Page 429 of Conveniently Wed
Josiah held out both arms. “Ladies, shall we?” As they walked down the street together, Katie’s stomach churned. What did she know about dressing up like a lady? Those women in the store were right. Josiah had married way below his aristocratic lineage. Would he tire of her? A tumble of angst twisted and turned.
Josiah held the door open for the women and stepped inside as Clarisse approached. “Hope the clothes are ready as planned.”
“But of course they are, darling. I never miss a deadline.” She kissed him on both cheeks, then moved to the shop door and held it open for him to exit. “Come back in a couple hours to settle the account. Until then, no men allowed.”
The girls looked at each other and grinned. “I love the way she takes charge with Josiah,” Katie whispered.
“First rule, ladies,” Clarisse said. “Never, never let your man see you in the finished gown until the dinner party and the guests arrive. It’s all part of the mystery needed to keep our men on their toes. I assure you their reaction is worth every bit of effort. Come along now, Katherine. With the new supply of fabrics and the unlimited budget I had to work with, I do believe you’re going to be more than pleased.” She pulled Katie by the arm into an adjoining room. “Winnie, my dear, do follow. You’ll be just the moral support she needs. She is much too shy for her own good.”
Dread settled heavily on Katie’s shoulders. She wanted to owe Josiah less, not more, and yet she didn’t want to embarrass him.
Clarisse pulled a blue silk gown from the hanger, and Katie gasped. “That’s for me?”
“Oui, oui, but of course. Do you like?”
Winnie and Katie ran their hands through the endless folds of soft tiered silk. “How absolutely gorgeous.”
Clarisse laughed. “This one is the simplest of the dinner gowns I created.”
Katie lifted her brows. “Oh my.”
“I like to think that what Da Vinci did with paint, I do with fabric. Let’s give it a try.”
Katie slipped into the gown and waited as Clarisse bunched and fluffed, with pins hanging from the corner of her mouth, none of which she used.
“C’est magnifique,Katherine.” She stepped back, removed the pins from her mouth, and smiled broadly. “I’ll have more work than I know what to do with when people feast their eyes upon you.”
Katie’s gaze widened as she looked at herself in the mirror. Who was that stranger staring back at her?
Winnie circled around. “Oh, my goodness, Katherine. Would I ever like to see Josiah’s face when he first sees you in this.”
Katie swirled the fabric with a twist of her hips. “I barely recognize myself.”
From dress to dress, the exquisite artistry increased, but Katie felt outside of her skin. She pulled up the bodice of a rose-colored gown. “Clarisse, this is beautiful but shockingly low.”
Winnie and Clarisse laughed. “These latest fashions look fabulous on you,” Clarisse said. “All the ladies will be wearing the same, but you will outshine them. Josiah will be so proud.”
The least she could do after all Josiah had done for her and her family was to make him proud. She pulled at the fabric, trying to cover a bit more.
“If only you could give me a little of your extra.” Winnie laughed as she motioned to her small bosom. “You look stunning. Josiah is going to parade you around with that same look he had on his face this morning after he kissed you into oblivion.”
The heat rose from her toes to her hairline. She loved Winnie, but sometimes she said too much.
“Can I try on my riding habit now?”
“All this loveliness and you want your riding habit.” Clarisse shook her head.
“I can’t wait to see what the dark blue corduroy material looks like.”
Clarisse snapped her fingers. “Very well. Come this way.”
The outfit was more than Katie had dreamed. The nipped-in jacket accented her tiny waist. Even though she would have been more comfortable in a size or two larger, she had to admit it was perfect. Fitted trousers tucked into a pair of new knee-high boots and matching leather gloves completed the outfit.
Katie turned from side to side in front of the mirror with a look of delight. “Thank you, Clarisse. Thank you so much.” Shewrapped her arms around the startled lady. “This is by far my favorite.”
Clarisse threw up her hands. “I spend hours and hours on those elaborate dresses and this”—she waved a hand up and down Katie’s body—“is your favorite?”
Katie shrugged, and Winne giggled. “I’ll take the dresses.”
