Enticing the Earl

“Ahh, so we supported the House of Lancaster.”

“So it would appear.”

“And if the baron lived here or near here, I suppose a small battle might have taken place between the baron with no name, his supporters, and Edward and his soldiers.”

Simon laughed. “If Mia hadn’t found that small cache of items, we never would have discovered this information.”

“Yes, but enough history for me. I say we dig,” Charlie said.

Chapter 17

“If she sticks me with one more pin, I will scream,” Mia said to Selina after the eighth pin stuck her. She had no idea how ladies of quality enjoyed this.

“Just stand still, Mia,” Selina said, shaking her head as she examined the rolls of material on the table.

“Have you ever tried to stand still when someone is sticking pins in you?”

“Yes.” Selina picked up a sapphire silk fabric and brought it over by Mia’s shoulder. “I think this will be perfect for the wedding.”

“Sapphire is too dark for a wedding,” the dressmaker remarked. “I brought that for the ball.”

Selina nodded. “You are correct. This will make a beautiful ball gown.” She walked back to the table and pulled a silvery fabric.

“No,” Mia said. “That color will look dreadful on me.”

“I doubt that.” Selina brought the color closer and laughed. “You win. That is not a good color on you.”

How did they go from discussing herbs and medicinal treatments a few weeks ago to dress cuts and fabrics? Mia’s life had completely turned around in just over a fortnight and she was beginning to feel the strain of it all. “Just pick the pale green.”

“No,” both Selina and Mrs. Wilson said.

“The ivory silk,” Mrs. Wilson said, nodding toward the table.

“That is far too extravagant,” Mia insisted.

Selina turned with the ivory silk in her hand and nodded. “This is the perfect material for a woman marrying an earl.” She gave Mia a look that told her not to say another word on the subject.

“Very well,” Mia admitted defeat.

“We are all done for now,” Mrs. Wilson said as she packed up her things. “I shall have the gown for the wedding and the blue silk done by Tuesday. The rest of the things shall be sent down to Suffolk.”

“The other items?”

“Of course, you will need several dresses for the country party,” Selina said. “Colin insisted I meet with a French dressmaker in London to complete my wardrobe.”

“And you didn’t mind?” Thinking back to the way Selina used to comport herself, Mia wondered how such a free spirit could enjoy the torture of a dress fitting.

“It takes some adjusting,” Selina admitted with a smile. “But it is worth it for the man you love.”

The man you love. But what if you weren’t sure if you loved him? Mia wondered if she would ever know for certain. Maybe she didn’t know how to love a man. She had never loved either of the men she’d been with before Simon. Perhaps some women could never learn to love a man.

But as the door opened and Simon entered the room, her heart skipped a beat. Dressed in an older-looking riding outfit of buff breeches and a brown jacket, he still looked more handsome than any other man she’d met. “Are you about finished?”

“Yes,” Mia answered in an excited voice. “I am so tired of being pricked and measured.”

“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Simon said as Selina turned around to face him.