Page 25 of The Wedding Dress Repair Shop
Kitty would have a London Season the following year and be presented at court and I hoped Papa would not seek a post for me before then, for the prospect of being a companion, at the beck and call of an elderly employer, was not a prospect to gladden my heart!
Our education now concerned the accomplishments expected of a young lady, including singing. I found I had quite a pleasant, if light, voice and thought this might be an asset if ever I achieved my desire to go on the stage.
However, life was to take a sudden and unfortunate turn, only a few days after my acting debut …
*
It was late one afternoon and I was making my way home through the grounds when, on entering the rose garden, I perceived Piers, the younger son of the house, standing alone by the lily pond, moodily tossing pebbles into the water.
I made to withdraw, but before I could do so he looked up and, seeing me, swiftly approached, saying: ‘May! I had been wishing I could see you – and here you are, like the embodiment of my dreams!’
And then, to my great astonishment and dismay, he declared he had an undying passion for me and, seizing me in a rough grip, attempted to kiss me!
Surprise made me immobile, for, until that moment, he had been nothing more than one of Kitty’s teasing brothers. But then my senses returned and I struggled mightily and fetched him a great box on one ear!
‘Little spitfire!’ he said, panting and attempting to embrace me again. He was so much stronger and larger than I that I do not know what might have happened had not the squire’s voice suddenly rung out, saying with astonished wrath: ‘Piers!’
10
Listing
I had a largely sleepless night, not helped by Golightly’s decision to join me in the early hours, when he attempted to kick me over to the edge of the bed, so he could stretch out luxuriously and snore. Before I met Golightly, I hadn’t even realized catsdidsnore.
Scenes of what had happened at the theatre flashed across my mind every time I closed my eyes, like bits of a half-remembered nightmare, and at four I abandoned sleep as a lost cause and got up.
I sincerely wished ithadbeen a nightmare, but it wasn’t and there was no going back. But Honey had come to the rescue by generously offering me a way out and I resolved to make a fresh start in Great Mumming.
There was something strangely reassuring about the name of the little market town, probably because Mum came from somewhere round there and had talked about it. I wondered if there was also a Little Mumming, or even a Not-so-Great Mumming, too.
I put on my oldest and most comforting fleece robe – one I’d never let Marco see me wearing – and made some coffee,before beginning to compile a to-do list. My motto is, when in doubt, write a list.
Things to do immediately:
1. Return engagement ring to Marco.
Of course, if I’d been thinking straight on Wednesday, I’d have thrown it in his face … but then, if I’d been thinking straight, I would have simply walked out of there with my dignity and professionalism intact.
2. Repay taxi money to Wilfric, with thanks.
He’d been so unexpectedly kind that, really, I should email him thanks, too. I remembered he’d given me his card, which must be in the bottom of my bag, somewhere.
3. Ask Honey for the postal address of the mews cottage.
I’d need that so I could sort out the utilities and send it to all the other people who would need to know my change of address.
4. Go to estate agent and put flat on market.
I’d go to the one I bought it from, that would be easiest … and use the same solicitor, too, because I’d liked her and she was very efficient.
5. Clean flat for viewers and start to pack.
6. Find removal firm.
I would only need a small removal van, because I didn’t have that much furniture and most of what there was had been my parents’. Our old flat hadn’t been a lot bigger than this one.
It was all coming with me, anyway, along with my sewing machines, dressmaker’s dummies, bolts of cloth and racks of thread … the tools of my trade.
7. How will I get to Great Mumming?
