you,” I said with genuine relief.

“Why are you so worried about this? You’ve promenaded in the park before with Lord Fairbanks.” Eliza’s voice was muffled as she dug through her wardrobe to find said shawl.

I wasn’t nervous, per se; more cautious. I still felt the sharp edge of past gossip quite keenly and being seen with another gentleman so openly was inviting curious glances. I wished… I wished we could enjoy another picnic in the Piker House gardens instead.

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