Chapter 19

After selecting some gloves, the three ladies moved toward the bonnets. "What do you think of this one, Theresia?" Lady Cadogen asked.

Theresia turned to see a red-velvet poke bonnet with a short brim. It was trimmed with black ribbon and black feathers. "Oh, Lady Cadogen, it's—"

"Not Lady Cadogen. You must call me Andalin."

After they had entered the milliner's shop, Andalin had insisted they drop pretenses. They knew Theresia had no real title, but perhaps they'd forgotten. Besides, no Englishwoman had ever willingly wanted to be her friend. "Forgive me. Andalin . I'm afraid it will take some getting used to."

"I have not known Andalin long myself," Her Grace—Tansy—said. "But she assures me that she is desperate for our friendship. How can we argue with a story as helpless as that?" She winked conspiratorially.

Andalin shrugged. "Too many are afraid of my husband to desire any real connection to me. His reputation as a baron gone highwayman is not so easily removed as was his mask."

After Theresia had become a teacher, she had seen newspaper articles about Lord Cadogen, but she had not put them together with the couple until now. "I don't know your husband well, but I would hope there are some people who are less harsh in their judgments." She knew she was being a hypocrite in her dislike of the English, but there were so few who were as good and kind as these two. She set the red bonnet on her head and let Andalin propel her toward a mirror.

"I can relate to Andalin in my own way," Tansy said, coming up beside them. "My truest friends were always my aunts. No one else saw the real me. There are honorable people in the world, but there are plenty of cruel ones too." She tilted her head so she could see Theresia's face. "I like it immensely. The red is the perfect contrast against your hair."

"I thought only a foreigner like myself struggled with making friends." Theresia adjusted the bonnet as if she were thinking it over. She had no intention of spending a single penny of her savings, but it would not hurt to humor the others.

Tansy shook her head. "I might have said something similar about my own situation only a few short months ago. I didn't have a father's good name to stand under and was treated differently because of it."

Andalin linked arms with Tansy. "We all want to be normal, but is anyone really? We should post an advertisement in every store advocating for lonely women. Attention: Friend Wanted. Make haste with your applications, for the demand is infinite. Must be trustworthy and kind, notwithstanding appearance or fortune."

"Or family connections," Tansy added.

Andalin raised one brow. "Or especially brooding husbands."

Theresia laughed with them. The sound of it blending with the others was strange to her ears—like bubbling happiness, the sound of belonging. She wanted to believe two such caring people could include her in their circle, but instead of holding tight to their immediate acceptance, she let herself brush against it, testing the feel of it. Trust hadn't been easy to come by these last eight years.

"Look. There is Captain Reese." Andalin pointed toward the bay window at the front of the store.

Rolland was speaking to Lord Vernon, who wore his arrogance like a suit of clothes. At least he was not glaring at her at the moment.

"Should we ask the captain's opinion of the bonnet?" Andalin asked with feigned innocence.

Theresia didn't want to ruin the easy comradery between them by inviting Rolland inside. Such a practical man as he could have no interest in frippery. "Is that necessary?"

"Not necessary but completely advisable," Tansy added with a grin.

Theresia couldn't miss the glint of mischief in both of their eyes. What were they up to? "He doesn't strike me as caring much for fashion, or for what I wear, for that matter." The latter was debatable since she well remembered how pleased he'd seemed when she'd met him at Rose Cottage dressed in what she'd thought was an ordinary, serviceable morning dress. He was equally so when she'd walked into the drawing room the night before in her new, elegant purple gown.

"He's no dandy," Andalin agreed, tucking a dark strand of hair behind her ear, "but that is hardly the point. Don't you desire his opinion?"

All at once their intentions added up. "Do you mean to think that he and I—that we... that we care for each other? Honestly, I drive the man mad with my stubbornness. There is no tendre between us, I can assure you."

Tansy lowered her voice and stepped closer. "But he's especially protective of you, singling you out at every opportunity."

Andalin closed their tight circle by bringing her head nearer the others by a few more inches. "My Ellis is of a similar temperament to the captain, aloof and serious. But the eyes cannot lie. And the way Captain Reese looks at you clearly expresses a degree of interest. I would even wager he cares far more than that."

Theresia glanced around them to make sure no one could possibly overhear their whispered allegations. They were the only customers present, and the store clerk was on the opposite side of the place, humming to herself. "You must believe me. It's an act. Truly, I annoy him more than anything."

Andalin's mouth puckered in a curious frown. "We are all in this sordid house party together, so I know acting is required to some extent. But I cannot believe it is all an act."

"Shall we test him?" Tansy's blue eyes sparkled. "Marcus has taught me a few things about reading people."

"Shall we?" Andalin rubbed her hands together.

These two were impossible, but their excited mood was contagious. Theresia wanted to say yes, because how could she not be curious after hearing their observations? But reality squashed any chance of hope seeping to the surface. Captain Reese care for her? Ridiculous. He was a handsome officer and a future baron. She was just Theresia. "You will be vastly disappointed, I'm afraid."

Her words as good as granted them permission, because they fled from her side and through the door. On the other side of the window, she watched them latch on to each of the captain's arms and propel him inside the milliners. Dare she hide again? It might be better than facing the captain's deep scowl of disapproval.

