Page 66 of Marrying a Reluctant Lady
Owen looked at him playfully. He laughed. After all the tension of the past few minutes, it felt good to be outside.
They all walked along the street a little giddily, laughing and talking brightly after the tension. Owen held Ophelia’s hand.Her eyes sparkled as she looked at him over her shoulder. He drew in a breath and thought he’d never seen anyone so beautiful. He drew in another breath.
“You look so beautiful,” he murmured.
She grinned. “Thank you.”
They both laughed.
“We can walk up to the park,” Leonard suggested.
“Yes! Then we’ll be at Oxford Street, which is the best place to find a draper.” Ophelia added.
Owen chuckled. “Yes, it is.” He would have felt daunted by that, but now that the debts had been settled, and with the knowledge that he was not as poor as he’d thought, he felt confident. Besides, he knew Ophelia and guessed she would not be extravagant.
“I’ve never chosen my own cloth for my dresses,” she confided as they walked.
Owen stared at her. “You have never chosen your own fabric for dresses.” He said the words dully.
“The seamstress always had the say, because she knew what was most fashionable.”
“No! That’s not possible,” Owen said, blinking at her in surprise.
“No, it really was.” She giggled at his disbelief, but he could see how serious she was, her eyes calm and gaze level.
“Well, then,” he said firmly. “You’re going to go and choose your own fabric today. And you’re not to look at the price. I’m sure we will manage, no matter how much it is.”
“Oh, Owen!” She laughed and took his hand, and he raised it to his lips.
They reached the first draper’s shop and went in.
It seemed that Ophelia knew exactly what she wanted, and Owen found himself carrying two pieces of fabric wrapped in apaper parcel when he walked back onto the street—one white muslin with blue flowers, and one dark pink.
Ophelia looked very pleased with her choices. Owen smiled to himself as he walked with her down the street. It was good to see her looking so happy.
They all went back to the house, and they were only seated there for a few seconds when their visitors arrived and with a loud exclamation of delight, Ophelia and Lady Alice embraced.
“Alice! It’s so good to see you.”
“I was so worried! I am so, so pleased you’re safe.”
Owen felt himself smile as the two women embraced. He glanced over at Leonard, and was surprised to see him watching too, and with a similar look of affection to his own. He was still frowning in confusion as Lady Alice looked up at Leonard and her face softened into a beautiful smile.
“Why! Lord Alford,” she greeted him with a lilting tone. “It’s grand to see you.”
“Lovely to see you, Lady Alice, as ever.” He bowed low and lifted her hand, pressing it to his lips.
Owen felt a grin cross his face. Leonard and Lady Alice! He should have guessed. He had essentially been told; he just hadn’t placed all the parts of the picture together.
“Owen. I’m so sorry about what happened,” Aunt Julia said, coming to join him while Leonard, Lady Alice and Ophelia discussed something else.
“It’s all right, Aunt,” Owen said gently. “It’s just stone and bricks. It can be built again.”
“Quite so. Quite so,” his aunt agreed. “And better, too.”
“Yes. I hope so.”
She looked at him seriously. “You heard the news, of course?”
