I hurried up the stairs and checked myself at the vanity table before sweeping up a shawl that had been Garland’s mother’s, conveniently left there, and hurried down and out to the waiting carriage. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask Lucas about Garland’s escapades last night, but I was sure whatever I said would quickly find its way to Garland’s ears. When we approached my great-aunt Nettie’s house on our way to the department store, I was tempted to have Lucas stop, but then I thought it would only be a waste of time. She wouldn’t recall my having been there, and even if she did, I wasn’t in the mood to hear her rant about how terrible Garland’s father was.

When we arrived at the department store, the salesladies at Miller and Rhoads were primed and ready for me, having heard from Garland that I had carte blanche. I spent hours trying on the newest fashions, shoes, and hats. I thought I should have something different for every day of the week and then special weekend clothes. Not once did anyone mention a price, nor did I ask. My father would have had heart failure, I thought, but what I wanted to ensure was not having the slightest need to wear anything more from Garland’s mother’s wardrobe than necessary. I was still dreading getting into that wedding dress.

Lucas looked shocked at the number of bags and boxes when I was finished. There was barely room for me, and some had to be put above with him. I sat back, imagining myself even more spoiled than Kate in The Taming of the Shrew. Garland was determined I would be. Was that out of love or guilt? Then again, I thought, what difference did it make as long as I got what I wanted?

But look what happened to Kate, I reminded myself when we started back to Foxworth Hall. Maybe my world would come crumbling down, too, but until then . . .

I loved the look on Dora’s face when she came out to help bring my new things to the Swan Room. Lucas, feeling sorry for her, rushed to help. Garland was sequestered in his private office and didn’t come out to see the parade up the stairway until it was almost over.

“Is there anything left for anyone else to buy?” he asked when he walked up to see Dora unwrapping everything and hanging up clothes, organizing my new shoes and my hats.

“Not much,” I said. “But I will need some of this for our honeymoon.”

“Oh, that,” he said. “I’m afraid we’ll have to postpone it.”

“Postpone it? Until when?”