Page 43 of Love Abandoned

“I see my chemise has done its work,” Madame Moreau said with a smile. “Congratulations, Mrs.…” Doubt clouded her expression. “Sinclair?”

“Lady Walford now,” Catherine said proudly, her cheeks flushed becomingly.

“Ah, yes, of course. I am so sorry. Your soldier, he did not—”

“Oh no!” Catherine said. “Heismy soldier. He came home.”

“He is Lord Walford now,” Sophia said.

Madame Moreau nodded, although she clearly did not follow that Walford had come into a title. It had been, after all, entirely unexpected, even by Catherine.

“What’s in a name? That which we call a soldier. By any other name would be as sweet.” Catherine giggled, but her mangling of Shakespeare further confused Madame Moreau, which made them all laugh.

Madame Moreau waited patiently before steering them back to the business at hand. “What is it you would like today?”

After they outlined their needs, she disappeared in back before returning with a bolt of muslin. “I must refit you, Lady Thornwood, for you have grownmince,” she said, holding her finger and thumb close together. “And you as well, Lady Walford, as you will grow.” She held her finger and thumb far apart, and they all laughed again.

The next few hours passed quickly. They were served champagne and small cakes while they pored over fashion plates. The selection of fabric was overwhelming—muslins, crepes, gossamer satins, velvets. Elizabeth often deferred to Sophia’s opinion.

“Do you have no Chinese silk?” Sophia asked.

“Mais oui,” Madame Moreau said. “They are in the back. I will get them.”

“No need. I will come see for myself and pick the best to show Lady Thornwood.” Sophia stood and stretched gracefully. “Too much sitting. I must give my body a stroll,” she said to Catherine and Elizabeth before trailing Madame Moreau into the back room.

Catherine stifled a yawn. “Oh, do forgive me. It was a late night.”

“I trust all is well with Lord Walford’s business,” Elizabeth said.

“Should it not be?” Catherine asked, her face scrunching in puzzlement.

“I apologize. I may have overstepped my bounds. It’s just when Richard rushed out to meet Lord Walford last evening, he indicated it was urgent.”

Catherine shook her head, looking genuinely confused. “But Nicholas did not meet with your husband. We were at my aunt’s for a small dinner and stayed far too late playing whist.”

Elizabeth’s stomach turned over, and she fought to maintain her composure. Richard had lied to her. Why? “Perhaps I have misrepresented the situation,” she said calmly.

Catherine leaned forward and touched Elizabeth’s arm. “It is possible they are meeting today.”

Which of course did not resolve why he’d misled her last night. Elizabeth hated seeing the concern in Catherine’s eyes. She had seen it on too many faces these past two years. Why was it every step forward led to two steps backward?

“If you’ll excuse me,” she said to Catherine, “I’ll go see what is keeping Sophia.”

Elizabeth heard the voices from the back corner of the room, behind a table piled high with fabrics. Hushed but heated, they argued in French. She’d had no idea Sophia spoke French fluently enough to hold her own with the Frenchwoman.

“Pas pour toi. Je le fais pour Gaston!”

“Merde!”Sophia said and stepped out from behind the table, stopping at the sight of Elizabeth.

Heat rushed to Elizabeth’s face. “I’m sorry. I did not mean to intrude.” She stumbled over her words. She’d never seen Sophia like this.

Sophia’s glare softened, and she smiled, walking quickly to Elizabeth and taking both hands. “No,mia amica, it is I who should apologize. I so wanted the golden Chinese silk for you, but Madame insists it is for another customer. She cannot be budged.”

They strolled back to the front where Catherine was standing, ready to leave. “I find myself needing a rest,” she said apologetically.

“Of course,mia bella. Let us go and leave Madame Moreau to work her magic.”

On the way home, Catherine and Elizabeth sat quietly while Sophia chatted gaily. Too gaily. Although she could not imagine what it was, Elizabeth was sure Sophia was hiding something. But then, everybody had their secrets, she supposed. Elizabeth sighed. At least it was clear Sophia had not lied to her about anything relevant to Elizabeth’s life. That, apparently, was Richard’s forte. And she was resolved to find out why.

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