She opened her mouth, not to speak, but in surprise, then turned her head and nodded thoughtfully.
“Dear God,” he whispered, appalled, “you did.”
“What?” She started and blinked. “Oh! Oh, no…I was thinking of something else.”
“One would think this conversation was significant enough to warrant a person’s full attention,” he grumbled.
“It does. It has. I was considering my own behavior, and how it could have led you to believe I didn’t care for you…that is…”
Oh, how mortifying.
Whit didn’t seem to notice her discomfiture. He simply nodded in understanding and closed the distance between them.
His head slowly bent down to hers until she could smell the faintest hint of coffee on his breath. She liked that, she decided, closing her eyes. She liked it very much.
“Mira! Mira, are you out here?” Kate’s voice, not far down the path, had her jerking back.
“We’ll finish this another time,” Whit whispered against her lips before stepping away. No sooner had he retreated, than Kate came into view. “There you are. Evie thought you’d be in the library, but I knew you’d be here this time of year. Good morning, Whit.”
Because his sister’s bright smile and distracted eyes never failed to both touch and amuse, Whit bent to kiss the top of her head in greeting.
“Good morning,” he returned. “It’s early for you and Evie to be up, isn’t it?”
“Mother wants help with some last-minute arrangements for the ball. Will you come, Mira?”
“Er…Yes, of course.”
Kate took her hand and began tugging her down the path. “I’d make myself scarce if I were you, Whit. She’s looking for someone to take the ladies into town for a spot of shopping.”
Last-minute arrangements turned out to be everything from greeting and settling the musicians to overseeing candle replacement in the half-dozen ballroom chandeliers. Morning gave way to midday, and it was past time for tea when Mirabelle finally made it back to her room.
She’d barely started to wash up a bit when Kate knocked on her door and, carrying a gown of pale blue, let herself in.
“Would you like this? I bought it because mother insisted the color matched my eyes, but it doesn’t in the least, and I’m a hair too tall for the cut as well.” She frowned thoughtfully at the dress. “It’s not like Madame Duvalle to make mistakes. I wonder if she has a new girl working for her.”
“Why don’t you bring it back and have her fix it?”
Kate looked appalled. “I’ll not be responsible for having some poor girl sacked.”
“Give it to Lizzy, then.”
“I tried,” she replied. “But she has more gowns from me and Evie than she knows what to do with. She says she has a pile of dresses to sell already, and if Evie and I give her one more, she’ll quit our employ and open a shop. Won’t you at least try it on, Mira? I hate to think of it going to waste or—”
“All right!” Mirabelle laughed and took the gown. “Lord, I’ve never met a more convincing babbler in my life.”
“I’ve many gifts, babbling is but one of them.” Kate made a shooing movement. “Go and try it on.”
Mirabelle stepped behind a screen and replaced her old gown with the new one. It took a bit of work. “It’s too tight,” she decided yanking on the material. “My stays show, and my chemise bunches terribly.”
“It’s not a dress one wears with stays,” Kate called.
“Oh.” She shimmied out of the half-corset and tried again. “My chemise is still bunching, and it’s too light a material to go without one. I’m afraid it just won’t work. Pity too—it’s lovely.”
“What a shame…Oh! Why don’t you try it with your new chemise underneath?”
“Will that work, do you think?” she asked stepping out from behind the screen.
“It can’t hurt to try.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Mirabelle rummaged through an armoire and pulled out the box from Madame Duvalle’s. It took her a moment to untie the triple knot, but eventually she succeeded in freeing the blue cloth. “It looks to be near the same color. A bit darker perhaps, but the same hue.”
She stepped behind the screen and changed yet again, slipping the new chemise on with a sigh of pleasure as the soft material brushed her skin.
“It’s the most heavenly thing,” she murmured.
“What’s that?”
“The chemise, it’s wonderful. I may start sleeping in it.”
“What if there’s a fire?”
“A very good point.” She pulled the dress on next. “It fits,” she said, a bit stunned. “It fits perfectly. It even covers the scratches on my shoulder.”
“Let me see,” Kate needled.