The following morning, she took Liam and Patrick to the finest haberdashery in Queens. Wooden shelves stacked with bolts of fabric reached all the way to the ceiling, while glass cases displayed silk ties, enameled cufflinks, and imported buttons. Liam needed an entirely new wardrobe: custom trousers, broadcloth shirts, at least two frock coats, waistcoats, a morning coat, a cutaway jacket, and a double-breasted wool coat for when the weather turned cold. He needed a white suit for summer and a tuxedo for evenings.

A nattily dressed tailor took Liam’s measurements for the custom suits, but Gwen bought him a ready-made suit as well. It lacked the sharp tailoring the others would have, but Liam needed to become accustomed to wearing a vest, tie, and starched collar as soon as possible. He had never worn a tie in his life, and Patrick had to show him how to knot it.

“It feels like a noose,” Liam groused once it was tied. “It’s too tight and it doesn’t fit.”

The tailor cleared his throat. “It fits perfectly, sir.”

“You’ll get used to it,” she assured him, then looked at Patrick. “You need a new suit too.”

Patrick blanched at the suggestion. “I just bought a new suit last month.”

She’d seen that suit in the courtroom, and it was completely inadequate. The tailoring was rudimentary, and the cheap wool lacked the drape a quality suit should have. She scrambled for the softest way to make her point. “It’s fine for daily wear, but if you ever meet with the board of Blackstone Bank, it’s not up to snuff.” She glanced at the haberdasher. “Please take Patrick’s measurements for a top-of-the-line suit as well.”

Patrick looked like he’d rather have a tooth pulled, but he submitted to the measurements. When she tried to add the suit to her bill, he rebelled.

“I can pay for my own suit,” he said, but she overruled him. After all, she was the one who’d put him in a situation where he’d be meeting with Wall Street executives, so it was only right she foot the bill.

Liam wore his new suit out of the shop, and they headed to a custom shoemaker, where Gwen had Liam fitted for two black oxfords, a pair of brown derby shoes, and dress boots. The shoemaker brought out a pair of ready-made cordovan leather wingtips that already fit him perfectly. The classic leather shoes had a contoured sole with padding sewn into the footbed. At last she’d found something Liam wholeheartedly approved of.

“I’m never taking these off,” he said in wonder. “These things are comfortable enough to wear to bed.”