Free Anne Ashley by His Makeshift Wife Page B

very
different Mary from the morose young woman she had seemed weeks before. She
appeared almost buoyant as she ushered Briony into her private sanctum at the
back of the shop, offering her sincerest congratulations on the recent marriage
as she did so.
    ‘But I would never have expected to see you out and about so
soon, Miss Briony—Mrs Kingsley.’
    ‘Briony will do very well. We have known each other long
enough, after all.’
    ‘Well, if you say so, but not when there’s others around. It
wouldn’t be proper for me to take such liberties, especially as I’m as good as
working for you now.’
    ‘Oh, no, you’re not!’ Briony corrected. ‘You’re your own
mistress, Mary, and have been since Lady Ashworth set you up in business. That
was the way she wanted it and that’s the way it will remain, with you continuing
to pay off the loan.’ She smiled at a sudden thought. ‘Not that I didn’t think
at one time we might go into business together, as it were, with me joining you
in the rooms above the shop. I’d be the first to admit that I cannot ply a
needle anywhere near as well as you can, but I could have made myself useful in
other ways.’
    Mary was perplexed and it clearly showed, even before she said,
‘What on earth do you mean, Briony? You never considered coming here instead of
marrying Mr Kingsley?’
    ‘Well, of course I did. It wasn’t love at first sight, you
know.’
    ‘Perhaps not, but soon afterwards, surely? That was why I was
so surprised to see you today, the wedding having taken place only yesterday.
It’s quite usual for newlyweds to want to spend time alone together and it’s not
that you can travel abroad to enjoy a honeymoon, what with all the goings-on
across the Channel.’
    ‘Well, quite!’ Briony agreed, feeling that some explanation was
expected of her for what in Mary’s opinion was clearly unconventional behaviour.
‘Only Mr Kingsley wished to engage some men to make necessary repairs to the
hunting lodge and I thought it was the ideal time for me to come and see you.
He’s strongly opposed to me going about in full mourning, you see, and I
remembered those two dresses I asked you to make for me and thought they might
prove suitable alternatives.’
    ‘Indeed they will. I followed the list of measurements from
gowns I’d made for you in the past, so I’m sure they’ll fit very well. They’re
both finished and already parcelled up,’ Mary revealed. ‘I intended to bring
them over to the Manor myself, but I’ve been that busy of late. Lord Petersham’s
niece is staying with him at present. She arrived a couple of weeks or so ago,
bringing a party of friends with her. Several ordered new gowns to be made, all
of which had to be finished before they left. It’s been so very hectic of late,
I rarely get a free moment. I might even need to take on another girl if things
carry on like this.’
    She disappeared into a large cupboard and emerged a second or
two later with two packages in her arms. ‘That bolt of silk you advised me to
place in the shop certainly changed my fortunes for the better. You were
absolutely right. I do need to cater for everyone. My increasing business has
persuaded me to invest in several bolts of material I wouldn’t ordinarily have
carried.’
    Mention of Lord Petersham had struck a chord of memory and
Briony asked after Mary’s brother. ‘You were concerned about Will, if I remember
correctly. Getting into bad company, or some such. I trust everything is all
right now?’
    Only for a second or two did a shadow of doubt flicker over
Mary’s features. ‘I sincerely hope so. At least he’s promised me that…that he’ll
behave himself from now on.’
    As she had clearly detected the sound of the door bell tinkling
on several occasions since her arrival, confirming that Mary was indeed busy,
Briony decided not to tarry longer and carried her purchases through to the
shop, only to discover the tall figure of her husband unexpectedly