Claire twirled the ends of the ribbons holding her bonnet in place as she waited for the Marquess for the carriage ride he promised her. In all actuality, she was rather surprised when Lady Suzanna conveyed the Duke’s permission. She had been under the impression that His Grace did not particularly approve of Lord Draydon but…she might have been mistaken after all.
Either that or he does not particularly care, she thought bitterly.
It had been two weeks since they last spoke to each other, on the night she had “run away”.
“Are you certain His Grace agreed to my going out with the Marquess?” she had asked Lady Suzanna.
The older lady just smiled mysteriously. “Why would he not, dear heart?”
She bit her lower lip. “I…I was under the impression His Grace did not approve of Lord Draydon.”
Lady Suzanna laughed a little. “My brother just wants you to enjoy your stay in London, Claire. He hopes that you will find what your heart has been searching for.”
“Whatever does that mean?” Claire asked in frustration.
“Why, whatever it means toyou,” Lady Suzanna smiled. “Now, I must be off. I have errands to run.”
Claire watched as she left in the carriage that His Grace had personally commissioned for his sister’s use. It could not be denied that he was exceedingly generous, as it was lavishly appointed with her comfort in mind. On occasion, Claire had even been in it and could attest to the fact that it was, indeed, a magnificent carriage.
She sat for a moment in the drawing room, immersed in her own thoughts. For days, she had been unable to finish her design. She had gone over her notes, pored over the book that His Grace had given her…all for naught.
Everything just stalled around two weeks back and she had been unable to finish her design. It felt rather disheartening for Claire since she felt that she was so close to finally completing it, only for her inspiration to come to a screeching halt.
It seemed that there was something missing. Something she could not put a finger on.
It is a good thing that Lord Draydon invited me on this trip.I hope that I will find the missing piece today.
Indeed, it had been a carriage ride with His Grace that gave her a burst of inspiration last time. It just might work again this time, with the Marquess.
Perhaps fresh air and a fresh pair of eyes will do the trick, she thought with a small smile.
“Lady Claire, Lord Draydon is waiting for you at the front door.”
Claire blinked and found Marley, the Slades’ loyal butler, smiling at her.
“Oh.” She felt her cheeks heat up at having been caught with her thoughts wandering. “Thank you, Marley.”
She got up and self-consciously fixed her bonnet, smoothing the front of her bombazine dress. She had been wearing black for weeks and it was a wonder Madame Woolworth had not run out of designs for mourning clothes.
After her father died, His Grace had commissioned for an entire wardrobe in black to be made for both Claire and Trixie. He made no mention of the cost, only instructed Madame Woolworth to send the bill to him and to spare no expense.
I suppose he just did not want to trouble us, Claire thought gratefully. Without him, she had no idea how she could have managed the first few weeks after her father died. He had been a source of strength and unending support for her in those days. To be bereft of his company all of a sudden made her feel…lost.
But I should not be thinking of His Grace right now, she admonished herself. It would be rude when I am in the presence of the Marquess of Draydon.
Sighing, she gathered her skirts and went out to meet Lord Draydon, who had been waiting for her at the front door with a smile.
“My dear, you look astonishingly lovely today,” he told her.
Claire laughed weakly. “I cannot imagine how I would look differently today when I have been wearing black for weeks on end but thank you for your kind compliments, Lord Draydon.”
“You make black look absolutely ravishing,” he persisted, drawing another smile from her.
They exchanged a few more pleasantries before he escorted her to his carriage. Just like the carriage His Grace used, it carried his crest and was quite elegant. However, it felt significantly older and there was a strange scent that came from it.
Nothing to worry about,Claire told herself.He most probably smokes just like most of the other gentlemen I know.
To the best of her knowledge, though, those other gentlemen did not smoke within the confines of their carriages. Rather, they enjoyed their cigars in the company of their peers, while they played cards, and imbibed brandy.
