The Duke and the Dressmaker (The St. James Series) Read Free

front of half the ton.
    Being part of the realm had been exciting, at first. Lord Downey had paraded her around to many of the balls and dinners before they were married. She had felt like a princess. However, once they married, their engagements ceased. The invitations still arrived, but Duncan did not want to be seen with her. The cruel things he’d told her others had said about her appearance had hurt. She was no longer interested in being part of the ton. She was glad to be away from them. Miranda and her kind were too cruel and conniving for her.
    So Duncan had run away with the duke’s wife. That explained, in part, the coldness in the duke’s eyes. Did he hurt as much as she did over the desertion? At least, he had other family and friends he could rely on for support. Sara’s father had been the last in her family, her mother having died when she was young. They had lived alone in the country with very few acquaintances. The only thing she had left of her mother was a beaded bag, and she treasured that bag. She had hoped to carry it the day of her wedding, but Duncan wouldn’t allow it.
    She had lost her father, then her husband, and now all her friends — all within the same year. The glorious ton wanted nothing to do with her now that her husband was gone. The invitations had stopped coming after his departure. Once she’d opened her shop, her friends had stopped visiting her. Plus she had taken a risk by living in the small room above her shop. Originally, she’d lived in a boardinghouse down the street as those in similar situations did, but she could no longer afford it. No one would bother her, she had solid locks on her doors and she carefully hid her money. No one even knew she lived here.
    But either way, as far as the aristocracy was concerned, she was a just a common laborer now.
    Alone.
     
     
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Three
     
    Philip strolled into his breakfast room the next morning and stared out the window. He loved Hearthstone Manor, his main estate, at this time of year. The spring flowers blossomed in beds accented by grass that turned a beautiful shade of green. For some reason, Hearthstone Manor in the spring represented hope. He chided himself for being foolish and sentimental, but with the gardens and the lake, his land truly seemed the most glorious setting he had ever seen. Of course, the memories he had of the years when he was younger, fishing, racing horses, and having shooting contests with his brothers and his father, all encouraged him to reminisce. They were such powerful memories. He had hoped to have his own sons to share the same collections with someday, but life was not going to accommodate him.
    He sighed and grabbed his plate . Ambling to the sideboard, he filled his plate with coddled eggs, ham and toast, and nodded briefly at the servants. Eying the newspaper waiting for his perusal caused him to sigh again. Picking it up after he sat, he promised himself he would ignore the gossip page. He expected to find his name linked with Sara Downey’s, and he did not need to be reminded about how that woman inspired him to hurt someone. His mother flurried in, swishing her skirts as she traversed the breakfast room.
    “Good morning, Philip . Are you having a better day today?”
    “Better than what, Mother?”
    “Why, better than your usual days, of course. You should be having a better day today,” she replied.
    “And why is that, Mother?” He was not anxious to hear her answer. He set his paper down. He knew his mother would have her say eventually, so he might as well get it over with as quickly as possible.
    “Well, I believe you should be happy after meeting that beaut iful young lady yesterday, Sara Downey.” She took a seat as the servants bustled around her to see to her needs.
    “And please tell me why meeting Lady Downey should make me happy?” he ground out.
    “Why, chemistry, of course! Anyone within fifty feet of the two of you could feel the