The Other Lady Vanishes (Burning Cove #2)(41)

It wasn’t as if he had been entirely straightforward with her, either, she reminded herself.

She focused on the immediate problem of obtaining an affordable dress that would get her through the exclusive doors of the Paradise Club.

“You don’t need to go shopping with me,” she said. She knew she sounded stiff and tense. “I’ve got a friend who knows all about the latest fashions and where to find them here in town.”

“How long will it take?”

“Hours,” she said with a cold smile, silently daring him to complain about the shopping process.

“Take your time. Luther invited me to play a round of golf this afternoon. I’ll give him a call and tell him I’m free.”





Chapter 25


“That’s the gown,” Raina announced. “It fits you beautifully and the deep turquoise blue enhances your eyes. You look sophisticated and mysterious. That’s exactly the right impression to make at a place like the Paradise Club.”

“Miss Kirk is correct,” the saleswoman gushed. “She has an excellent eye for fashion.”

Adelaide studied herself in the dressing room mirror. Raina and the saleswoman were right, she thought. The ankle-length gown was very flattering. The lustrous satin was cut on the bias so that it flowed effortlessly over the body and flared out below the hips. It would look terrific on a dance floor.

The front was styled with a demure, high neck but the back plunged to the waist with nothing more than a few decorative strips of fabric to secure it. It was a gown designed for a night of glamour and seduction.

She had purchased similar gowns in those first giddy weeks after Conrad Massey had moved into her life. And then one day she had awakened in a hospital gown in a locked room at Rushbrook. She shuddered at the memory.

Raina’s brows snapped together. She leaned forward and lowered her voice.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

Adelaide pulled herself together. “Yes, I’m fine. Just dealing with the shock of the price tag on this little number, that’s all.”

“No need to worry about the price,” the saleswoman said airily. “I’ll give you a twenty percent discount because you’ll be seen in the gown at the Paradise Club. That is excellent advertising for my shop. All you need now are a pair of smart shoes, a wrap, some earrings, and the right evening bag, and you’re all set for a night on the town.”

Reality struck Adelaide with staggering force. She could—just barely—manage to pay for the dress. The accessories the saleswoman suggested were out of the question.

“I’m sorry,” she said. She reached around behind herself to find the hidden zipper. “The dress is lovely but you’re right, it needs all the appropriate trimmings. I’m afraid I’m on a strict budget.”

Alarmed, the saleswoman started talking very quickly. “I’m sure we can find a few things in your price range.”

“The accessories will not be a problem,” Raina said. “I think I’ve got a bag and a wrap that will go nicely with that dress. I also have some earrings that will work, as well. That just leaves the shoes. Unfortunately, mine will be too big for you, Adelaide, although we might be able to wad up some tissue to stuff into the toes.”

The saleswoman smiled a mysterious saleswoman smile. “I’ll be right back,” she said.

Adelaide and Raina looked at each other.

“I’ve got news for you,” Raina said quietly. “Not a lot but it might prove useful. I’ll tell you when we’re finished here.”

“Does it have anything to do with Thelma Leggett?”

“Yes.”

The saleswoman appeared as if by magic. A pair of strappy, high-heeled dancing sandals dangled from her fingers. The shoes were made of silver leather. They seemed to radiate starlight.

Adelaide gazed at them, mesmerized.

“Oh, my,” Raina said softly. “Yes, indeed, I think those will do nicely.”

“I’m sure they’re too expensive,” Adelaide began.

“I was going to put them on sale next week,” the saleswoman said. “I’ll let you have them for the sale price now.”

“We’ll take them,” Raina said.

Adelaide looked at her. “I can’t afford them, even if they’re on sale.”

“I’ll loan you the money if necessary,” Raina said.

Adelaide gave up. “All right. But only if they fit.”

The shoes fit as if they had been made for her. Adelaide took a deep breath and opened her handbag to take out her wallet. At the rate she was going through money, she might have to take in a real boarder after Jake left town.

By the time she and Raina left the dress shop, she was feeling dazed by the amount of money she had just spent. It was not as if she still had access to her inheritance, she reminded herself. She was living on a waitress’s wages.

“Don’t worry about it,” Raina said. “Think of the dress and the shoes as an investment.”

“In what?” Adelaide said. “I’ll probably never wear them again.”

“You live in Burning Cove now. Trust me, you will have other opportunities to wear that gown and those fabulous shoes. Let’s have coffee and then we can go to my place to pick up the wrap, the earrings, and the evening bag.”