Three Original Ladies 02 - Lord Trowbridge’s Angel by G.G. Vandagriff Read Free Book Online Page B

understanding he now had. She was, in addition to being an angel, a person of rare understanding. When he had first seen her in Buck’s drawing room, he had been taken by both her vulnerability and courage. He had known she was different.
    But last night, she had changed everything. Now he yearned to hold her close, to protect her from those in society who, like Lila, had no idea of who she really was. At the same time, he wanted to applaud for her.
    Frank had reached the shop where archery sets, croquet sets, and cricket paraphernalia were sold. Entering, he went at once to the women’s bows and began testing them. Fortunately, he found just what he wanted but had feared he would not find. A bow that need not be altered at all. He judged it to be perfect for his Sophie. As well as the bow, he bought a target and a quiverful of arrows. Frank waited impatiently while they were packaged, and then, hailing a hackney, made his way to the Marquis of Deal’s townhouse.
    He was received by the butler, who informed him that the ladies were still out but were expected to return for tea, if he would care to wait. The marquis was in his library.

{ 9 }

    EXCEPT FOR HER PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLE , such gowns as Sophie had ever owned had been stitched up by the family seamstress. Until the night of Melissa’s ball, she had never thought much about her gowns, having lived for the most part only in the family circle. Madame Colbert was clearly delighted to have the dressing of her. “ Ma petite, you have the form parfait, and your coloring is so interresante. Those eyes, they are tres magnifique. For you, not the jewel colors. For you, the colors of springtime—the yellows, the soft greens, the pinks, the apricots.” As she spoke, she pointed to bolts of muslin and silk for her assistant to pull off the shelves. Draping Sophie with the different fabrics, she made notations with her pencil and murmured to herself in cockney English.
    “You are petite, therefore you want to be élégant, not covered with the bows and the flounce.”
    Madame clapped her hands sharply, and a young woman appeared, clothed only in a dressing gown. Speaking to her rapidly, Madame clapped her hands again. Then she asked Sophie and Fanny to be seated, placed a dish of petit fours at their side, and told them to enjoy themselves.
    For the next hour, Sophie was entranced as walking dresses, day dresses, and evening gowns were modeled before her. Fanny told her what she would need, shaking her head when Sophie demurred over the number. At length, Sophie chose the styles she could see would flatter her most, was guided by Madame in the matter of color and fabric, and finally consented to go in the back of the store to be measured.
    They arranged to take one of the modeled gowns that fit Sophie perfectly. It was an apricot muslin with a tiny ivory stripe, piped in gold and ivory. The bodice was ruffled in tiny Van Dyke pleats that rose up and were anchored into a collar by a strip of ivory lace, fluting the pleats about her face. It was a day gown, but by wearing it with its gold buttoned ivory spencer, it became a walking dress.
    “My dear, you look a perfect angel,” Fanny said.
    Sophie smiled to herself, wondering if Gorgeous Frank would think so.
    “The other things, we will sew as fast as possible. You shall have the first in two days.”
    Fanny agreed that she should wear her new dress and spencer home. She was very glad she did, for when they arrived there, it was to hear that Gorgeous Frank was visiting with Buck in his library. Perkins told Sophie and Fanny they were expected there upon their arrival home.
    Both men stood upon their entrance, and after kissing his wife, Buck said, “Sophie, my dear! Your friend has something to show you. And I must say that is a splendid new gown.”
    Trowbridge bowed over Sophie’s hand, his deep blue eyes alight. “We have been waiting this age. You must have ordered enough gowns for several seasons.”
    “It was the