Page 12 of Dancing with an Enigmatic Duke
“This bed looks like it was more than a light nap,” the maid waved her head at the rumpled blanket. “Never mind it now.” She put her hand on her chest and took a little breath as if putting herself back in sorts. “My name is Francesca Durant, My Lady. I shall be accompanying you shopping and helping you to prepare for the upcoming balls.”
Emmeline nodded and tried to put the woman’s remarks out of her mind. “I am looking forward to learning about fashion from you. To tell the truth, I received very little education on fashion in Scotland.”
“Well, itisScotland,” Francesca said, as if she dismissed the very idea of it.
Emmeline felt her pride flare up, but she pushed it back. She felt sure this woman would probably report back most anything she did directly to her brother. Emmeline had enough woes without Harcourt thinking she was going against his wishes.
“We shall begin first thing in the morning with our shopping. This evening, I had hope that you would talk to me of the fabrics and colours that you like to wear,” Francesca said. She turned towards the curtains. With a few graceful movements of her nimble hands, she had the drapes tied up so neatly that Emmeline was certain there was some sort of magic involved.
Emmeline sighed. “I like simple dresses. I am not much on overly complicated layers of lace and ruffles. I like modest necklines and comfortable fabrics.”
“In fashion, not everything is about comfort,” Francesca said before tapping her chin. “We can see what we can do to get the best of both worlds though. You will need a new handbag, some hats, and jewellery perhaps. We shall buy all of that last, as we want to make sure that it complements your new wardrobe.”
The maid might not be overly likable, but Emmeline was grateful that she seemed to at least have a good grasp on what a lady of society would need for a season in London. That was far more than Emmeline could say for herself. She nodded along with the woman.
Before long, Francesca was pulling clothes out of her wardrobe. The dresses were laid out on the bed and discussed until Francesca felt that she had a firm grasp on what Emmeline’s likes and dislikes seemed to be. Once all the dresses were put up neatly once more, Francesca turned her attention to Emmeline’s accessories, of which she had brought scarcely any.
“You came all the way to London with only one necklace?” Emmeline might as well have said she had run to London naked by the expression on the maid’s face.
She shrugged her shoulders. “Is that really a problem? I only ever wear the one necklace.” Emmeline pulled her heart pendant out from under her collar. “My mother gave it to me when I was just a child.”
“I understand that jewellery can hold great sentiment, and it is a lovely piece. However, it will not be appropriate to wear it every time you step outside. It simply is not done.” Francesca shook her head in much the same way Emmeline’s tutor at home had when a subject was over and not to be discussed again.
Emmeline took a deep breath. She would wage that particular war another day. Right now what she sought was more in the way of food. “Perhaps we should take a break. It must be time for the evening meal.”
“I had Cook instructed to bring our meals up here. I feared we would be here for some time,” Francesca informed Emmeline.
Emmeline squared her shoulder. “Excuse me?”
For the first time, Francesca bowed her head to Emmeline. “Forgive my boldness, My Lady. I merely wanted to get started right away. The season is only weeks away. If we want to get the dresses sewn in time, we shall have to know what we are going for before we even step foot in the shops.”
Emmeline softened at the woman’s reasoning. She had to be tired as well, yet Francesca was trying so hard to be ready for Emmeline’s sake. “No. It is I who should be forgiven, Francesca. I am acting like a child while you are here going without rest after your long journey.”
“I am fine,” Francesca assured Emmeline. “You mentioned that you like modest necklines earlier.” When Emmeline nodded, Francesca continued, “I think with the fashion this year that you will find a wide selection to wear without having to compromise on that. The English are much more conservative than the French in that respect.”
“I do hope that I find something to wear that will not involve too many corsets,” Emmeline said with a touch of fear. Her mother had worn corsets, and the whole process looked terribly uncomfortable.
Francesca laughed lightly and waved her hand dismissively. “Corsets are not in use as much as they were. You should be pleased with the number of dresses meant to be worn with just petticoats and such.”
***
Over the next week, Francesca made Emmeline endure countless trips to the dress shop. Emmeline felt certain that they were equipping the whole of London with dresses and not just herself. Surely there was no call for so many for one person?
She sat in the garden on a stone bench. She had been surprised when Francesca gave her time to sit around thinking for certain that the woman should be putting her through etiquette lessons or some such nonsense.
It was not that Emmeline was ill-mannered. In fact, Emmeline had been instructed on proper etiquette by tutors and her mother throughout her years. Yet somehow, the closer the balls and parties of the London season came, the more she felt like some ill-bred and poorly-raised slug.
“Well, you were not the family member I was looking for,” a male voice said in amusement.
Emmeline looked up and put her hand up to ward off the sunlight that glinted through the trees. “Your Grace,” she said in surprise at the sight of Lord Torrington peering at her curiously. “If you seek my brother then I am afraid that I cannot help. I do not know where he is either.”
“I am sure he is around somewhere. Gerald seemed to think he was and if anyone should know, then it is the butler.” Lord Torrington started to turn, but then he paused. “What are you doing out here all by your self?”
Emmeline sighed. “Enjoying the moment, but I suspect that my lady’s maid will be along soon to whisk me away to more dress fittings.”
“Such is the lot of a woman,” Lord Torrington said. He gave her a bow. “I shall retire and let you get back to your peace of mind.”
She inclined her head in gratitude before the man turned on his heels and headed back toward the house in search of Harcourt. Emmeline leaned her head back and looked up at the skies. The light, fluffy clouds that floated by did so with little concern for the little humans below and Emmeline regarded the clouds with a smile.
