Free Owning Arabella by Shirl Anders Page A

Arabella.
    "Thank-you, Chicery, for the information, I will certainly keep it in mind." And then toss it out , Darth thought. "I will be leaving for several hours, shortly. See that no one enters my bedchamber while I am away. Our guest is resting. That will be all for now."
    "As you wish, my Lord," Chicery replied somewhat stiffly, as was his manner, before turning to leave the room.
    Darth remained thoughtful, staring at the place where Chicery had stood. Chicery would be an inconvenience to have around at this time, perhaps he would be wise to send the little man on holiday. Arabella was securely locked upstairs in his bedchamber, yet Chicery was sure to notice and harangue him on the impropriety of it, forever more. He was the master here, yet Chicery seemed to have this baffling way of making him adjust his morals. He would have to consider it carefully, he decided as he turned his mind to his correspondence. He intended to find out what he could about the man, Victor Crom, and to that end he was posting his solicitor to the task. He was not a man for leaving loose ends, and he could not ignore the unspecific threat to Arabella. Victor Crom had, had a knife at the end, and he intended to find out why.
    Thirty minutes later, Darth let his stallion, Raven, take the lead as they raced together across the grassy slopes east of Lee. His direction was to the small haven of Griswold, where he intended to fulfill his promise. Eventually the hills leveled outward into haloed fields. In the center of these stood Griswold, where he slowed Raven's pace to a trot as he neared the town, veering off to take a back alleyway that led him to the rear entrance to Grainier's Milliner Shop. He hoped the shop was without patrons at the moment as he moved to ring the back bell.
    "Why, Lord Peregrine. It is so good to see you," Mrs. Grainier said as she stood at the opened back entryway. Darth had known Mrs. Grainier since he was a child and she had never passed a sideways glance at his disfigurement in all those years.
    Darth offered Mrs. Grainier the appropriate bow as she informed him the shop was empty at that moment, she knew his preferences well. With a little niece, who he adored, he'd used Mrs. Grainier's services on a number of occasions. "I will set out the sign that I have gone for the hour. Do you think that will be an appropriate amount of time, Lord Peregrine?"
    "Yes, Madame. Quite adequate, thank you."
    Darth stopped in the back of the shop as Mrs. Grainier went forward saying, "It is my pleasure to see you again, Sir. No need to thank me of course. You will notice the newest shipment of velvets there on the back wall."
    Darth skipped the velvets Mrs. Grainier indicated. He knew that she'd assumed it might be something for Victoria, his niece, and he realized in that moment, how much he was going to enjoy dressing Arabella to his tastes. He decided on three dresses. The first one a blue linen with a high collar in the back and an open v-shaped neckline in the front. He had Mrs. Grainier remove the flounce of bows holding up one layer to show a deeper color underneath, he also had her take the ornate lace from around the top collar and cuffs.
    "A woman should be the decoration," he stated to Mrs. Grainier's raised brow.
    "Of course, my Lord, you are right," she said with a smile.
    Darth had the other two garments similarly treated. One was a rich brown silk that would compliment Arabella's unique golden eyes and the other sturdier dove gray wool with a short jacket. He picked out undergarments, stockings, and two pair of shoes. He spent a little more time in the undergarments nearly despairing of finding what he needed, until he asked Mrs. Grainier if she carried any night frills for mistresses. This did the trick, and he had this particular piece of frippery package separately. Finding it difficult to hold back his smile of anticipation over what Arabella would make of the single article of clothing that he intended to present to