Free Something Scandalous by Christie Kelley

to start,” Elizabeth said as she reached the table where Madame Beaulieu had laid out the fabrics. “The light fabrics will look wonderful on you.”
    Ellie clasped Elizabeth’s hand. “Thank you. I could never pick all this fabric without your help.”
    Elizabeth smiled. “We will have you all set with clothing in no time.” She turned to the dressmaker and added, “The white silk is for her bow. It must befit the sister of a duke.”
    “Yes, my lady,” Madame Beaulieu replied. “I believe sapphires would be just the thing to set off the blue in her eyes.”
    “Sapphires?” Ellie murmured.
    “That is a perfect choice, Madame. Nothing too ostentatious. I believe my mother had a beautiful sapphire pendant and earring set that should go perfectly with the gown.”
    Elizabeth prayed William wouldn’t be too upset over the costs, but a court gown had to be the most beautiful gown a young woman would wear for some time. And it must conform to the queen’s demands of what it should look like, no simple task.
    Once they had all the fabrics chosen for Ellie, Lucy stood with a frown as Lady Beaulieu took her measurements. Madame Beaulieu and Elizabeth conferred for a few minutes on just the right fabrics for Lucy. With her darker coloring, the pastels that suited Ellie would look washed out on her.
    “We cannot go too dark while she’s so young,” Madame Beaulieu said.
    “I agree, but the pastels just aren’t right on her.” Elizabeth stared and wondered what Jennette did at this age and then remembered. “Ivory for her bow and light jewel tones for the rest.”
    “Are you certain?” the dressmaker asked.
    “Yes. Lady Jennette did the same at Lucy’s age.”
    Madame Beaulieu nodded. “I remember! I will do some of the same colors.”
    “Who is Lady Jennette?” Lucy asked impatiently.
    “A dear friend of mine,” Elizabeth replied. “And you can meet her soon. Once we are done with the fittings, we will have a few lessons on comportment. And I must hire a dancing instructor.”
    Lucy and Ellie looked at each other, then shrugged. “Comportment?”
    “Manners,” Elizabeth replied with a sigh. This might just be more difficult than she imagined.
    Lucy snickered. “She sounds like Abigail with her fine manners and stiff posture.”
    “Abigail who?” Elizabeth asked, hoping this was the same Abigail who William regarded with affection.
    Ellie shook her head. “Abigail Mason. Will actually thinks he’s in love with her.”
    “And you don’t?” Elizabeth prompted.
    “No,” Ellie and Lucy answered at the same time.
    Elizabeth waited for the dressmaker to leave before she asked more questions. “So why don’t you think your brother is in love with this Abigail Mason?”
    Lucy flopped on the bed. “She is a horrible person. He can’t possibly be in love with her. All she cares about is position and money.”
    “He has all that now. So why didn’t she marry him before he came over to England?”
    “Neither of us could figure that out, either,” Ellie said. “I never understood what he saw in her. She seemed very…well, selfish. Maybe she’s changed over the past five years, but I doubt a person can change that much.”
    Elizabeth frowned. None of this made any sense. “Do you think Will really loves her?”
    Lucy laughed. “My brother is a fool when it comes to women. He thinks because she comes from a good American family that she must be the epitome of a wife.”
    “So it’s her name and connections,” Elizabeth whispered.
    “Yes,” Ellie said, nodding her head.
    A name was more important to him than true love.
    A name.
    Something she didn’t even have.

Chapter 7
    Richard followed his wife into their home on Cavendish Street. Caroline stormed into the hallway and threw her reticule on the floor. The ride from the duke’s house had only served to increase her anger.
    “There has to be something we can do!” she shouted.
    Richard picked up the small purse and handed it to a maid.