[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
evidently the mystery of Venetia's new gown was almost too much for Edward and
Amelia.
Page 88
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
"I heard the carriage at the front door," Beatrice called from the landing.
"Venetia, dear, it is time to leave."
"I'm ready, Aunt Beatrice," Venetia announced from the vicinity of her
bedroom.
Gabriel heard her on the stairs before he caught sight of her. He barely had
time to register the fact that there was something decidedly unusual about the
sound of her footsteps when she came into view.
"Good evening, Mr. Jones." She gave him an approving, head-to-toe examination.
"I must say, you make your tailor proud."
He was acutely aware that Edward and Amelia were both holding their breath,
waiting for his shocked reaction to the sight of Venetia.
He gave her the same deliberate examination that she had given him, taking in
the excellently cut black trousers, white linen shirt, bow tie and black
evening coat.
"You must give me the name of your tailor, Mrs. Jones," he said. "I do believe
he may be even more skilled than my own."
Venetia laughed. "Let us be off, sir. The night is young."
She clapped her tall hat on top of her short, dark-haired wig, twirled a
carved walking stick in a rakish manner and descended the remaining stairs.
Mrs. Trench appeared from the direction of the kitchen, wiping her hands on
her apron. She shook her head when she saw Venetia.
"Not again," she said, sounding resigned. "I thought that now that there was a
man in the house we would be done with this sort of foolishness."
Edward sprang to open the front door. Venetia went outside and down the steps
to the waiting carriage.
Gabriel started through the doorway after her.
"Were you amazed, sir?" Edward demanded eagerly.
"One of the things that I most admire about your sister is that she never
ceases to surprise me," Gabriel said.
The door closed behind him. Edward and Amelia's muffled laughter pursued him
all the way down the steps.
27
"Congratulations, Mr. Jones," Venetia said. "You dealt with the shock very
well. I suspect Edward and Amelia are quite disappointed by your failure to
faint dead away at the sight of a lady in gentleman's attire."
Gabriel lounged into the corner of the cushions and looked at Venetia. She was
seated across trom him. The carriage lamps were turned down low, cloaking them
both in shadow.
"The disguise is very good," he allowed. "You even managed to alter your walk
somewhat. Your hair is well concealed beneath that wig. But you cannot
camouflage your scent. I would recognize you anywhere, anytime, on the darkest
night."
"But I used a cologne that is blended especially for gentlemen."
He smiled. "It is not your cologne that is locked in my memory. It is the
essence of you and that essence is very, very female."
She frowned. "I am quite certain that no one realized that I was a woman when
I wore these clothes on previous occasions."
"How often do you go out dressed as a man?"
"I have only done so twice," she confessed. "The clothes belong to Harrow. He
had them altered to fit me. He also purchased the wig and had it styled to
suit me."
"The masculine attire is very interesting on you but may I ask why you felt it
necessary to dress as a gentleman this evening?"
"We are going to meet Harrow and his friend at their club. I would not be
admitted if I arrived at the
door garbed as a lady. You know how it is with gentlemen's clubs."
He would not have described his reaction as shocked, he decided but he was
certainly surprised by that bit of information. "You have been to this
Page 89
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
gentlemen's club before?"
"On one other occasion," she said blithely. "The second time I wore these
clothes, Harrow and I attended the theater together and afterward enjoyed a
late dinner at a restaurant." She smiled. "The establishment was one where no
respectable lady would have allowed herself to be seen. It was a very
educational experience, I assure you."
"You do this for a lark?"
"I find it to be an intriguing adventure," she said. "Have you any notion of
how astonishingly different
the world appears when you walk through it as a man?"
"I had not given the subject much thought."
"A woman is so much freer when she goes about as a gentleman. It is not just
the clothes, although you may believe me when I tell you that trousers and a
coat are far less cumbersome and restrictive than
even the lightest of summer walking dresses. Why, I could run quite easily in
these garments if it proved necessary. Have you ever tried to run in a long
gown?"
"Can't say that I have had the experience."
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]