Hattie Glover’s Millinery

a manner they ignited a warm glow in him. He tried to banish his lustful feelings, as he was attempting to prove he was a helpful and trustworthy gentleman—not a cad.
“I can go the address Rumsfield gave me and give the fellow a talking to about seducing young ladies.”
“That might be helpful.” Hattie set down her cup, folded her arms on the table and rested her chin on one hand. “I have spoken with the girl’s mother and pray I have forestalled the idea of sending her to a sanitarium. But Miss Pruett has not visited me again, so I have no idea what has happened since. She may be in treatment even as we speak.”
“Or has run off with her young fellow, or accepted her parents’ choice,” Guy pointed out.
“None are ideal options. I’m at my wit’s end as to how else I might help the girl.”
“I will find this James fellow, and if the girl is with him, perhaps I can convince her to return home before too much damage is done.”
She brought her gaze from a distant point to focus on Guy. “I truly appreciate your help in this matter, Mr. Hardy. You had no reason to become involved. I’m not quite certain why you have.”
“Do you think me heartless, Mrs. Glover? I feel for the poor young woman.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “And…?”
“And I wanted to spend more time with you,” he admitted. “You intrigue me greatly.”
“For heaven’s sake, why? You can likely have your pick of any woman in London, so why would you be at all interested in a widowed milliner no longer in her first bloom?”
“There is far more to you than that. To build a business into a success takes great drive, determination, and character—all things I have recently realized I sadly lack. Is it any wonder my opposite attracts me greatly? The question is not why I should be enamored of you, but why you would be interested in a shallow fellow like me?”
“I never claimed I was,” she replied tartly, yet those charming dimples graced her cheeks—an encouraging sign.
“We met while I was purchasing a hat as a parting gift for a lover, so naturally, there is little to recommend me to you. But I have been trying hard to demonstrate the better side of my nature. Have I succeeded even a little?” He leaned forward, begging her with his eyes to take a closer look at him.
Hattie removed her chin from her hand and spread her thumb and forefinger an inch apart. “Perhaps a little.” Her dimples deepened.
Come, Mrs. Glover, treat me with that engaging grin that made me tumble for you.
“I shall endeavor to be satisfied with that for now, but I intend to work even harder to earn your affections. Be prepared to be wooed with flowers, chocolates, theater tickets, and more. If it is not too impertinent, allow me to buy you the most extravagant hat in the shop. There’s a particular one on display that’s full of the entire contents of the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas.’” He referred to the overblown number from the other day. “I believe it would suit you nicely.”
Ah! There it was. Hattie not only smiled but burst out laughing, a full-bodied guffaw that shook her entire frame. Guy had no choice but to laugh along with her. This woman could be the very soul of merriment when she dared, and that was worth any sort of length he must go to in order to win her happiness.
*
Hattie could not stop laughing. As soon as she began to regain control, another wave of hilarity burst through her. Hardy’s sense of humor, so unexpected and off the cuff, hit precisely the right note to tickle her. He had the capacity to make her fizz with joy, while burning away the low-level anxiety that dwelled deep inside her like morning fog settled in a deep valley.
Hardy might be a rogue, but at least he was honest and didn’t pretend to be better than he was. In truth, he didn’t seem all that bad now she’d begun to know him.
At last, she reigned in her laughter and took a few deep breaths. “Very well, Mr. Hardy. “I will stop judging you, for who am I to judge anyone? You’ve done me a great service in helping with Miss Pruett. So, I will stop pretending you annoy me. I enjoyed our luncheon and our stroll in the park very much. I am open to the idea of being wooed.”
“And I am open to wooing you. Might we begin right now? If you are hungry, I could escort you to a late supper. I know a place that serves excellent boeuf bourguignon, which, let’s admit it, is really just very fancy beef stew.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. I have work to do which will take several more hours.” She indicated the hats and long veil occupying the table. “A last-minute wedding with hats required for the entire bridal party.”
“Then allow me to keep you company. Put me to work. May I stitch something?” He reached for the veil.
“You may keep your hands off the very expensive Vincennes lace, please. It cannot have so much as a smudge or the bride and her mother may combust. They are very on edge.”
“What may I do to help, then? I could go out and bring food to you, or sing a tune to keep you entertained.”
“Do you sing, Mr. Hardy?” Hattie threaded a needle and resumed stitching tiny beads on the crown of the wedding veil.
“Not very well, I’m afraid, but I’ll make an attempt since we haven’t a gramophone on hand. Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do.” He warbled his way through the popular ditty in a surprisingly pleasant and on-key baritone.
When he reached the refrain, Hattie quietly joined in. “You look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.”
“You sing beautifully, Mrs. Glover,” Hardy said when the song was finished. “And I imagine you would look