An Inadvisable Wager (The Curse of the Weatherby Ball Book 2) by Eliza Lloyd (the best novels to read txt) 📕

He laughed. “Yes, take it off.” And he laughed some more. “And with that thought, let us buy you a new wardrobe!” Gabriel was prepared for her to steal all he owned, and he was going to enjoy every moment. Nora hmpfed and pulled on her glove. Good God, in the middle of the street. She was every inch George Blasington’s daughter.

* * * * *

“Oh, Molly, look at these dresses! Which one should I wear tonight?” There were two evening dresses and one new day dress spread on Carlow’s bed. They had been on display in different dressmaker’s windows along Bond Street. With each exclamation she made, Carlow steered her inside, convinced her to try on the desired dress and then purchased it for her.

At the last shop, Carlow demanded to see the shop owner, who then clapped her hands and whirled Nora into a back room where she was stripped, measured, turned and, to her surprise, consulted about the material, color, pattern, fit and accessories of several dresses, including her new riding habit—a green velvet! Nora wanted to bury her nose in the pattern books and touch every one of the bright and expensive materials, the likes of which she had never seen.

If the dressmaker’s shop in Dorset had ten bolts of cloth, it was a good day. This was an opportunist’s dream! It also tied her a little closer to Carlow.

Carlow had disappeared, and each time Nora had uttered, “But Carlow won’t approve of that!” the shop owner dismissed her concern with the wave of her hand. “But of course he will! He already has.”

And just as Nora could not stand to be poked by one more pin, the madam told her she was done, her dresses would be ready in two weeks and Lord Carlow waited for her.

And he didn’t say a word about it on the ride home.

The entire day had been muffed, all because she had no riding habit, though she could say she was entirely happy with the outcome.

“Wear the blue one tonight. It matches your new ring. Your plan is working so well, mi’lady,” Molly said.

“My plan? My plan is to get Henbury Hall.”

“Then why is Lord Carlow providing so many gifts? It’s as if he’s not upset about your marriage.”

“I didn’t ask for them,” Nora said hotly. She hated being given what she had not earned. Better to steal what she needed. “Molly, let’s not speak of this. Carlow does what he wants, and all I care about is getting my home back.” Aside from his anger with her about her words to his friends, he’d been most congenial.

“It is rather romantic,” Molly said, shaking out the blue dress. “Did you get new undergarments? I’m afraid I am sewing seams over the seams.”

“Yes!” Nora said, feeling a little too excited. “Of the softest silks and linens.”

“And you are going to a real ball!”

Nora picked up the dress and held it in front of her, taking a few steps. “A reel dance!” She skip-hopped, turned and skipped again. “I hope I remember how. I don’t want to be embarrassed since I won’t be wearing a mask!”

“You’ll look so grand, no one will notice if you miss a few strides.”

“Oh, I hope so. Pretending to be a grand lady will be my second act.”

“Sit. Sit. Let me finish your hair and then we will complete your dress.”

“Molly, it fits as if it were made for me. Lady Fortenay would call me a diamond of the first water!” Nora fell on Carlow’s bed, laughing with unexpected joy. She ran her hand over the blue silk. Would Carlow take the ring and the dresses when it was time to end their marriage? Or were the ring and dresses part of an unspoken agreement outside of the exchange of Henbury Hall? Was it an offering to encourage Nora to invite him to her bed sooner? How she wished that duty was already over.

Should she feel a little guilty she was so happy about the gifts, considering what she had done to secure Henbury Hall?

Carlow was an exceptional-looking man, with his perfect wardrobe, impeccable manners and cheery disposition. She wished he had some obvious character flaw.

He was a great defender of his friends. Would that he could someday be a great protector and defender of the Blasingtons. Alas, blackmailing a man into marriage usually left little room for charity. As much as she would like to call the loyalty to his friends one of his flaws, especially when she was at odds with those friends, it was admirable of him to be so devoted to them.

At a knock on the door, Molly rushed to the panel and opened it. Nora sat up on the bed, blue dress in hand. Carlow strolled in as if she were in his room and glanced around until he caught her gaze. “Lady Carlow, we are leaving in fifteen minutes and you aren’t even dressed.”

She crunched the dress to her body as he approached. “I’ll be ready soon.”

“Here, I brought this so you can wear it tonight. Good, I had hoped you would wear the blue. It isn’t like you to do anything I actually hope you will do.” At first, he held out his hand as if he were going to drop it in her palm; instead, he gripped her fingers and placed it securely.

“You asked so nicely earlier. How could I say no?” she asked, ready to jerk her hand away where his touch burned. She didn’t want to believe he was actually a kind person, but he had been excessively thoughtful the last two days.

“Your choice of dress is your decision.” He waved to Nora’s lady’s maid and she hurried to collect the garment. “I wouldn’t know a fichu from a bandeaux, but I am very much