Page 16 of The Icy Duke Claims a Bride

“Lady Castleton?” she said calmly but clearly. “This is Miss Catherine Wright. If you have anything to say to me, I’m waiting out here to hear it directly from your lips.”

There was a brief commotion and a rapid exchange of whispers behind the curtain of the adjacent changing room. Madame Dupont herself bustled in at that moment to see if any of herclients required her assistance, and Catherine wondered what, if anything, she had overheard.

With her hair disheveled and her dress buttoned wrongly, Lady Castleton did indeed emerge from behind the curtain a minute later, followed by another Society lady Catherine vaguely recognized but could not name. They were both red-faced and cross at having exposed themselves so embarrassingly.

“I have to say that I hadn’t anticipated the pleasure of your company this afternoon, Lady Castleton,” Catherine began pleasantly. “But as you’re here, we have an excellent opportunity for conversation, don’t we?”

As Jemima giggled, Lady Castleton mumbled something about remembering a previous engagement and quickly took her leave, her friend at her heels.

“Comme c’est étrange,” the plump, friendly proprietor of the establishment said once the front door of the building had closed behind the two women. “But never mind them. How are you both? Did Miss Jemima like the cut of the French-style summer dress? I could make it up in a variety of colorful silks or muslins.”

“I like it very much.” Jemima passed the model gown back to Madame Dupont. “Perhaps I could look at some light silks in blue or yellow. Could you manage a dress like that in less than two weeks? My sister will be married soon, and I would like a new dress for the wedding.”

“But of course. You are marrying, Miss Wright?” Madame Dupont queried, with a genuine smile. “Congratulations, how wonderful for you. You must be so happy.”

Catherine shrugged and thanked the woman politely.

“And who is the lucky man?”

“The Duke of Redbridge,” Catherine told the dressmaker and saw a definite flash of recognition cross the woman’s face. “It is only a small wedding, but we did place a notice in theTimes.”

“Ah, it is the marriage that matters, not the wedding. Although I should not say such things as a maker of wedding dresses, should I? Or I’ll put myself out of business.”

“Catherine does not want a wedding dress at all,” Jemima revealed swiftly. “But I do think that she should at least have a new nightgown and perhaps some undergarments. Don’t you agree?”

“I understand.” Madame Dupont nodded sagely. “I shall ask my assistant to show you your silks, Miss Jemima, and I will take Miss Wright to browse the nightwear and undergarments.”

Despite her lack of interest in shopping, Catherine agreed to this plan and followed Madame Dupont into another room behind the changing area, wondering if she might be able to learn anything more about the strange rumors following the Duke of Redbridge.

“This is our sheerest muslin and can be embroidered with a choice of flowers or other patterns. Mypetites mainsare very skilled in their work. On the fashion plates, you can see some possible necklines and skirt designs…”

“Very light in the summer heat,” Catherine commented, smoothing the diaphanous fabric with her fingers.

“Very,” Madame Dupont agreed. “And very popular in theboudoirsof new brides… Then, there is this sheer silk, which can be even lighter and softer than the muslin. The texture of the two is different on the skin, and some prefer one over the other.”

“Do you know the Duke of Redbridge’s family at all?” Catherine asked as conversationally as she could while examining the fabrics. “I wondered if you might.”

“A little, but not well,” Madame Dupont admitted noncommittally. “I know of his grandmother, the Dowager Duchess, of course. Every dressmaker in London knows Her Grace, as she demands only the best quality and will accept nothing less. She is a truly formidable lady and so elegant for her age.”

Catherine smiled at this, rather liking the idea of an elegant and formidable grandmother somewhere behind the man shewas marrying. “So, he still has living family? Those ladies were saying that…”

“Oh, you must not listen to thosecommères, Miss Wright. We live in more enlightened times now. In the town where I grew up, those who spread such evil rumors would be whipped in the town square. It was not such a bad idea, I think. Talk of curses?Mon Dieu!”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking. How ridiculous to talk about someone being cursed just because they were in a fire.”

“Your fiancé lost his father, his brother, and his sister, the beautiful Lady Rose, in that fire,” Madame Dupont told her. “It was twenty years ago, in the wintertime. I was young then and working at anotheratelier.We were instructed to make all the clothes for Lady Rose’s first Season and she had visited for fittings. But then, she never needed them.La pauvre!”

Catherine frowned as she pictured the events described by the dressmaker. “How dreadful. And the rumor mongers around the ton have been saying these terrible things about the Duke of Redbridge since he was a child? No wonder he hates going out in London.”

“If hisgrand-mèreever got her hands on whoever started such rumors, they would be made very sorry, I think. But perhaps foolish women will not dare to repeat such things once he is married to you.” Madame Dupont smiled. “You are also a formidable woman, I think.”

“Am I?” Catherine asked with a humorless laugh. “I thought I was. But somehow, here I am, getting married to a man, just like any other young woman. I can’t be that formidable, can I?”

“Marriage is not a thing to be dreaded or avoided,” Madame Dupont said gently. “Has your mother not told you that?”

“My mother died when I was fifteen,” Catherine admitted. “The only thing I remember her telling me about marriage was that the wedding night would be over quickly and that women should just grit their teeth and do their duty. I don’t think she had a very happy marriage.”

“Ah. But that does not mean that you cannot be happy with your husband,” the dressmaker reasoned. “Nor that you must grit your teeth on your wedding night. I’m sure yourmamanwould have told you more if she had lived longer. I have myself known many happy marriages across all ranks.”

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