Queens Gambit

18

Chapter 18

Madam Shay arrived before Nine in the morning to get started on a wedding dress for a Duchess, and only two days to do it. The duke was paying enough money to buy ten dresses for this one. She was glad the Duchess did not come up with her own suggestions if she had it would have been harder to get it done on time. When the Dowager Duchess arrived that is when things went from good to bad. She wanted to know everything that was happening, and when would the dress be ready for the final fitting. She just went on and on. Sheena had to remind her that this was a last-minute dress so they should go with what Madam Shay thought would be best. Madam Shay decided she cherish this Duchess and declare her the best customer she has ever had.

"Mother why do you not go and help Adam he is writing out the invitations for the celebration."

This appealed to Pamala after all knowing her son, he would invite ten people and call it good. This was a Duke's wedding it needed to be grand. She would make sure it was what the children needed. She swept into the study where Adam was writing out letters of invitations.

"I have come to help?"

He handed her a pen and paper, and they silently worked. The butler came into the study with tea and biscuits for the Duke and his mother. He had not decided if he was going to let the duke know his Duchess had left she said she had a secret errand to run. She had to go to Madam Galois for what mattered to her the most was under the wedding dress. She wanted Adam to have something to enjoy as well. Madam was surprised to see her she had been there the other day when she picked up the box.

"What can I do for you, your grace?"

"I am having a wedding on Thursday so I would like something special for our wedding night. I know you would be the one to give me what I am looking for."

Madam Galois did have something that just arrived from France that the Duchess might like. She knew the duke would love it. To Sheena's joy, she had what she wanted. Something Adam would appreciate. It was what the Madam called a teddy it was like a corset but with none of the binding one would normally have it was all loose and free-flowing. It would be easy to get off or leave at the moment. She kept shocking herself with how much of a degenerate she is becoming. She had not heard Adam complain so she would take that as a good thing. He seemed to like her newly found appreciation of making love.

Her next stop was the florist where she bought a bouquet of White Hellebores the Christmas Roses. Then she went on to the cemetery where she would visit the Queen's grave. She wanted to say thanks for getting Prinny to make Adam try to get to know her. If the queen had not insisted, she did not think Adam would have changed his ways. She owed the queen a lot for her happiness. Her last stop was a jewelry shop to buy Adam something to exchange on their wedding night. She found a tie pin in the shape of the moon with a starburst of diamonds around the backside of the half-moon. She was done with her errands, so she headed back to the townhouse where she found Adam with guests.

To her surprise, it was Big B and the Purple Tyrant. What could the head of the home office for the crown and the war office want with her and Adam, did they have an assignment for her? If they had an assignment, why were they waiting for her with Adam they all looked as if they had bad news for her.

"Is something the miss?"

It was Big B who invited her to sit in her own home. What on earth happened?

"Come sit and talk."

"Has someone died?"

All the men looked down as if indeed that is what happened.

It was the Duke of New Cross who delivered the news.

'Sheena my dear we have the sad job of telling you your brother Sean met with an accident the other day. He was on a stroll when a carriage went out of control and hit him. The driver did not stop and there were no witnesses so we may never catch who killed him."