Never Land the First Fish

Chapter Seven: Part 2

Maddox knocked and announced himself from the passageway and Julia let him in the door. She was accustomed enough now not to be thrown off balance by the sway of the boat. Most intriguing, he held a large box at his side.

Looking around the small space, he said, "No Gills?"

"Clearly not, my lord."

"I see." He pushed the door open wider. Jewel winced at the implication.

"I suppose it makes no matter. I know you have no clothes but the rags you are wearing and black. And where we are going, you needn't play the grieving widow unless you should wish it." Julia shook her head. "I've brought you this." He shoved the box at her. "I had it made for Sally Grenford, before she..."

Julia managed to take possession of the box without it bowling her over. "I see. You would have married her despite the rumours."

"I would have married her because of them, and should I hear even one calumny from you, I will throw you overboard and throw Gills after you. Tell him I'm looking for him." He turned tail and left the room.

Well, then. I guess that is how Maddox felt when Toad took Sally right out from under him. Poor man. He never deserved to be betrayed by the likes of Lady Sarah. Julia took the box to the bed. She'd rather wear a chemise among Maddox's sailors than wear a dress made for Sally Grenford. But she might as well look at it. It had to be good quality if Maddox had bought it for his bride.

It had been months since Athol had allowed her the money for a new gown. She'd had her dresses refreshed from last Season to attend the parties this year. Attended until they were banished, in any case. Attended to clear the names of Sally Grenford and Toad Wellbridge. In truth, she was owed at least a small debt of gratitude from the Wellbridges. She didn't have to agree to recant anything she said about Sally. She certainly had never seen any sort of reward for it, only more pain and less money. And Jewel had even cleared Sally's name of things she had truly done.

Jewel was, in part, the cause of their loss of reputation, but she hadn't had to agree to Aunt Bella's terms. Had she known how bad it would be after Athol debased himself—and Jewel—apologizing to all those women and proclaiming himself unfit for a lady's company, she would have defied Aunt Bella and kept him from it. Better he ravish every woman in the ton than stay at home with Jewel. Of course, then the debasement would have come when they were in debtor's prison or en route to a penal colony.

"Oh," she said on a breathy sigh. "Isn't it lovely?" A deep blue that would look dramatic on Sally but merely pretty on Jewel, without the natural beauty of her cousin's wife. She took it out reverently, placing it gently on the bunk. Underneath was a coat and scarf a darker blue shade of the same fabric, and a matching bonnet.

Shaking it out and laying it all out on the bunk, she saw right away she could don the dress without a maid. It was clearly a traveling gown, as it was made of a serviceable woolen fabric, in two pieces—a bodice and skirt attached with buttons—with braided black frog closures at the shoulder, removable linen cuffs and collar, and plenty of pockets. But the color was just so inviting. Jewel desperately wanted to try it on.

But, after all, it was Sally Grenford's dress.

"It will look lovely on you." She spun around, as always unnerved when a man came up behind her. Gills was standing in the doorway, leaning against the jamb, arms folded across his chest.

"I can't wear it. I can't take a gift of clothing from Lord Maddox."

"Ah. You don't want it because he had it made for Sally."

"That's not true." He made her sound like a petulant child.

"No one in the world will ever know you got that dress from Lord Maddox but the three of us, so what is the real reason, if not Sally?"

Jewel felt the heat rising in her face. "I just don't think it's seemly."

Gills laughed aloud and crossed the room to take one of the sleeves between his fingers. "It is a beautiful dress, for all that it's practical for travel. Maddox intended they should travel as long as they both wished it." Of course, Sally Grenford had a choice between a famous husband who was a pet of the Royal Academy and confidante of dignitaries around the world, or one with the largest fortune in the British nobility. Let no one claim Sally Grenford was stupid when she gave her hand.

"It will look excellent on you, Lady Julia. If you will excuse the presumption, your body is not suited to the ruffles and bows you generally wear."

The bows and ruffles had covered up gowns one season, two seasons, out of date. "You should not be discussing my body."

Ignoring her utterly, he continued, "But this... simple, tailored, and the color will complement your eyes. As it happens, the man who cares for Maddox's balloon was once a tailor and would be pleased to make any alterations you might require." He stopped and looked her up and down again, then looked back at the dress. "Sally Grenford would look dreadful in this color. And the line would do nothing for her. No, Lady Julia, no matter who had this dress made for whom, it was designed for you. Need I help you with it?"

Jewel snatched the dress back. "No, you needn't help. That's disgraceful."

With a wry grin, Gills said, "I've seen it all, Lady Julia, and you hardly the first. If you don't need my help, I shall step out. Just call me back when you've changed."

"I haven't said I'll—"

Gills held up a hand in front of her mouth. "Julia Soddenfeld, one of the best friends of my life just gave up a large portion of his heart when he offered you this gown, which—as it happens—you desperately need and will look stunning on you. You will not spit on his gift or what it took him to give it by throwing it back in his face; a woman already did that with this dress once. Lady Julia, you mark me. If you are not in that dress in the next five minutes, I will put it on you myself. After I spank you with a hairbrush like you father should have done years ago."

Jewel could not even force words out, only an infuriated squeak. He turned his back on her and stalked out, saying over his shoulder, "Five minutes, Lady Julia."

Reluctantly, several long minutes later, she finally admitted to herself he was right. No matter where the clothing came from, she needed it. She ran her hands over the dress, unfastening buttons as she went. Finally, she tugged the bodice on. She buttoned the hidden seams, then closed the decorative frogs at the shoulder before she reattached the skirt to the bodice. It would need a few alterations; Sally was plumper than Julia everywhere, and her torso not as long. But if the tailor really was a tailor, it should work out fine.