"Of course," she echoed, relieved. She should have realized that. "Amanda is good with children," she told him, remembering how well Amanda had handled Emily that day she'd bled.
Motioning for him to follow, she stepped farther away from the little girl.
"I know you're worried that some patrons of the shops might be upset by Emily's snake," she said quietly. "But that's the whole idea, don't you see? She needs to learn that it's not ladylike to carry a snake, and the only way that will happen is by demonstration. Once she's convinced that Herman upsets people, she'll realize she should leave him at home."
"I see," he said tightly.
They headed outside to where James's carriage was waiting. It was splendid—all polished rosewood and rich green velvet—and the pair of matched bays drawing it looked to be prime horseflesh.
Juliana meant to sit beside Aunt Frances, but somehow she ended up beside James instead. Aunt Frances sat opposite James, with Emily catercorner from him. When he squished himself into the corner, as far away from Juliana as possible, she supposed that was to make sure he wouldn't touch her inadvertently.
But then he kept touching her anyway.
During the drive to Pall Mall, he touched her three times on the arm, in the bare area between where her short puffed sleeve ended and her short white glove began. The touches were all accidental and innocent, of course, but the little jolt she felt every time was…well, not bothersome exactly, but disquieting. Or exciting in an odd sort of way.
Of course, she wasn't used to being touched by men. All those deaths in the family had kept her and Corinna from socializing for so long, she was certain she was the oldest unkissed woman in all of England.
Well, except for Amanda. And maybe Aunt Frances.
In any case, she had to assume she'd feel this way if she were touched by any man. Most especially if she were touched by the duke. In fact, she was certain the duke's touches would be even more exciting, because, after all, he was the ideal man for her. But despite two social calls in two days, the duke hadn't touched her since they'd danced at the ball last Saturday night. And that had been over her clothes while they were both wearing gloves, which was quite different.
He hadn't touched her bare skin. He hadn't even kissed her gloved hand. He respected her too much to do any such thing.
He was as proper and reserved as Amanda, but he definitely wasn't stuffy.
Aunt Frances was so anxious to order her dresses, Juliana decided they should do that first. Mrs. Huntley sighed when she saw Emily and her snake again, but after all, Juliana and Amanda had ordered a lot of dresses, and no shopkeeper with half a brain would turn away that sort of business. So she pressed her thin lips together and pulled out her measuring tape.
"Sit over there, Emily," Juliana instructed, waving her toward where two chairs sat against a wall. "And James, you sit beside her. When you visit the shops with a lady, you must wait patiently until she's finished."
"I'll wait outside," he said.
"You shouldn't do that if you wish to please Lady Amanda. A man should appear interested in a lady's purchases."
"I'll keep that in mind," he said, heading toward the door.
"It's raining out there," she reminded him.
"I won't melt."
True to his word, James didn't melt. It took so long to order Aunt Frances's dresses that it had stopped raining by the time the ladies joined him outside. And he certainly didn't look melted—in fact, he looked like he might be frozen solid.
Well, even if wasn't raining, it still was quite cold.
"Where to now?" he asked dourly.
"I believe you should send Lady Amanda some flowers." Juliana indicated a florist's shop across the street, and they all started toward it.
"What sort?" he asked, sounding resigned.
"Red roses," Emily suggested beside him. "My mother loved red roses."
"Red roses it is, then." He crossed to Juliana's other side and took her left arm. When she glanced up at him, startled, he said, "A gentleman should escort a lady across the street."
"Excellent," she said, pleased with his progress. "That's very gallant. But I don't think red roses would be appropriate. They symbolize love, and it's a little too soon for that. You wouldn't want to appear too forward. Pink or yellow would be perfect."
James's arm felt tense beneath hers, and she was aware of their contact all the way into the shop. She guessed Amanda would find that awareness very pleasurable, which would help James persuade her to marry him.
When they entered, a woman shrieked and ran past them out the door. Three other patrons left directly, muttering to one another.
The florist was a tall, thin man with a long, narrow nose and eyes that looked hard as he glared at Emily. "Take that snake outside, young lady."
Emily stroked Herman. "Snakes don't eat flowers, Mr. Flower-Man. Only frogs and mice."
Aunt Frances took Emily outside, and James ordered an arrangement of two dozen pink roses. Quickly.
Back outdoors, the people walking along Pall Mall were giving Emily and Herman a wide berth, and there was a lot of "Well!" and "I never!" to be heard.
"She should have left that snake at home," James said.
"She will next time, I'm sure." Juliana offered him her left arm again, thinking some more practice in escorting ladies might be appropriate.
"Where are we going now?" Emily asked beside him.
He crossed to Juliana's other side and took her right arm instead.
Juliana thought he seemed a little impatient. "Harding, Howell and Company," she decided. Down the street just a bit, Harding, Howell & Company was a big department store that took up all the floors of an old mansion that used to be called Schomberg House. Perhaps James would be happier if they could find the rest of Amanda's presents all in one place. "You don't enjoy shops very much, do you?" she asked as they began walking toward it.
"I'm a
