The Spinsters Secret

by Monroe, Jennifer

  After he finally gave her a nod of agreement, he took the seat Sally had just vacated and pulled out a small box. “I have something for you,” he said. Alice was surprised at the shy manner he expressed as he pushed the box toward her.

  Alice picked up the box. She slowly untied the ribbon and opened it to find a butterfly pendant with four emeralds surrounded by gold that made up the tiny wings. She removed it and found it was attached to a long gold chain. In all honesty, it took her breath away it was so beautiful.

  “It was my mother’s,” he said as he walked around to stand behind Alice’s chair and offered to clasp it around her neck. “She left it to me when she died, asking me to give it to the woman I planned to marry.” His fingers brushed against her neck, sending a tingling down her spine and she had to keep herself from leaning her head to lay it over his hand which remained on her shoulder. The man had made all sorts of attempts to convince her that he cared for her, but this was the first time he had given her a gift, especially one of such great sentimental value.

  However, beautiful or not, how did she know the pendant had belonged to his mother? Perhaps it was a tale he had concocted as a part of his ruse to win her over. There was a good chance he had hundreds of them created to entice women to his bed. In all honesty, she felt as if she could cry, yet that would only ruin her plans. He had to pay, and he had to pay dearly.

  Bringing forth the memory of seeing him kissing the woman in the alleyway, she found the strength to get her emotions under control. “It is lovely,” she said with a forced smile. “However, I worry that the chain will not support the weight of the pendant for long.” She stood and walked to the mirror.

  “It looks to be strong enough,” Johnathan said.

  “I fear it is too weak. Yes, for the time being, it is holding, but I would hate to lose something so precious.” She walked up to Johnathan and placed her hand on his chest and gave him a pout. “Yet, if you do not wish to spend your money on me, I will not complain.” She batted her eyelashes at him, much like the heroines in the novels she had read. And just as it had worked for those fictional women, Johnathan let out a sigh.

  He said nothing for several moments as he studied her face. “Very well,” he said finally with a quick nod, “You can speak to the jeweler and procure a new chain.” He gave her a smile, his eyes twinkling once again. “I must leave now,” he said. “I must write to your father and tell him that we will be returning soon so the banns can be posted as soon as possible.”

  Alice moved her hand up his chest and she recognized the desire in his eyes. Good. She had him right where she wanted him. “And then we can begin the plans for our wedding.”

  “I cannot wait.” His voice was husky, and Alice thought she would double over in laughter if he did not leave soon.

  “I must see to hiring extra staff, purchasing a few decorations, preparing the menu…” She peered into his eyes and had to push aside a bit of guilt that attempted to weasel its way into her conscious. “I also wish to enlist a decorator to make some…minor changes at Cliff Heights House so it is ready when we return as a married couple.” She forced a flush to her cheeks and almost giggled at his reaction.

  Johnathan placed a finger under her chin. “Whatever you wish,” he said. “Have the bills sent to me. I know you can be trusted to make wise decisions.”

  “I had a wise teacher,” she said as she led him to the front door. He gave her a smile as she opened the door and he walked outside. Then she closed and locked the door behind him.

  She leaned against the closed door and smiled, though the smile might have appeared a bit evil to someone looking in from the outside. “But now the student will become the teacher, for that teacher has a lesson to learn.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Johnathan paced the library in the flickering light of a single candle, his long shadow cast against the leather tomes. It had been an eventful two days, to say the least, and the more he thought on them, the more perplexed he became. The kiss he and Alice shared had been a momentous event in their blossoming relationship, and she had returned his affections as readily as he had given her.

  Then, as though in a bad dream, Jane had appeared in his life once again. After so many years of suffering through her rejection of him, he had finally come to terms with his grief and found another woman to love. The fact that her sudden appearance had angered him, not out of the old ire he had felt for so long, but rather the bother she could cause, was a bit of an appeasement, for now he knew that the love he had for her was now extinguished. His affections now lay with someone else. Alice.

