ride yesterday. It was lovely.”
“How lucky you are!” Ally jumped up. “He’s almost as handsome as the duke. What of the duke, Lily? Has he kissed you yet?”
Lily’s skin heated all over, as memories of Daniel’s seductive kisses flooded through her. “No,” she said, glancing at Rose with a slight shake of her head. “But I expect him to be adequate, given his experience.”
“No doubt,” Alexandra agreed. “And I’m not sure I’d care one way or the other. Looking into that handsome face for a lifetime would be more than enough to keep me happy.”
Lily rolled her eyes and poured the last of the second bottle of wine into her glass. “Let’s open another bottle.”
“Perhaps we’ve had enough,” Rose said with a slur. “I’m feeling a bit lightheaded.”
“I’m marrying the duke, and I want another bottle.”
“The chocolates are almost gone,” Sophie said, hiccoughing.
“We may as well finish them,” Lily said, “and they go so sublimely with the wine, we simply have to open another bottle.” She giggled uncontrollably.
“I agree with Lily.” Alexandra rose to pull the cord.
Soon they were drinking again, laughing and chatting about their childhood, when knock on the door interrupted them.
“The modiste needs to see you, milady,” a housemaid said to Lily.
“What? Goodness, what time is it?”
“Half past seven, milady.”
“All right, I’ll be right there. I do hope I can walk,” Lily said, her words coming out in a hazy slur. “One of you must acc…company me.”
“Not me,” Sophie said. “I’m beginning to feel wretched. Ally, take me to our chamber.”
“Rose, it will have to be you,” Lily said.
Rose lay on her bed. “In a moment.” She let out a soft snore.
“For goodness’ sake,” Lily muttered. She walked against the wall for support until she came to the chamber the modiste was using.
“Ma belle, do come in.” Madame LeRou held up the red garment. “I think you will be pleased. I will do the final fitting and then bring the gown to your chamber by the hour of ten. Is that acceptable?”
Lily hiccoughed. “Yes.”
Madame turned Lily so quickly that her head spun and she nearly lost her balance. Quickly the modiste unfastened her and had her step into the new gown. Lily stood quietly, her pulse racing, while Madame LeRou measured her and placed pins on the gown.
“Bien,” she said. “Now off with you. Madame has work to do.”
Lily dressed with Madame’s help, left the room, and walked back to her chamber slowly, blinking her eyes to keep them open. Rose was asleep on the bed. She would miss dinner. Lily decided not to wake her. Her afternoon dress was in decent shape, and it was one of her more glamorous ones. It would substitute nicely for a dinner gown. She took a deep breath and judged her appearance in the looking glass. Her reflection was blurry, but she was sure everything would be fine. She went to the door and grabbed the first servant she saw in the hallway and bade her to take care of Brandy until Rose woke up. Then she made her way to the double stairway, holding the railing for support.
* * *
Daniel glanced up and saw Lily enter the spacious dining room. Something wasn’t right. He rose and swiftly walked toward her, taking her arm.
“Lily, are you quite all right?”
“Of course, Your Grace.” She enunciated her words slowly. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because your dress is rumpled and your hair is…” He inhaled. “Oh Christ. What have you been drinking?”
“The wine you gave me, my lord. That is, Your Grace. Who are you again?” She started to giggle.
“Come on.” He briskly ushered her from the room.
“What will people think?” She hiccoughed. “Oops, sorry.”
“Since when do you give—how do you like to put it?—two figs what people think?” He led her to the servants’ stairway and up the two flights to his suite.
“Oh, no. I’m not going to bed with you.” She hiccoughed again. “I’m not, I tell you.”
“You must really think the worst of me.” He shook his head. “Do you honestly believe I would take an inebriated woman to bed?”
“What?” Then, “Where’s Brandy, Daniel? Oh, I left her with a maid in my chamber. I want her.”
“Here, lie down.” He led her gently to the bed.
“I want my puppy.”
“I’ll get her for you.”
He pulled the bell cord and Putney appeared quickly. Daniel whispered to him for a few minutes and then went into his bath chamber. He returned, poured a glass of water from a pitcher on his dressing table, and