Free A Lady by Chance (Historical Regency Romance) by Cheryl Bolen
Authors: Cheryl Bolen
Tags: Regency Romance
with me tomorrow and select wardrobes for the season," Anna said, smiling. "We'll send the bills to Charles. Whether he wants to admit it or not, he is quite fat in the purse now that he has married me."
"Now that I have you as a sister," Lydia said to Anna, "I will not need to provide propriety for the girls. I would far prefer not to attend all the balls, and I care nothing for clothes."
Anna threw a dubious glance at Haverstock.
"I understand perfectly, Lydia. My marchioness can take your place, and you can be spared the tediousness of attending the functions I know you find so very unpleasant." Turning to his wife, he added, "Lydia would far prefer to sit home reading."
"Then I am happy to be of service," Anna said. "But should you need a new dress, please go to Madame Devreaux and send your dear brother the bill."
All of them, except for the dowager, laughed.
After dinner, they retired to the parlor where Haverstock and his mother played Anna and Lydia at whist while the other girls perused fashion magazines and discussed the various gowns they would request on the morrow.
The whist game was evenly matched, with both sets of partners displaying uncommon skill. The lead zig zagged until Anna and Lydia prevailed as the winners.
"I may have to take my wife as my partner next time, Mother," Haverstock said. "She possesses remarkable skill at cards."
"Of course she does," the dowager said, a sly smile on her face. "Look who her mother was."
As the family members prepared to go to their bedchambers, the dowager said, "A word with you, Charles."
Anna met his gaze, then began to mount the stairs.
"Of course, Mother," he said, staying back.
Once Anna was upstairs, the dowager said, "I find your conduct most inappropriate. You must be sensible to the fact that you have four maiden sisters in this house who do not need to be exposed to your lust."
"I presume you are referring to the fact I have spent much of my time in my wife's chamber."
"Yes," she said, her eyes cold.
"I must ask that you not use the word lust when you talk about anything that occurs between my wife and me. It is expected that a newly wed man enjoys the company of his wife. Granted, a husband and wife wanting to be with each other is a novel experience for our family," he said curtly.
She gasped as he turned his back to her and began to climb the wide staircase.
Chapter 9
Anna was hard pressed to determine if the three sisters or Madame Devreaux were the more excited over the flurry of measuring and ordering of dozens of dresses and gowns. Kate, Charlotte and Cynthia had timidly entered the shop bearing dog-eared copies of fashion magazines and brimming with ideas – all of which the French modiste was only too happy to accommodate. Madame Devreaux grew even more accommodating when she learned her long-standing patron, the exquisite Miss de Mouchet, was now the Marchioness of Haverstock. Anna could tell from the gleam in the French woman's eye, she was already planning on the commissions that would come her way when the Haverstock women were seen in society wearing her gowns.
Anna's ideas for her own ball gowns met with appreciative compliments from Madame Devreaux.
When they finished at the modiste's, the four young ladies happily stepped into the Haverstock barouche, Anna casting a dubious gaze at the grey skies as she allowed the coachman to assist her into the carriage. She hoped the rain that saturated the ground that morning would not return. Haverstock had promised to take her to the park this afternoon, and she wanted nothing to interfere with the outing.
Anna directed the coachman to the milliner's on Conduit Street.
"This has been so very much fun," Kate said.
"Especially for me," Anna responded. "I cannot tell you how delightful it is to finally have sisters. I do not at all recommend the life of an only child."
"I am sure you'll never be lonely again," Charlotte said. "It seems Charles can hardly bear being
"Now that I have you as a sister," Lydia said to Anna, "I will not need to provide propriety for the girls. I would far prefer not to attend all the balls, and I care nothing for clothes."
Anna threw a dubious glance at Haverstock.
"I understand perfectly, Lydia. My marchioness can take your place, and you can be spared the tediousness of attending the functions I know you find so very unpleasant." Turning to his wife, he added, "Lydia would far prefer to sit home reading."
"Then I am happy to be of service," Anna said. "But should you need a new dress, please go to Madame Devreaux and send your dear brother the bill."
All of them, except for the dowager, laughed.
After dinner, they retired to the parlor where Haverstock and his mother played Anna and Lydia at whist while the other girls perused fashion magazines and discussed the various gowns they would request on the morrow.
The whist game was evenly matched, with both sets of partners displaying uncommon skill. The lead zig zagged until Anna and Lydia prevailed as the winners.
"I may have to take my wife as my partner next time, Mother," Haverstock said. "She possesses remarkable skill at cards."
"Of course she does," the dowager said, a sly smile on her face. "Look who her mother was."
As the family members prepared to go to their bedchambers, the dowager said, "A word with you, Charles."
Anna met his gaze, then began to mount the stairs.
"Of course, Mother," he said, staying back.
Once Anna was upstairs, the dowager said, "I find your conduct most inappropriate. You must be sensible to the fact that you have four maiden sisters in this house who do not need to be exposed to your lust."
"I presume you are referring to the fact I have spent much of my time in my wife's chamber."
"Yes," she said, her eyes cold.
"I must ask that you not use the word lust when you talk about anything that occurs between my wife and me. It is expected that a newly wed man enjoys the company of his wife. Granted, a husband and wife wanting to be with each other is a novel experience for our family," he said curtly.
She gasped as he turned his back to her and began to climb the wide staircase.
Chapter 9
Anna was hard pressed to determine if the three sisters or Madame Devreaux were the more excited over the flurry of measuring and ordering of dozens of dresses and gowns. Kate, Charlotte and Cynthia had timidly entered the shop bearing dog-eared copies of fashion magazines and brimming with ideas – all of which the French modiste was only too happy to accommodate. Madame Devreaux grew even more accommodating when she learned her long-standing patron, the exquisite Miss de Mouchet, was now the Marchioness of Haverstock. Anna could tell from the gleam in the French woman's eye, she was already planning on the commissions that would come her way when the Haverstock women were seen in society wearing her gowns.
Anna's ideas for her own ball gowns met with appreciative compliments from Madame Devreaux.
When they finished at the modiste's, the four young ladies happily stepped into the Haverstock barouche, Anna casting a dubious gaze at the grey skies as she allowed the coachman to assist her into the carriage. She hoped the rain that saturated the ground that morning would not return. Haverstock had promised to take her to the park this afternoon, and she wanted nothing to interfere with the outing.
Anna directed the coachman to the milliner's on Conduit Street.
"This has been so very much fun," Kate said.
"Especially for me," Anna responded. "I cannot tell you how delightful it is to finally have sisters. I do not at all recommend the life of an only child."
"I am sure you'll never be lonely again," Charlotte said. "It seems Charles can hardly bear being
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