  Just the thought of her name made his heart beat against his chest. However, when he spoke to her earlier, she did not seem herself. Had he imagined it, or had the woman seemed angry at him? By all appearances, she smiled, spoke in a caring voice, and had even touched him in ways she had never done before. Yet, that smile had a stiffness to it, her voice a bit higher-pitched than usual, and the touch held very little heat, as if she were testing the softness of a pillow rather than sharing in an intimate moment with the man for whom she cared.

  Walking over to the liquor cart, Johnathan poured himself a measure of brandy and walked over to stare at the fire. Alice had been excited when she told him she wished to have Sally as her companion, as well as her lady’s maid, and he had readily agreed. The woman seemed friendly and would be very good for Alice. Johnathan wondered at the change in the tone of voice Alice used when discussing a need for a new wardrobe, not only for herself, but for Sally, as well. The way she had batted her eyelashes at him was not like her, nor the way she pouted. The image of her acting in such a fashion only confused him more, and he took a sip of the brandy to push it from his mind.

  Johnathan had to admit that what bothered him the most was Alice’s reaction to his mother’s pendant. She seemed pleased enough, though he had expected a far different reaction to receiving a gift that he had promised his mother he would gift to the woman he married, not the dismissive attitude and concern for the delicate chain from which it hung. Granted, it was a bit sentimental, but was that not what women wanted?

  Then a horrible thought occurred to him. Was she more like other women than he had realized? Had their growing affections for each other been a ruse? Was she only interested in marrying him so she could have access to his money? He almost laughed at the prospect, for was that not what he had proposed? However, the passing weeks had changed their relationship significantly, or so he had thought. And now she was asking for money for dresses, not only for herself, but her lady’s maid, as well as necessities for their wedding. Then the idea of hiring decorators for Cliff Heights House? How like Jane Alice was behaving.

  Then Johnathan stopped his pacing and laughed. “Johnathan, you fool,” he said to his brandy. “Jane’s sudden appearance is what has brought you to seeing things that are not there.” Yes, the woman had soured the mood and cast darkness on his otherwise bright day. Alice had not been avoiding him when he had returned to the shop after his encounter with Jane; it was only his guilt in the fact that Jane had kissed him that had made him suspicious when Alice was not there, and she had a perfectly valid reason for staying with Sally for the night. A valid and astute rationale for doing so.

  Everything that Alice had requested to purchase was more than reasonable; Johnathan had even suggested most of them. It only made sense that her companion had clothing befitting one seen with a countess; the poor girl certainly did not possess such attire herself. As for hiring someone to come in and decorate the house, had Johnathan not mentioned that she had free rein to do so the day she had come by to visit? Finally, perhaps her concern for the weakness of the gold chain that supported the pendant he gave her had been because she treasured the pendant and truly worried it would be lost if the chain broke.

  No, Alice was not the problem. That charge belonged to the Dowager Duchess Jane Willemstad. It was her return that made him suspicious. However, her chance to become his wife was long past,
and Alice was now the woman he wanted. Although he knew that her acceptance of him was just as difficult for her as it was for him, he was glad they had both moved forward, even if it had been toward other goals in the beginning.

  Hurrying over to his writing desk, he removed a single sheet of paper and sat down to write to Mr. Huntington as he had promised Alice he would. It warmed his heart to be able to be truthful when he wrote that he and Alice had fallen in love and would be marrying upon their return to Exeter in three weeks’ time. He laughed when he realized it was only a few days short of the three-month deadline, and yet, it mattered not to him any longer. If Mr. Huntington decided to not follow through on his end of the deal, Johnathan would still wish to marry the man’s daughter, for his heart swelled whenever she came to mind. Yes, he truly loved her, and no one could change that fact.

