The Reasons For Marriage by Stephanie Laurens

Author:Stephanie Laurens [Laurens, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2010-10-24T22:00:00+00:00

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He caught up with her the next day. On her way to convey a shank of embroidery silk left in the upstairs parlour to Agatha in the morning-room, Lenore was halfway down the stairs before she heard the rumble of Eversleigh's deep tones below. After a fractional hesitation, she continued her calm descent.

Jason turned as she gained the hall tiles, his grey gaze sweeping from her hair, neatly braided and coiled, over her modish amber morning gown with its delicate fluted chemisette, to the tips of her old-fashioned slippers peeking from beneath the dress's scalloped hem. Seeing his gaze become fixed, Lenore had no difficulty divining his thoughts. She went forward with her usual confident air, her hand outstretched. "Good morning, Your Grace. I trust I see you well?"

With a slight, questioning lift to his brows, Jason took her hand and, without preamble, raised it to his lips. "I apologise for not being here to greet you. Business took me to Dorset and thence to Salisbury, as I hope Agatha explained."

Quelling the now familiar sensation that streaked through her at his unconventional caress, Lenore retrieved her hand. "Lady Agatha has been most kind." Turning to lead him to the morning-room, she added, "You will, no doubt, be happy to know that yesterday she and I visited a certain Madame Lafarge, who is, even now, endeavouring to create a wardrobe fit for the Duchess of Eversleigh. We plan to visit the shoemakers, glovers and milliners tomorrow. Tell me, my lord, do you have any particular makers you wish to recommend?"

The airily polite question was more than enough to put Jason on his guard. "I'm sure Agatha will know Page 87

who is best," he murmured.

Agatha was delighted to see him, promptly informing him of a ball to be given by her sister, Lady Attlebridge, the following evening. "Mary's agreed to use the event to puff off your engagement. A select dinner beforehand, so you'd best be here by seven. My carriage or yours?"

Jason frowned. "I've sent the main Eversleigh carriages to be refitted, so it had better be yours, I imagine."

Lenore noted his slight constraint and, after years of tripping over her brothers' secrets, wondered if he had intended the refit as a surprise for her.

"I had thought to take Miss Lester for a drive in the Park." Jason smoothly turned to Lenore. "That is, if you'd like to take the air?"

There was, in fact, little Lenore would have liked better. Buoyed by the bracing effect of Agatha's encouragement, she was determined to make a start gaining experience dealing with her husband-to-be while she still had his aunt behind her. "You're most kind, Your Grace. If you'll wait while I get my pelisse?''

Jason merely nodded, sure she would not keep his horses waiting.

Making an elegant exit from the morning-room, Lenore hurried upstairs. The day was unseasonably cool; she was eager to try out the new cherry-red pelisse delivered from Lafarage's this morning. It was an item Eversleigh had ordered; she was determined to give him no warning of her other purchases prior to Lady Attlebridge's ball.

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