The Reluctant Countess by Wendy Vella

Author:Wendy Vella
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780345540072
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2012-12-17T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Oooh, I like this, don’t you, Letty?”

Sophie looked at the lace that Amelia held up for inspection and shook her head, not that it mattered. Letty had very definite opinions about what Sophie’s trousseau and wedding clothes should look like.

She had been woken early the morning after Patrick had asked her to marry him, bustled into a bath, fed, and clothed, and was now on her first shopping exhibition with Letty and Amelia, the latter of whom had been drafted in at the first opportunity. Sophie had, without thinking first, questioned whether there was really a need to purchase a new dress, as surely one of her old ones would suffice? To which Letty had reared back in horror, clutching her chest in what Sophie secretly thought a dramatic fashion, and stated that no family of hers would walk down the aisle dressed like a ragamuffin. And so it had begun, a sort of hysteria bordering on a maniacal need to have everything just so for Sophie’s wedding. Of course she understood Letty was doing this for her, but really, did she need ten new pairs of gloves when she had just as many unused in her room at home?

Madame Fontaine whipped the offending piece of lace from Amelia’s hand and threw it on the floor.

“Non!” and with a volley of French, she once again disappeared into the back room.

“We must get you some things, Sophie,” Letty said, holding a piece of fabric to Sophie’s chest.

“What things, Letty?”

“How about this one?” Amelia said, draping another piece over the other half of Sophie’s chest.

“Just things, Sophie,” Letty said, putting her head on the side. Obviously this helped to choose the correct color, because much to Sophie’s amusement Amelia did the same, the two of them looking like a pair of matching birds.

“Yes, Letty, but what things?” Sophie persisted.

“Amelia be a dear and ask Madame for the same fabric in green,” Letty said.

Sophie watched Amelia bustle away, then turned to look at her sister-in-law. Why all of a sudden did she have a sinking feeling in her tummy?

“Now, Sophie, here is really not the place to discuss this, I had planned a more private setting.”

“Then don’t,” Sophie said desperately. She had a fair idea where this conversation was heading and was eager to cut it off before it began.

“I want to get you some nice night-wear, dear. Something the earl …”

“Do not finish that sentence, Letty!” Sophie gasped.

Letty looked at her red cheeks, smiled, and patted one of them. “All right, but we will be getting you something nice to wear in bed, dear, so resign yourself to throwing away those horrid nightdresses you wear.”

“Letty, stop!”

“The earl is a virile, physical man, Sophie, who will expect your participation in the act of …”

“We … are … in … a … dress shop!”

“Very well.” Letty finally subsided and turned to look at what Madame Fontaine had in her hands.

Shaking her head, Sophie wondered if this day could get any worse. Dear God, her sister-in-law had just discussed marital issues with her in a dress shop.

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