Free The Black Widow by Charlotte Louise Dolan Page A

her to walk along with him a bit.
    “It is not fair,” she said, taking his arm.
    “What is not fair, my love?” Lionell asked.
    “Over there—my sister,” was all Hester said before she turned her head away, unable to bear the sight of Meribe smiling and talking with Lord Thorverton. Only a few more weeks and it would not matter, but for now he absolutely must not court Meribe—not when everything could still be lost.
    “He does give the impression of being totally infatuated with her, I must admit,” Lionell said with a smirk.
    “You may find it amusing, but I do not.”
    “Tsk, tsk, do I detect a note of jealousy in your voice? Pray moderate your tones, my sweet, else you will encourage all and sundry to be amused at your expense.”
    Lowering her voice, she persisted in trying to elicit his opinion. “I want to know what you think. Are Thorverton’s intentions serious? Or is he merely trifling with her? It is most important that I know.’’
    “Who can predict what any man will do? All I can tell you is that the odds in the clubs are now two to one that Thorverton will expire before the month of May is out, and seven to one that he will not live to see July, so I would say the consensus is that he is seriously courting your sister.”
    “It is just not fair,” Hester repeated, feeling physically ill at the mere thought of her sister being betrothed once again.
    * * * *
    “Might I suggest your new periwinkle-blue waistcoat?” Fredericks said, his expression carefully bland.
    “I was unaware that I had a new waistcoat,” Demetrius replied with a frown.
    “A present from your mother,” his valet answered a bit too promptly.
    For a moment Demetrius was torn between anger and amusement. “Need I point out that I have not allowed my mother to pick out my clothes since I ceased wearing short coats?”
    “Do you wish me to dispose of the offending garment, then, m’lord?”
    “That depends on how offensive it is,” Demetrius replied, unable to keep a straight face any longer.
    “Oh, it is actually quite stunning.” With a flourish, Fredericks produced the aforementioned waistcoat from behind his back.
    He was right. At the first sight of the waistcoat, Demetrius was too stunned to speak for a few minutes. The garment may have been blue, but very little of the fabric was showing, so encrusted was it with gold and silver embroidery, seed pearls, and ...
    “Diamonds, Fredericks? Have my mother’s wits gone begging? Does she really expect me to wear that ... that ...?” Words failed him again.
    “Actually, this is only the first of many. The boy who delivered it informed me that your mother has ordered an entire wardrobe for you from Nugee.”
    “Ecod, you make my blood run cold!”
    “I took the liberty of using your name to cancel the remainder of the items,” the valet said smoothly. “I trust that meets with your approval?”
    “Can you doubt it? You have definitely earned yourself a raise,” Demetrius said, still staring in awe at the waistcoat.
    There was a knock at the door, and Fredericks opened it to admit the butler.
    “Beg pardon, m’lord, but Lady Thorverton requests that you join her in the drawing room.”
    “Who does she have with her this time?’’
    “Why, no one,” McDougal answered. “I believe she is expecting company for dinner, but for the moment she wishes to speak with you alone.”
    “Then tell her I shall be down when I am finished dressing.”
    It was about ten minutes before Demetrius joined his mother, who eyed him through her quizzing glass with distaste.
    “That coat was obviously made by that wretched little man—I shall not dignify him by calling him a tailor—in Tavistock. Well, you will be pleased to know that I have taken steps to procure a wardrobe for you that is more suited to London.”
    Demetrius was far from pleased, and he was tempted to tell her that her plans had already suffered a major setback, but he held his tongue. He was not really