Tall, Duke, and Dangerous (Hazards of Dukes #2) - Megan Frampton Page 0,22

nearly iridescent, shimmering in the mid-morning light.

“Let me see that,” Ana Maria replied, striding forward. She ran her fingers over the fabric, marveling at how the colors seemed to shift under her hand.

“That is nacre velvet,” the shopkeeper said. “Just arrived from Italy. You have a very fine eye, my lady.”

“Well, actually, I am the one who spotted it first,” Octavia said, grinning at Ana Maria.

“Yes, but—”

“My friend is teasing. It is lovely. I can’t see it on a wall, though. How would you get the full impact of it?” Ana Maria moved the fabric as she spoke, and the colors changed from a greenish blue to a blueish purple.

“That would be spectacular as a gown,” Octavia said.

“Not too bold?”

Octavia grinned. “Not at all. Perhaps you might even make someone grunt in approval.”

Ana Maria chose to ignore that comment.

“I’ll take all of it,” she said to the shopkeeper. His eyes widened, and then he sprang into action, gathering the bolts and laying them all on his long table. He gestured to the far corner of the room. “If you like that one, there are others I think might pique your interest.”

An hour later, Ana Maria felt as if she’d been transported into fabric heaven, while it seemed Octavia viewed it more as fabric hell.

“I have to get back to the club,” Octavia said, glancing at the watch pinned to her bodice.

“It’s not even lunchtime. You can say it—we are good enough friends. You are absolutely and completely bored here, and you might scream if you have to stay a moment longer.”

Octavia’s face was relieved. “Yes. Exactly.” And then she knitted her brow. “Will you be all right here? On your own?”

“I spent the first twenty-eight years of my life doing things on my own. I promise I know how to take care of myself.”

“You do, but do you know how to take care of yourself now that you are a ‘my lady’? I doubt you went around town dressed like that when you were doing errands for the duchess.”

It was a good point, but Ana Maria did not want to have to leave, not now when she was just getting into the depths of Mr. Lee’s collection. Nor did she want her friend to expire from boredom.

“Just go ahead. Mr. Lee will see me safely into a cab.”

Mr. Lee nodded, then held up his index finger to make a point. “I will ask Mrs. Lee to come out, she is doing the bookkeeping, but she should be finished by now.”

Ana Maria turned to Octavia. “See? I will have a chaperone, after all. Go on, don’t worry.”

Octavia gave her friend a kiss, then swept off with her usual confident stride. Ana Maria watched her go, envying the younger girl’s self-assured poise.

Perhaps one day Ana Maria would master the art of walking without worrying.

Mr. Lee returned in a few minutes, an Englishwoman by his side. She was dressed in a plain gown of dark blue, but the quality of the fabric was impeccable.

“This is my wife, Mrs. Lee. She is technically the owner of the shop, though she prefers to work behind the scenes. I explained about your friend leaving.”

Ana Maria held her hand out to the other woman, who took it after a moment of hesitation. “Thank you for taking time out of your work.”

“You are welcome, my lady.” Mrs. Lee spoke softly, as though she wasn’t accustomed to conversing with strangers.

By the time Ana Maria had finished, she had purchased not only all the bolts of the shimmering fabric from Italy, but also a selection of silks, satins, taffetas, muslins, and some serviceable cottons that would be a vast improvement over the clothing the current duke’s female staff was wearing.

“That won’t all fit into a hansom,” Ana Maria said as she surveyed her items. She picked up one of the bolts of the shimmering fabric and tucked it under her arm. “I’ll take this one, and send a carriage for the rest later. Perhaps tomorrow?”

“Excellent,” Mr. Lee said. “Let me find a cab for you.” He stepped out of the shop onto the street.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Lee,” Ana Maria said when the ladies were alone.

“Thank you for your patronage. Not everyone wishes to do business with us, and I appreciate your courtesy.”

“Not do business—oh!” Ana Maria exclaimed as she realized why. “Well, the products are excellent. Those people are missing out.”

Mrs. Lee’s mouth curled into a shy smile. “Thank you so much.”

Mr. Lee poked his