  ***

  A man in worn clothing and holes in his shoes came running at full-speed toward Alice and Sally as they made their way to the dressmaker’s shop, causing the two women to jump into the street to keep the man from knocking them down. Luckily, no carriages or riders ran them down in the process.

  “Watch out!” cried another man as he ran in pursuit of the first.

  “Beggin’ your pardon,” a third said with a tip of his hat as he followed the other two, though his step never slowed with his words.

  Alice brought her hand to her chest in shock. “Oh, my!” she said as she and Sally returned to the footpath.

  “No doubt a thief,” Sally replied as she shook her head. “I wonder if he stole food, or maybe some money from one of the merchants.”

  Alice forced her heart to return to its normal rate. “Whatever it may be, it will not stop us from our day together.” She smiled at Sally. Today they had an appointment with the dressmaker, and Alice was excited, not only for the new clothing she and Sally would receive, but also for the money they would spend—Johnathan’s money.

  The front windows of the dressmaker’s held a wonderful display of several everyday dresses, riding dresses, and even ball gowns. Alice found herself amazed that a shop so far from London could provide such a variety of fashion, each as beautiful as the next. As they stood admiring what the shop had to offer, however, Sally stopped suddenly, her face white and her eyes wide.

  “Is something wrong?” Alice asked.

  “It’s just that I’ve never had a dress made for myself,” Sally said in a shaky voice. “My mother made all my dresses when I was little, or I wore all of my sisters’ dresses as they outgrew them, and I make my dresses now.” She turned tear-filled eyes on Alice. “I don’t want to be an embarrassment.”

  Pity was all Alice could feel for the poor woman as she gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “You will not embarrass me,” Alice assured her. “Remember, we are here not only for ourselves, but to fulfill a plan. If nothing steels your spirits, that certainly will.”

  The words seemed to help, as Sally stood straighter, and though fear still settled in her eyes, her bearing was stronger. “You’re right,” she said, her voice now firm. “Let’s go.”

  Inside, the shop was grander than Alice would have expected. What she thought to be a shop on the lower of two floors was instead a two-storied open room with bolts of fabrics with a large variety of patterns and colors. Rich muslins, deep velvets, lustrous satins, smooth silks, soft linens, anything today’s woman would need to make the most exquisite of dresses and gowns. The shop had no fewer than five women, all dressed in the same black dresses with white lace at the collar and at the end of the sleeves. Through a small opening in a curtain, Alice could see several women bent over yards of fabrics, needles moving in a rhythmic fashion as they peered closely at their stitching. To have such a successful shop would be a dream for Alice.

  “Good afternoon,” said a woman in the same black dress as the others Alice had seen assisting other customers. “My name is Mrs. Grant, the proprietor. May I help you?” She was an ancient woman with more gray than brown in her hair, but her smile was friendly and welcoming.

  “Good afternoon,” Alice replied with practiced ease. “I am Miss Huntington, and this is Miss Canton. We are in need of a complete wardrobe.”

  “I see, Miss Huntington,” the woman replied. “Will this include evening wear as well as day wear for yourself?”

  “Most definitely,” Alice replied with a broad smile. “But I feel you have misunderstood me. I would like complete wardrobes for both myself and Miss Canton. She is my companion, you see.”

  The woman looked Sally up and down. “I see,” she said in an unsure voice. “We have an assortment of ready-made dresses over here for Miss Canton.”

  “Oh, no, I wish to have the best for both of us, Mrs. Grant. And I am afraid that it must be completed as quickly as possible because I must return to Exeter in a week’s time. Will that be possible do you think?”

  Mrs. Grant stared at Alice but hid her surprise quite well. “A week? That is a quite difficult request at this time…”

  “Money is no object,” Alice said. “I am Lord Blackmoore’s fiancée. I am sure you know who Lord Blackmoore is.”

  “But of course,” the woman replied. “And I believe we might be able to have what you need, but I am afraid that a week just is not feasible. I simply do not have the staff to complete such an order in that amount of time.”

