Page 56 of Murder in Matrimony
Tabitha was pleased with the instructions, or at least her shoulders relaxed as she selected her own chair.
The subject of murder was dropped and not brought up again, and Amelia internally thanked her family. If Uncle Henry got ahold of the subject of murder, she wasn’t sure how she’d get him off it. Instead, they talked of the wedding breakfast, and upon discussion, Aunt Tabitha came to realize Aunt Gertrude was an authority on food, menus, and gastric pleasures of every kind. She had someone to talk to who loved food as much as she did, and soon, they drew into a side conversation that couldn’t be disturbed.
Meanwhile, Amelia and her sisters talked of dresses, and the men talked of horses. The women made plans to leave early the next day for the fittings. The dressmaker was scurrying to finish the final details and could not make the trip out to Mayfair. Amelia’s mother and sisters were glad to go to the shop, for they had not been to Regent Street and looked forward to seeing the famous street on their excursion.
Glancing into their eager faces, Amelia looked forward to the trip too. They were much like herself, she imagined, encountering the variety that was London a little more than two yearsago. So much had changed since then. She’d become a wife to Edgar, a mother to Winifred, and a pain in the side to Aunt Tabitha. She smiled. Yet so much remained the same: the unconditional love of her parents, the unwavering support of her sisters, and the comfort of having family in the house. Tomorrow would be a delightful day.
As good as their promise, the women were up with the sun the next day. The Scott family were early risers naturally, and staying in town could not change that. Instead of her morning walk, Amelia went directly to the breakfast table, where footmen were scurrying to finish laying the sideboard.
After they breakfasted heartily (all the Scotts were fine eaters), the women, along with Winifred, who wouldn’t miss it for the world, set off for the dressmakers. Anita Hernandez was recently installed in London from Mexico and had a keen eye for fashion, which Kitty discovered immediately. After Kitty sang her praises to influential friends, the dress shop flourished, and Miss Hernandez relocated to Regent Street. Amelia felt fortunate she had committed to the order under a reduced timeline.
The small shop smelled of fresh starch and linen, and two front windows allowed ample light, even in the grayness of the early day. Later, sunlight would pour into those same windows, allowing for a genial warmth that couldn’t be replicated in larger stores. Miss Hernandez cared for her customers the way some mothers cared for their children. Her first and last thought of the day was how to best serve them.
“Lady Amesbury, I’ve been expecting you and your family.” Miss Hernandez rushed to greet her as soon as the door opened. Her dress was perfection, a light blue in Isabeau style with dark blue rosettes down the front. The color brought out the rich hues of her skin, not to mention her silky brown hair, which was parted down the middle and pulled away from her face in a severe chignon.
“Miss Hernandez.” Amelia proceeded to introduce her family.
Miss Hernandez only had eyes for Margaret. She looked herframe up and down. “You have gained weight since I measured you.”
Amelia and Penelope snickered. Winifred covered a giggle with her hand.
“Those four pieces of cake, I wager,” Mrs. Scott whispered.
Madge frowned. “It’s been a very stressful time. Food calms my nerves.”
“You know what calms my nerves, Miss Margaret? Girls who do not change weight after I make their dress.” She flicked a finger. “Come.”
Madge’s gown awaited them in the dressing room. It was white satin silk with applique lace, fine yet understated compared to many other wedding dresses Miss Hernandez had done this season. Knowing Madge could not object to the design, Amelia released a sigh of relief.
Miss Hernandez’s thoughts, however, were unreadable as she instructed Madge to allow her assistant to help her into the gown. She waited in the anteroom with them, her arms crossed, reserving judgment. A few minutes later, when Margaret appeared in the dress, Miss Hernandez smiled with pleasure. “The weight looks good on you. Your chest is not so flat.”
“You look stunning, Madge!” Mrs. Scott exclaimed. “Simply stunning.”
“I agree,” seconded Penelope. “If I could have chosen from all the wedding dresses in the world, this would have been the one for you.”
Sarah clasped her hands to her chest and sighed.
“You look very pretty,” said Winifred.
Madge’s eyes snapped to Winifred. “Do I?”
“Very much.” Winifred seemed to sense a different question that hadn’t been asked. She tilted her head in that way she did when she knew Amelia had something on her mind, her nose a perfect button.
Madge pulled lightly on the skirt.
Balderdash! She doesn’t like it.Amelia rushed to agree with her family, assuring Madge it was the most perfect wedding dress she’d ever seen. “I’ve never seen a better fit or a more beautiful bride. Captain Fitz is going to be quite smitten.” Shehoped bringing up his name would remind Madge why she was wearing the dress in the first place.
Madge sniffed.
“You do not like it?” asked Miss Hernandez.
“Oh, I do.” Madge stared at the dress in the glass. “I guess I never saw myself as a bride. That is all.”
Miss Hernandez’s dark eyebrows came together sharply. “It is not a question of the dress then. I’ll give you some time with your family.”
When the dressmaker closed the door, Mrs. Scott went to her daughter. “Margaret Ann, what’s the matter?”
“Look at me, Mama.” Madge was still staring into the glass.
