Free Marrying Harriet by MC Beaton

Everyone in London seems determined to dress as a Turk. I suggest a shepherdess costume.’
    ‘No, I cannot countenance the romanticization of shepherdesses.’
    ‘Perhaps as a Greek goddess?’ Yvette held out a sketch.
    ‘Oh, no!’ exclaimed Harriet, recoiling from the drawing of a vision in transparent muslin. ‘Anything else?’
    ‘Here is a pretty one – queen of the fairies.’
    ‘I am not ethereal enough. Wait a moment. I saw something which might serve very well.’
    Harriet searched among her small stock of books and then opened one at a steel engraving that depicted a young lady in the severe Puritan dress of the reign of Cromwell. ‘This would do very well,’ she said.
    Yvette spread her hands in a Gallic gesture of resignation. She was very busy and had many fashionable clients, and although her first loyalty lay with the Tribbles, she did not, on the other hand, wish to waste hours in trying to persuade Miss Brown to wear something more frivolous. She promised to return the following day with some sketches and then went downstairs to prepare Miss Amy and Miss Effy for the forthcoming shock of sponsoring a Puritan maid to her first ball.
    ‘It’s the outside of enough!’ exclaimed Effy. ‘Yvette, did you not talk to her of men? Of romance?’
    ‘I never waste words,’ said Yvette. ‘I shall make her a most becoming gown. Now I come to think of it, it will serve very well. She will stand out among all the Turks and gypsies and shepherdesses.’
    ‘The trouble is, she’ll probably act the part to perfection,’ said Amy gloomily. ‘What is it, Harris?’
    ‘A Mr Lawrence has called,’ said the butler.
    Effy looked at Amy and Amy looked at Effy. ‘Isn’t he that gambler?’ said Amy at last. ‘I seem to have heard some talk about him. What does he want, Harris?’
    ‘He appears to be making a call,’ said the butler.
    ‘Very well,’ said Amy. ‘Show him up.’
    Yvette picked up her baby and took her leave. Before Mr Lawrence made his entrance, Effy said, ‘I think Lord Charles has lost all interest in Harriet – not that I think there was much there in the first place. He has not been to call. Still . . .’
    She broke off as Mr Lawrence made his entrance. He carried two huge bouquets of flowers, one of which he presented to Effy and the other to Amy.
    ‘You must forgive my presumption, ladies,’ said Mr Lawrence, making a courtly bow. ‘But I have long admired you from afar. My nephew, Lord Charles Marsham, suggested I call.’
    Effy fluttered her lamp-blackened eyelashes and begged him to be seated.
    ‘You are too kind, sir,’ she said.
    ‘I was not prompted by kindness,’ said Mr Lawrence. ‘The day is fine and I have my carriage outside. May I persuade you both to come driving with me?’
    ‘We have a certain Miss Brown to look after,’ said Amy doubtfully.
    ‘Ah, who has not heard of your school for manners?’ Mr Lawrence kissed the air somewhere above his finger-tips. ‘But you cannot always be working, and the day is fine.’
    Effy stole a look at the square of grey sky showing through the windows. ‘I suppose, Amy, it would do no harm,’ she ventured.
    Harris entered again and announced the arrival of Mr Haddon and Mr Randolph, who came in hard on his heels and stopped short in surprise at the sight of Mr Lawrence.
    Effy made the introductions. Mr Lawrence surveyed both gentlemen with severe dislike. Then he turned to Amy. ‘May I suggest you ladies fetch your bonnets?’ he said. ‘I will make your excuses to these gentlemen.’
    ‘What has gone wrong?’ demanded Mr Haddon sharply.
    ‘Nothing,’ said Mr Lawrence airily. ‘I am taking these angels driving in the Park.’
    Both Mr Haddon and Mr Randolph sat down suddenly, side by side, on the sofa. Amy flashed a look at Effy and in that look was all the girlish mischief of years gone by. ‘Come along, Effy,’ she said, and urged her startled sister from the room.
    Harriet was very cross to learn that both