‘Wonderful!’ I said. ‘Then you can take the green, Maria. They’ll match your envy.’
Maria sent me a death-glare across the room, which I shrugged off without blinking. When you‘ve been glared at by Mr Rikkard Ambrose, an evil twin sister is easy to deal with.
‘Take this one,’ I whispered, pressing another, brand-new blue ribbon into Ella’s hand. ‘It’ll match your eyes.’
‘Lill! You shouldn’t have!’
‘I know. But I like doing stuff I shouldn’t do. It’s so much fun.’ Before she could protest any more, I tied the ribbon into Ella’s hair. Aunt Brank elbowed me out of the way, grabbed the ribbon and shifted it approximately a quarter of an inch to the left.
‘There! Now you look just perfect!’ She beamed. Not the way a lamp does, but involving an actual, honest-to-God smile. Wonders never cease. ‘Looking like that, you’ll be able to catch yourself a baronet, or maybe even a duke!’
Just then, the clock in the corner struck two pm. A moment later, the doorbell rang downstairs. Aunt Brank frowned. ‘Who could that be? It’s not yet time for the dressmaker to arrive, is it?’
‘I’ll go and see,’ I volunteered with an innocent smile.
Poor Aunt Brank. She was so swept up by her dreams that she didn’t even notice the abnormality of me volunteering to do something to help her. She just waved her hand.
‘Yes, yes, do. Ella and I have more important things to take care of.’
I doubt that. Now then…Let’s have some fun.
Turning to go, I winked at Ella. She nearly toppled off the stool she was standing on for her dress fitting. Her face was alternately flushing and draining of colour.
‘Hold still, girl! What is the matter with you?’
‘N-nothing, Aunt. Absolutely nothing.’
Grinning, I sauntered down the stairs. This was going to be interesting.
Downstairs, I opened the door to find a sweating piano-tuner’s son on the doorstep.
‘You look a little flushed,’ I commented. ‘Have you changed your profession to plumber?’
He eyed me dubiously. ‘It just occurred to me…if I marry Ella, I’m going to have you as sister-in-law, aren’t I?’
I gave him my most magnificent smile. ‘Indeed.’
‘And there’s no way around it?’
‘No.’
‘Oh. Mhm. Well…’ He swallowed, hesitated—and nodded. ‘Well, lead on. Where are they?’
‘Upstairs. Follow me.’
He did. At a safe distance.
When we entered the room upstairs, nobody glanced our way at first. But then Lisbeth turned to reach for another ribbon and caught sight of Edmund. Her eyes widening, she tugged at Anne’s sleeve. Anne turned, an annoyed expression on her face, which melted into curiosity when she caught sight of the newcomer, and instantly switched to malignant delight when she saw his gaze fastened on Ella. Quickly, she tugged Maria’s sleeve, and soon, the whole room was staring at us – except for Aunt Brank. She was far too deeply lost in dreams of social aspirations.
‘Oh yes, Ella, my dear! With this dress you’ll catch yourself a really remarkable man! Only, make sure not to focus too much on wealth, and more on position. Money is there one day and gone the next, but a seat in the House of Lords is forever! You can’t go wrong with…What’s the matter, girl? Why aren’t you listening? What are you staring at like th—?’
Finally, she saw him. Her eyes narrowed.
‘Who are you?’
You had to admire her for achieving such a level of callous carelessness. We’d had the same neighbours for the last ten years, and she still didn’t know their names.
Edmund cleared his throat. ‘My name is Edmund, Ma’am. Edmund Conway. I live next door.’