Page 52 of A Match of Misfortune

Bridget leaned in close to Cecily. “And men say the female sex is silly. At least we do not spend so much effort trying to imitate another person’s gait.” Bridget’s gaze slid forward, and her posture straightened. “Look, here comes Lady Victoria and the duchess.”

Cecily appraised the young woman. She looked utterly bored as her mother spoke to her, and when her gaze shifted forward, she offered a brief nod to Bridget and Cecily before her focus settled on Nash. Her eyes widened, and she quickly steered her mother toward the door of Chappel & Co., where the two of them stepped inside.

“It seems Lady Victoria desperately needed new sheet music for the pianoforte,” Cecily said.

“She does not play the pianoforte.” Bridget’s gaze slid to Cecily. “I would assume her slight has to do with Mr. Markham’s haste to secure a dance with you before Lord Harlow could. Oswald said she was mid-sentence when he made his excuses and left. Though I suppose she could also be tainted by the rumors against him.”

Was it true? Had Nash abandoned Lady Victoria to come to her aid? Not that she had required it, nor had she wanted it.

Cecily stepped around a ladder placed against the front of the building and discreetly glanced into the shop window where the two women stood whispering near the door, watching the passing group. Lady Victoria’s focus was set upon Nash, but her scowl was softer now, and as she had not removed herself farther into the store, Cecily could only guess that she wished for him to glimpse her standing there. The thought nettled her, and she barely refrained from looking behind her to see if he did so.

“All will be well.” Bridget said it as though she were assuring herself just as much as Cecily. “Whatever people’s reasons are for avoiding us, it is the first time Mr. Markham has been out among Society since the mishap. We simply must remain unaffected and show our support of him.” She paused and glanced over her shoulder, her eyes growing wide and her lips parting. “Mr. Markham, did you honestly just step under that ladder?”

He peered behind him. “Yes? With all three of us walking on the pavement, we would not have fit otherwise.”

Bridget set her head to the side and gave a small huff. “Everything we are doing to get your luck back will be for naught if you are so careless. Perhaps you should come and walk with Cecily and me for a time. It would be helpful for the two of you to be seen with one another, in any case.”

Nash obediently stepped forward, and Bridget took a step away from Cecily, allowing Nash to step between them. He offered Cecily his arm, which she accepted with as much enthusiasm as she could manage.

The three of them started walking again while Lord Rothsburg and Fredrick continued on with their previous conversation in their wake. Cecily ignored the way her nerves fluttered about as Nash’s regard shifted to her instead focusing on Bridget’s discussion of where they might purchase an object of good fortune. The auction house was mentioned, but upon passing, it was not open, so they soon found themselves at an antique shop where Nash, at Bridget’s insistence, purchased a hole-less coin that was purported to be lucky by the shopkeeper. Cecily was confident the man did not truly believe it to be so.

When Cecily caught sight of the haberdashers across the street, she paused, glancing at Bridget. “Might we stop there? I wish to purchase some ribbons for Adelaide.” The cabinetmaker where she had purchased a frame for Adelaide’s new filigree project was going to have it sent to the Markhams’ later that day so it needn’t be carried about, and Cecily did not wish to return to her sister empty-handed.

“Certainly. I am in need of a new pair of gloves, anyway. My fingers have become so swollen as of late.”

Nash sent Cecily a knowing look, and she supposed his cousin still had not shared the news with him. It was clearly an oversight on Lord Rothsburg’s part, but Nash clearly meant to take it as an offense. Cecily would mention it to Bridget later.

Bridget glanced at her husband. “We are going to the haberdashers. Would you care to join us?”

“Not if we needn’t,” Lord Rothsburg said, and Fredrick offered a hesitant smile of agreement.

Bridget gave a small shrug of her shoulders. “I suppose that is preferable. That way, I need not be so economical in my decision of which gloves to purchase.”

Rothsburg smiled as though he knew exactly what his wife was playing at. “You well know I’ll give you your way regardless, so I might as well save myself and poor Fredrick here from the torment of perusing ribbons and threads and other things we care nothing about.”

Nash gestured at his cousins. “I am also happy to remain⁠—”

“You are coming with us,” Bridget said without the slightest hesitation. “We cannot risk you involving yourself in any mischief.”

Nash balked in offense, but Bridget started across the cobblestone street, toting him and, consequently, Cecily along with her.

When they stepped through the shop doors, Bridget released her hold on Nash’s arm. “I shall come find the two of you momentarily,” she said before starting toward a display of gloves.

At Bridget implying she and Nash would remain together, Cecily hesitated. They’d not had a moment alone since the previous night, and though she knew she needed to speak with him, she was certain this was not the best place to begin such a conversation.

“Do not look so frightened to be left alone with me,” he said with a pointed smile. “I do not plan to ask you all my burning questions here.”

At how the thought of having the conversation in private made her stomach swoop, perhaps allowing it to take place in the haberdashers was not the worst idea. Though they would certainly not have long enough to discuss it in the measure that it needed to be discussed.

“I’m assuming those are the ribbons?” Nash gestured to a cabinet with glass-fronted drawers displaying rolls of ribbons in a myriad of colors and styles. At the haberdashers back in Staplehurst, there were typically fewer than two dozen options draped over a wooden rack. This cabinet had as many drawers as that, each with several options in view.

Cecily allowed Nash to escort her to it and conveniently released his arm to begin her search. She started at the drawer with purples and found a lovely lavender ribbon. Then she continued browsing, selecting a sea blue, a bright canary yellow, and a deep burgundy, leaving a strip of each dangling down the drawer face to be cut for her purchase.

“This one would suit you.” Nash held a muted greenish blue ribbon that looked like the sea on a stormy day. It was a lovely color. “The dress you wore to my parents’ wedding was this same color. It looked very well on you.”

Cecily’s heart pattered. He remembered what she’d worn that day? Her gaze dropped to the ribbon again. Then, not knowing what else to do, she reached out to finger the satiny length. “Thank you. I do adore this color.”

“As do I.” His attention returned to the cabinet, and he pulled out another ribbon, this one an enchanting green. “And what about this one for Adelaide?”