‘This is for old times’ sake,’ said Redfern, smiling wickedly at the men behind her. ‘And for my own enjoyment. There will be expenses – will those salve your tender pride, Miss
Darke?’
‘It is not pride, I simply have no wish to take advantage of you and your loyalty to your old friends, Mr Redfern.’
‘No-one takes advantage of me, Miss Darke. You may be sure of that. You will all dine with me tonight, I hope?’
‘We were returning to Fellingham this evening,’ Perry said. ‘We have not booked rooms at the Maid’s Head.’
‘What? Drag Miss Darke from the shops of Norwich or subject her to a tiring night-time drive back? The Maid’s Head will have rooms, I have no doubt. Besides, we have so much to catch up on.’
‘Exactly my point,’ Theo said. ‘Desperately boring for Miss Darke, us reminiscing about university days.’
‘I promise not to bore Miss Darke,’ Redfern said, in a voice like warm honey.
Laura could almost feel Theo’s hackles rising, which was interesting. ‘I would so much enjoy that, Mr Redfern. And you are quite correct, I would not relish the journey back in the dark, which means I would have to cut short my shopping.’
‘Very well,’ Perry said. I will go back to the inn and see what can be done about rooms and Theo can escort you, Laura. And if rooms are not available at the Maid’s Head we will have to return home, whatever the hour. I’m not easy about risking you being recognised in one of the smaller, more crowded inns.’
‘Yes, Perry,’ Laura said meekly. Having got her own way she was not going to provoke him.
‘Very masterful,’ Redfern murmured, not quite quietly enough. ‘Excellent. I will expect you at about seven then? Unless I hear to the contrary.’
As they rose to leave he added, ‘I assume you have a maid with you, Miss Darke?’
‘And a footman, yes.’
‘Who are, presumably, known to the Swinburns? I suggest you borrow one of my clerks as escort and find a veil for your maid, otherwise it might cause speculation about who the shy lady Northam is squiring about could be.’
‘Good idea,’ Theo acknowledged.
‘I do have them occasionally.’
‘He always has to have the last word,’ Perry grumbled as they set out again. Nell had a veil with her, thanks to Mrs Bishop’s foresight, and the clerk Redfern sent with them was a strapping youth clearly delighted to have the afternoon away from his desk.
‘I’ll follow you at a safe distance,’ Theo said. ‘Do you know where you want to go or are you browsing?’
‘Both. And I believe Mrs Bishop has given Nell a list. We will start at the market.’
They arrived back at the Maid’s Head three hours later, the smile wiped off the young clerk’s face by the load of parcels he was carrying, but with Laura and Nell buoyed up with the success of their expedition.
‘There’s just time to furbish up your dark blue gown with that new gold ribbon,’ Nell said as they dropped the smaller packages they had been carrying onto Laura’s bed. ‘And that shawl you bought with that lovely pale blue and gold pattern will set it off a treat.’
‘And the new evening slippers.’ Laura lifted them out of the box and caressed the soft kid. ‘It was fortunate they had just the right shade of blue already in stock.’
‘You’ll look so fine Mr Redfern won’t be able to take his eyes off you and that’ll make Lord Northam green as grass.’
‘Nell!’
‘Well? Do him good to feel a bit jealous and that lawyer’s a handsome piece of work, don’t you think? Scary though. You’ll do better with Lord Northam in the long run.’
‘Nell.’ Laura tried to find the right words of reproof and failed. ‘Nell, Lord Northam is a viscount and already betrothed. And even if he was not, I am not a good match for him – and before you say whatever is on the tip of your tongue, it is marriage or nothing so far as I am concerned! Even if I wanted him, that is.’
‘Yes, Miss Laura,’ Nell said brightly without the slightest hint that she felt herself reproved. ‘It’s a good thing Lord Manners thought it best if we all brought a bag each in case we had to spend the night.’ She already had already taken out the one dress Laura had run away with that might conceivably be considered an evening gown and was smoothing the skirts. ‘If we remove that old braid and I pleat the ribbon…’
Chapter Fourteen
Laura emerged, veil in place, at a few minutes to seven and the men hustled her down to the yard where the carriage waited. She was still brooding on Nell’s comments, too absorbed to complain that they were treating her like an urgent package for delivery.