Page 5 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
Going onto the streets of London and making her way towards the market was something she had always enjoyed. There was a freedom in the air, a peace about her. Olivia had always loved the city, even though it was a cruel place at times.
But it was her home and a constant source of inspiration when she allowed herself to be inspired. And that day she was feeling better than she had in a great long while, with the hope of many tales to come and the excitement of seeing her sisters so encouraging of her.
Olivia made her way into a confectioners first. It was a secret from her father, but a mission that Olivia was quite thrilled to undertake.
With just a few extra coins he had given her she was to purchase a small cake that the family could indulge in together that evening after dinner. A rare treat, to be sure, but one that she was entirely thankful for. Gemma would be ecstatic, and Louise would certainly not hesitate to show her gratitude for such an opportunity for indulgence.
Looking at the cakes, Olivia chose one that was small, one she might be able to afford, but it smelled heavenly.
“How much for that one?” she asked the shopkeeper.
Sensing the gaze of the young woman from Olivia’s head down to her aged shoes, it was clear that the shopkeeper didn’t expect her to get anything more than the small cake. Still, it was a relief that she had just over the amount necessary to purchase it.
When she left the bakery, Olivia sighed in confidence, not willing to let that shopkeeper, a woman who had already had to find work, break her down. After all, Olivia needed to search for a position, but she had not yet been brought to that point.
She did wonder, however, if working would afford her the luxuries of better garments. Not only for herself, but for her sisters as well. It was certain that she needed to begin a search for employment. Thinking about it, Olivia decided to spare a coin for the newsboy that she might go through the columns and find potential work.
From there she made her way to her primary destination. The sewing shop was a frequent place for Olivia to end up in. They could hardly afford new fabric and no one in their family was able to get anything new to wear.
But there were holes to mend and stitch and fix. There were buttons needing secured and, perhaps, if she was lucky, she might find a piece of ribbon that could be added to one of Gemma’s dresses.
“Olivia, my dear,” greeted Mrs. Hanson, the owner of the shop.
“Mrs. Hanson, how are you?”
“Very well, my dear. Now, what’ll it be today?”
Olivia looked around and wished she could take an abundance of items to help her sisters look like they belonged in society.
“I need a new needle, something a little smaller. And I need black, red, and white thread,” she told Mrs. Hanson.
“I can certainly get those for you. Will there be anything else?”
Olivia hesitated. “Might you have any…well-priced ribbon?”
It was a humiliating question to ask, one that reeked of charity. But Olivia knew Mrs. Hanson well enough that she felt it was all right enough to make such a request. After all, she was a frequent customer and, like many of Mrs. Hanson’s customers, she was far from wealthy.
“You have chosen the perfect day to come in, my dear. As it happens, I received a batch of ribbon today that was not the colour I desired. I am in a dispute with the factory because I was rather specific on this one.
“I have a client who demanded burgundy,” she continued conspiratorially. “They sent me a poppy red. Now they are telling me it was a custom colour just for me, that they added a hint of orange that they would not normally have done, and I have refused to pay them for it just as they have refused to accept it back. I am quite happy to give you a length at half the price.”
Olivia was astonished. This was indeed quite good fortune. In fact, it was unheard of.
Upon doing a few calculations, Olivia realised that she would be able to purchase enough to add to a dress for Gemma as well as one for Louise. It was ideal.
Mrs. Hanson measured and cut before giving Olivia her goods, which she put in her bag.
“Now, do take care that no one knows I gave you such a fine price. You are a very special customer and I should not give such a discount to everyone,” Mrs. Hanson told her with a smile.
Olivia agreed and departed from the shop.
Truly, she felt inspired by this turn of good fortune. So inspired that she quickly made her way through the throngs of people and out of the way of the market centre to a small bench.
Pulling the notebook from where she had placed it in her bag, Olivia began to scribble notes for later.
She would write a fairytale about a length of ribbon found by a peasant that turned the peasant into a princess. The princess was so beautiful that princes and kings came from far off lands to try and charm her beauty.
But there was a great villain, a young woman born into royalty from another kingdom who learned the secret of the ribbon. So she took it from the princess and she was once more a peasant. But the prince of that land had already fallen in love with her and he married her anyway.