  Alice laughed. “As I said, money is no object. Would more staff help you in this matter? Whatever the cost, we will pay extra to cover it.” She removed the notes Johnathan had given her earlier. “Will this be enough for a down-payment? If you require more, Lord Blackmoore will make up the difference.”

  The woman’s eyes widened when she saw the amount of money before her. “I am certain we can have what you need ready a week from today,” she said, a greedy glint to her eye. She led Alice and Sally to a book of sketches, and the two women looked through it, pointing out different dresses they each preferred. By the time they finished, they had chosen thirteen dresses and four gowns between the two, as well as the accessories they would need to complement their selections. They then chose a variety of fabrics, all the most expensive, of course. When they finished, several women around them applauded, many giving them jealous looks from behind their hands.

  Mrs. Grant called over a young woman in a simple brown dress that lacked any type of accessory, including lace. “This is Elizabeth. She will take your measurements in the back room. If you will follow me.”

  Alice knew she had made an impression on Mrs. Grant. In the past when she had visited a dressmaker, the proprietor never once accompanied her to be measured. This was exactly what she wanted; not the notoriety, for that matter not to her. No, the more important she appeared to be, the more of Johnathan’s money she could spend.

  “This is all very strange and exciting,” Sally whispered as they followed the two women through another doorway.

  Alice patted her hand. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

  Sally nodded quickly. “Very much so!” she replied, her enthusiasm clearly evident. “I still can’t believe it.”

  “Well, believe it, because we are only just beginning.”

  Alice was the first to be measured, and Elizabeth worked quickly and efficiently, clearly quite capable in her position. When Sally took her place on the small stool, she glanced around nervously in her shift, clearly uncomfortable to be standing almost nude outside of her home.

  “What of a wedding gown?” Alice asked Mrs. Grant as Elizabeth worked with Sally. “I realize that having something so intricate made in such a short time would be almost impossible.”

  “Oh, yes, Miss Huntington,” Mrs. Grant replied sullenly, probably unhappy she would lose the sale of the most expensive garment she could supply to Alice.

  “But if I were to order it now, could it be completed in time for a wedding scheduled in three weeks?”

  Mrs. Grant’s face lit up. “I am sure we can manage that,” she replied. “Just a moment.” She left the room and returned with another
book of sketches. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I would like the latest styles from France, if that is possible,” Alice said. “Or the latest you have, that is.”

  “As it is,” Mrs. Grant said as she placed the book on a nearby counter, “I just received this from none other than Madam Moreau, a very famous and talented woman in Paris. Perhaps she will have a design that you would enjoy.”

  The sketches were indeed exquisite, but Alice found it difficult to decide on one. Granted, this was to be a marriage of convenience, but she had hoped not three days earlier that it would be a happy day. It pained her to care only for the price of a gown for such an important occasion.

  “If I may,” Mrs. Grant said as she looked Alice up and down. “I am quite an accomplished designer myself, though I am nowhere near as famous as Madam Moreau. Might I design your wedding gown? I have a wonderful idea for the neckline. And your petite frame would be perfect for what I have in mind.” She took Alice’s hand in hers. “I promise it will be the most exquisite and wonderful dress you will ever have.”

  “But how will you know I will like it?” Alice asked skeptically.

  “You have chosen some wonderful dresses and gowns already, so I now know what you like. I can take that information and produce something that will surprise and delight you. You have my word. I will hire more staff if necessary.”

  What Mrs. Grant said made sense. In all honesty, the marriage would be loveless, so what did it matter what her gown looked like? “Very well, Mrs. Grant, I will allow you to design my dress, if you can promise it can be delivered to Exeter in plenty of time for my wedding. And be certain you add the extra expense for new staff to the bill.”

  “Thank you,” Mrs. Grant said, her face beaming. “I appreciate you understanding the intricacies of the costs behind the production of new clothing.”