Page 9 of Her Ruse with the Wicked Duke
“I will be sure to get you into something more fitting when we get home, My Lady.” Grace gave a small smile, taking her arm.
“It is all right, Grace. It keeps the judgmental eyes of the ton off me for a moment. They hardly recognize me.”
The girls nodded respectfully to each person they passed on the street, their simple brown slippers clicking on the stone sidewalks. Alice gazed into the windows of the various shops that lined the street as they walked down the cobbled walkway. It had been her favorite pastime ever since she was a child, and without Richard tugging her along while he showed off the superficial parts of her that would benefit his reputation, she could actually enjoy the busy streets of London.
Her parents would take her out for the various events and parties they held around London, and Alice had fond memories of shopping with her mother. She never liked to dwell on their passing, unlike Richard.
After they died, his already negative personality became worse, and he became closed off entirely. He abruptly fired all of the staff from the estate except the groundskeepers and Agnes, and her daughter. Everything else was for Alice to do. So, from then until now, she had been the resident servant for her brother, without so much as a complaint. He knew what to say to make her feel terrible about complaining, so she never did.
They continued down the street, Alice watching the happy families and older gentlemen with their dogs on leashes, before making it to the modiste.
“Good afternoon, Miss Wright,” Alice chirped as they entered the store, the brass bell above the door jingling.
The seamstress was a young woman who took over her father’s business once he passed. Alice was enamored by a woman running her own business and watched as the short lady’s curly hair bounced as she turned around to look at the door.
“Miss Snow, it is wonderful to see you. I am just finishing up,” the young woman spoke, busy pinning and hemming her pearl dress. “I decided to make a change to the sleeves, as well. No extra charge.”
“I cannot wait to see,” Alice replied.
She wandered around the shop until the modiste finally finished up and showed her the gown. Instead of the normal over-the-shoulder straps, she added princess sleeves that shimmered as the flowy fabric moved in the light.
“Oh, my… It is beautiful.”
“I figured that I would make it more unique for your next event, Miss. I understand that you have had some trouble with the other ladies.” Miss Wright eyed her, showing that she had heard the rumors floating around her store.
Alice lowered her head for a moment, before giving a polite smile. “I appreciate your work immensely. Thank you.”
She grabbed the dress and slid her loose pounds across the counter, before heading back out into the breezy spring atmosphere. As soon as she stepped out of the building, she ran into someone on the sidewalk. “Oh, Sir, I am so sorry.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you like this again, Miss Snow.”
She raised her embarrassed gaze to the figure in front of her to find Rowan smirking at her, and she quickly pulled her arms back from his stabilizing grip, his touch scorching her skin.
“Your Grace.” She suddenly bowed her head, noticing the people on the street pointing at them. “It is a surprise to see you downtown.”
“I had business to attend to. Speaking of which, we should meet soon and discuss our plan of attack. Assuming that you are going to say yes.”
“You forget yourself, Your Grace. A lady does not attack.” She narrowed her eyes before smiling. “Though, I was thinking about your proposition… I will do it.”
“Really?” He smirked and leaned closer, sending a jolt of energy through her core, startling her.
“Yes, but we need to discuss some things, and we should not be seen together without a chaperone. Shoo.”
Rowan ran his fingers through his hair, giving her a look up and down.
How can he look so incredibly attractive, even at this time of morning?
To Alice’s surprise, he did not question her attire and simply bowed his head instead, giving her a small wink that would have been unnoticeable if she had not been staring at him like some perfect model of a man.
“Until the next event, then, Miss Snow.”
He walked past her, his knuckles brushing against hers, sending a chill up her arm.
What was that?
ChapterFour
The week had flown by as Rowan attempted to sort out his shipments at the harbor and tried his hardest to casually bring up his true reason for being back in London without coming off as impoverished.