Lord Vernon traipsed in behind them, whining loudly, "I wasn't finished with our conversation, Captain."

No one answered him.

"What do you think, Captain?" Andalin released him only when he was directly in front of Theresia. "Doesn't Lady Glass look well in bold colors?"

The bonnet. Theresia had forgotten all about the silly thing on her head. Her cheeks burned and probably matched the red velvet perfectly. She envisioned the overall effect was more akin to a ripe tomato than an appealing debutante. What would he say? He wouldn't be mean—no, he was stern but never unkind—but neither did she want him to feel exasperated.

The sharp line of Rolland's mouth wavered and even lifted a little in one corner. "Lady Glass looks well in any color."

He had noticed her unease and sought to right it, but that was not all. His gaze penetrated her own, filled with equal amounts depth and flirtation, drawing her in completely. Somewhere between his words and his look, Theresia's heart stuttered. How one unexpected compliment could leave her so breathless, she could not say. She caught her friends' pleased expressions but did her utter best to school her own. "That's kind of you to say." Their gazes remained connected, and for that brief moment, he made her feel like they were the only ones in the store.

"Not that my opinion matters," Lord Vernon interrupted. "But I think the bonnet the perfect fit for Lady Glass. It's quite becoming."

As if in unison, their eyes all widened, save for those of Lord Vernon, who seemed quite pleased with his unsolicited compliment. Why did the first positive thing she'd witnessed out of his mouth have to pertain to her? Had she passed some sort of test, or was his compliment another form of deception?

Theresia squirmed under his appreciative gaze and attempted to force a thank-you when Rolland spoke first.

"If that is all you require, we shall leave you ladies to it. How about finishing our earlier conversation outside, Lord Vernon?" Rolland put his hand on the man's shoulder, steering him toward the door and not stopping until they were outside.

The last thing Theresia heard was Lord Vernon's words. "Isn't England's inflation abominable? This blasted country can't do anything right."

Tansy frowned. "I had hoped for a more in-depth test that required more than one simple question, but I suppose we made our point."

Andalin tapped her chin. "It did produce telling results. What did you think, Theresia?"

Theresia wasn't going to play their game. "A compliment is no proposal of marriage. Nothing to be overly excited about."

His look, however, was everything.

How could she not have reacted to those short seconds during which she'd felt like the only one Rolland could see? Surely she'd imagined it. No, she couldn't have. But what did it mean? She had so little experience in Society that she couldn't trust herself to measure the depth of a single, meaningful glance. Her well-read mind borrowed scenarios from books from the seminary, and her imagination leaped from one romantic idea to another, searching for his true intent.

"You're thinking about him, aren't you?" Tansy studied Theresia with a keen eye before answering her own question with a decisive nod. "You go right ahead and dream of him while we buy your bonnet. I know I relived every moment with Marcus a thousand times in my head."

Andalin plucked off the bonnet. "I am buying you this."

Tansy grinned. "Then, I shall get the gloves and a few ribbons."

Theresia opened her mouth to argue. "I don't mind—"

"We insist," Andalin said, cutting her off. "Remember, we love to play dress-up. Just content yourself with thoughts of how well Captain Reese thinks of you in every color while we make the purchases."

When they exited the store, each of them carried one of Theresia's packages. She protested against their generosity, but neither of them seemed to hear her. It was decided that they should deposit their goods in the carriage before continuing their shopping, so they made their way toward the conveyance, their purchases in tow. Theresia hoped their next purchases would be for them and not her.

They began the short trek along the storefronts toward the line of black carriages when a moving conveyance passed them, the horses plodding at a walking pace. Theresia glanced up to see an older man's arm perched on the edge of the carriage window and his aged face framed from the inside.

It couldn't be! It was her godfather ! The benevolent man who had gifted her the full purse. Well, not her real godfather, but she knew no other name for him.

He met her gaze and grinned knowingly.

Her mouth sputtered when she tried to call out to him, remembering her desire to thank him. He waved like he was aware of her intentions before slapping the side of the carriage and signaling his driver to hasten their speed. The horses broke into a trot, carrying her godfather away.

"What is it?" Andalin asked.

How could she explain? "Nothing. I thought I recognized the man in the carriage is all."

"Can I take your packages for you, ladies?" His Grace stepped in front of them and took the hatbox from Tansy's arm, receiving her many thanks.

Theresia mumbled her own gratitude when the duke took her package of ribbons from her, before she took a distracted look down the road again. What was her godfather doing in this small corner of Westmorland? And why had he smiled without an ounce of surprise in his features? Had he passed by on this street at this exact moment with the express purpose to greet her, only to pull away before she could ask a single question?

Her gaze lifted of its own accord and somehow connected with that of Rolland, who now stood in front of their line of carriages beside his parents. He tilted his head in a show of concern, and she quickly smiled to hide her thoughts. His lips followed suit, offering her a closed-lipped grin of his own. A swirl of pleasure coursed through her. It was only her second time seeing such an expression on him.

No one had asked him to worry or send her a look of comfort, but he'd done so once again of his own volition. Tansy and Andalin's musing came back to her. Was it silly to think his concern romantic? Part of her couldn't help it. He was still the hero she had first imagined him to be when he'd rescued her from the thief. She sighed inwardly and stared after him. It was a shame that such a fine man had to be an Englishman.