Page 262 of Historical Hotties
He gestured at what she was wearing, yet another borrowed dress from Nicola because her clothing was plain and she wanted to put some thought into her appearance for her new husband. He seemed pleased when she did.
“Because we can purchase fabric for you to have more dresses made,” he said. “Is there a seamstress in town? Mayhap we should pay her a visit.”
Caledonia nodded reluctantly. “There is a seamstress,” she said. “A few that I know of, but…”
She trailed off and he lifted a dark eyebrow. “Butwhat?”
She sighed, looking at her lap. “But the expense of all of this,” she said. “Fine dresses are not inexpensive, angel.”
Angel. She’d gone from calling him Blue Eyes or simply Blue to angel. It wasn’t exactly a term of endearment for a man, but she thought it summed him up perfectly and he wasn’t going to argue with her. He liked hearing her call him by a pet name, something that was a new experience for him. It made him feel special and adored.
Loved, even.
He’d been responding to it for days now.
“We have been over this,” he said patiently. “You cannot go on wearing my sister’s clothing for the rest of your life. More than that, you are my wife. I should like you finely dressed. What you wear is a direct reflection on my ability to provide for you.”
She chuckled softly. She never could hold out long against his wishes. “Very well,” she said. “If you are going to cry about it, I will have some new clothing made.”
“I want to go!” Nicola leaned over, pressing on Caledonia as she looked at her brother. “I want to help pick the fabric.”
Thor turned his head, looking on ahead as Birmingham loomed. “Speak with my wife,” he said. “It is her decision whether or not she wants your help. But do not pester her if she does not.”
“Of course I do,” Caledonia said, smiling at Nicola. “I need your help. I have never had much of an eye for clothing.”
“And jewelry,” Nicola said, knowing her brother could hear her. “The Countess of Tamworth and Stafford should have magnificent jewelry. Darius said that Tamworth is wildly rich and you should look the part, don’t you think? Make my brother buy you jewelry.”
Thor did look at the carriage then. “And I am going to sew your lips shut and make you walk home,” he said. “Do not push her if she does not want to.”
“Who says she does not want to?”
They started to argue, and Caledonia threw up a hand to stop them. “Jewelry would be very nice,” she said to Nicola. Then she looked at Thor. “But I do not wish for you to spend too much. I would not get much use out of coffers full of jewels.”
He flipped up his visor, smiling sweetly. “You should,” he said. “If any woman in England could do them justice, it would be you.”
Caledonia grinned like a silly fool at his compliment before glancing at Nicola. “Is he always like this?” she asked.
Nicola was giggling, too. “Always like what?” she said. “Like a stabbing pain in my backside? But aye, he is always like that. He can get around our mother with sweet words and smiles, just like he does with you.”
Caledonia broke down laughing. “I meant to ask if he is always so kind.”
Nicola eyed her brother, who was smirking at her, waiting for a typical sister’s answer when it came to a brother.
“Aye,” she said begrudgingly. “He is always so kind. I have several brothers, you see. Brian is the eldest and he looks like Thor, except that he had an accident several years ago, so he walks with a limp. He does not fight. Did Thor tell you that?”
Caledonia shook her head, looking at Thor. “Nay,” she said. “We’ve not spoken much about his siblings, so I did not know.”
“Brian can still fight,” Thor said. “He broke his leg in battle and it never healed correctly. He is not agile in a fight, but he is an excellent commander.”
“And this is your twin?” Caledonia asked.
“Aye,” Thor said. “My mother said that I was holding on to Brian’s foot when we were born. It is only by fate that he was born first.”
“If you were holding on to his foot, it seems that you were trying to hold him back.”
Thor snorted. “Probably,” he said. “But he is my brother. I adore him.”
“We have other brothers, too,” Nicola said. “Taite serves with the de Winters of Narborough Castle, but John and Hart serve at Ashington with our father.”
