Page 34 of A Misguided Devotion

“Then what?”

“He suggested I wear one of your dresses and take your place so he could get started. I told him what a ridiculous suggestion it was, but he insisted I ask you.”

Laura’s face lit up. “What an excellent idea! You can experience what it is like to have someone stare at you for a change.”

Heat rushed to Kitty’s cheeks. Did Laura even realise how rude she was being?

“You are a little taller than me, but apart from that, we are not so dissimilar in size.”

“But—”

Kitty fell silent as Sutton came bustling back into the room, bearing a cup of steaming liquid.

“Miss Lacey is going to take my place so that Mr Merry can make a start on the painting today. Please help her into the white satin with the rosebud detail and pink sash.”

“But that’s your father’s favourite, miss. Are you sure?”

“It is the dress he wants me to wear for the portrait, Sutton, so it must be that one that Miss Lacey borrows.”

“As you wish.”

Before Kitty could object, Sutton ushered her into the adjoining dressing room and stripped off her gown and petticoat. The maid tutted at her worn stays and made quick work of them as well. Standing in nought but her shift, heat flooded her cheeks and brought a tear to her eyes. She had not been undressed by anyone other than herself since she’d left the nursery.

The servant extracted a set of Laura’s stays from the drawer and laced them up. “I must admit Miss Barrington was correct. You are more of a size with her than I had supposed. Your figure was somewhat hidden by the shabby nature of your undergarments.”

After lowering the white satin gown over her head, the maid fastened the buttons and tied the pink sash beneath her bosom. With a nod of approval, she swept Kitty out of the dressing room.

Laura eyed her up and down. “Well done, Sutton. I daresay Miss Lacey has never appeared to such advantage in her life. Turn around so you can see yourself in the looking glass.”

Kitty stared into the mirror and blinked hard. The effect of stays that were not three years old and an elegant gown was astonishing. Though she would never match her friend, she looked passably pretty.

She glanced down at the foot of the dress and grimaced. Her extra height exposed her ankles, but that couldn’t be helped. Her nose twitched. Would Mr Merry notice they were one of her better features?

“Thank you, Laura. I—” Kitty supposed she must keep up the pretence. “I hope your headache eases soon.”

She returned to the Long Gallery to find Mr Merry busy with his sketchbook.

He raised his gaze to watch her as she walked toward him, and her heart fluttered more than it should have to see the light of approval in his eyes.

“There! I told you my plan would work. If you could just—”

He paused and peered behind her.

“Were you expecting someone else? I assure you, Miss Barrington is in her bed, as she claimed.” Even if she wasn’t as sick as she had made out.

“Didn’t she send a maid to sit with us—for propriety’s sake?”

He thought her reputation was that of a gentlewoman and worth preserving? How…touching.

“Do you normally engage a chaperon when you paint servants or actresses?”

“What has that got to say to anything?” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “You may have fallen on hard times, but you are still a lady.”

She wanted to believe it, but he didn’t know how far she had sunk. That being a lady’s companion was a step up from her previous position. “I have no right to call myself that now.”

He took her hand and squeezed it. “A lady is who you are, Miss Lacey. Not what you do.”

Mr Merry strode to the bell rope and gave it a sharp pull. “And as such, I will ensure you have a chaperon.”