To Wed a Stranger by Edith Layton

Author:Edith Layton
Language: ron
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“You look wonderful,” Miles said when he saw Annabelle.

She finally let her breath out. He wasn’t lying. He could disguise his expression, but over these past weeks she’d learned to read the truth in his eyes. It was an invalid’s talent she’d developed in the days when she hadn’t trusted words. Now she could see those ice blue eyes were warmed with real admiration. She exulted.

She was only going to a local dance but she’d taken more time dressing now than for her first presentation to society. She twirled before him. “You like my hair?” she asked.

He laughed. “What I can see of it, clever lady.”

Her hair was covered by a blue satin toque, a fashionable French wrap of a cap, covered over with artificial blue flowers. Wisps of inky curls showed at her forehead and over her ears. They’d been sewn into the toque, as she’d finally found use for one of the wigs she hadn’t been able to wear. The toque matched her gown—blue and embellished by flowers at the long puffed sleeves and hem.

She was excited, elated, delighted. She thought she looked almost like herself again. It was true she was still too thin and her skin hadn’t entirely recovered its creamy purity, but she thought she looked very fine, much better than she’d hoped she would so soon.

“I’ll do,” she said smugly. “But look at you. You look grand enough for London.”

He shrugged away her compliment. “I wear what I must. You’d think a country squire would have a more casual affair, wouldn’t you?”

“No,” she said, “A country squire is exactly the fellow who wouldn’t.”

They smiled at each other. But she thought he did look wonderful. Evening dress suited his athletic frame. Buff breeches showed off his muscular thighs, and he didn’t need to pad out his white stockings. His broad shoulders were set off by his tightly fitted jacket, his neckcloth was tied in fashionable style. His brown curls were cropped short and brushed forward. He looked very masculine and yet elegant. She felt proud to take his arm and go downstairs to meet the others in the hall.

“But see the evening’s star,” Annabelle said as Camille joined them.

“Bravo!” Miles said with approval.

Camille’s color grew higher. “Well, thanks,” she said, and grinned. “I do look a treat, don’t I?”

She wore a transparent gold silk overdress over a white gown, sashed at the high waist with tawny silk. It hid the worst points of her figure and gave the rest delineation. Gold flowers woven into her curls lit up her face and brought up bright highlights in her sparkling brown eyes. But she knew she looked well and would have glowed without them.

“She’ll do,” Bernard said, himself transformed by fashion. He looked down proudly, again appreciating his bright blue jacket, violet waistcoat, yellow pantaloons. Rather, he tried to look down, but his shirt points were so high and his neckcloth so elaborately tied that he could barely turn his head.

“We all look fine as fivepence,” their mother agreed.

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