Page 40 of A Story of Love

Freddie reached into the box. “Look Lori—there is a pair of opera gloves, as well.”

Once again, she felt compelled to reach out and pet the garments. The leather was softer than butter and the rich teal color and multitude of tiny buttons on the inside of the wrist spoke of an expert glover’s touch.

“Gloves does not seem like a grand enough word for them,” Lori said, handing them to Fredie.

“They are exquisite,” Freddie agreed. She draped the gloves over her lap and gestured to the gown Lori was holding. “Lift it up so I can see.”

Feeling as if she were in a dream, Lori held the dress in front of herself, the whisper soft silk warm beneath her fingers.

“Oh, Lori,” Freddie breathed, her eyes shining with admiration. “That color is absolutely perfect for you.”

Lori turned until she could see herself in the mirror over the fireplace. Her lips parted in wonder; Freddie was right. It was the perfect color for her, the blue-green making her eyes look even greener, like sparkling emeralds.

“Who sent it?” Freddie asked.

“I have no earthly idea.” Could David have bought it? After all, she’d mentioned not being equipped to attend so many ton functions.

Lori snorted at the thought.

“What is so amusing?” Freddie asked, coming up to stand behind her, their eyes meeting in the looking glass.

“I cannot believe that I entertained, even for a second, that David Parker might have purchased such a thing.”

“You are certain that he did not?”

She gave a bitter laugh. “If David had bought me a gown—a possibility that truly defies credibility—it would be cheaply and poorly made.”

Freddie did not look surprised. “You have no ideas at all as to the sender?”

“None. Unless…”

“Unless?” Freddie prodded.

“Do you think Honey or one of the others might have sent it? They all saw me last year at Miles’s betrothal ball. Indeed, Honey tried to convince me to accept a new dress as a gift.” Lori had been amused and touched by Honey’s offer, but she had firmly refused the gift. The last thing she wanted to do was make a practice of accepting expensive gifts from her wealthy friends. She met Freddie’s suddenly troubled gaze. “Has Honey said anything in her letters that might indicate it is from her?”

“I did mention in my letter to Honey that I was refurbishing your gowns—but only because she had asked me if I had time to do some needlework on a reticule she had made for her niece.” A faint flush stained Freddie’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, Lori—I did not mean to—”

“Hush, Fred! You needn’t apologize for that. However, I do want you to write and ask her if she is responsible for this.”

“Of course, I will ask her.”

Lori turned back to reflection and sighed. “I hate to admit this, but I love this gown.”

“Why do you hate to admit that?”

“Because I can hardly wear it if I don’t know who sent it.”

“You can’t send it back if you don’t know who purchased it,” Freddie pointed out.

“I will go to this Madam Thérèse and see if I can get the information out of her.” Lori sighed as she lowered the dress back into the box. “If she won’t tell me, I will tell her that I will send the garment back. That is exactly what I’ll do. It is what I must do.”

“You sound as though you are trying to convince yourself.”

Lori laughed. “That’s because I am. My better angel is in ascendance right now, but my evil imp is poised to take control at the first sign of weakness.”

Freddie took the gown from her and carefully draped it over her arm. “If you bunch it up like that it won’t be fit to wear,” she chided gently. “I’ll have Mary lightly press it. Just in case you decide to keep it.”

“But I was going to take it with me—to Madam Thérèse’s.”