Page 42 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“Well, today you shall choose your fabrics, colours, laces, and anything else that you like. It shall be fitted exactly to your form. You may go as grand or as simple as you should like. But there is one thing that I must warn you,” he told her.
“What is that?” she asked, an underlying current of fear visible on her face.
“I should like it very much if you get more than one,” he told her, unable to keep himself from laughing.
“You cannot possibly mean it,” she replied, breathlessly.
“I should like it if you have one dress made for a ball and another made for your everyday comfort,” he confirmed.
“For a ball? I have never attended a ball. What would I need such a dress for?” she asked him.
“For the many balls that you shall attend in the future,” he told her.
Miss Digby remained with a look of shock on her face. She could not believe this was happening and Nathaniel could see it all over her expression. He did not tell her that eventually she would need more than one dress for the balls, but for today, he was content to let her worry about this one only.
They entered the dressmaker’s store and it was clear that she did not know what to do. He asked for assistance and gave Miss Digby space to choose whatever she liked. Wishing that he could tell her that she looked splendid in blue, he held his tongue, wanting her to choose whatever it was that she preferred.
In the end, she knew what was best. He saw the fabric in her arms. A pale blue, just as he hoped. He watched her search through laces and ribbons and little fake cabbage roses.
The joy on her face was palpable and he could not have been more delighted for the idea of bringing her here. Miss Digby deserved this.
He had not yet told her of the ball to which he was going to invite her. He had not yet figured out how he might get around her father’s disapproval of it. But Nathaniel knew it had to be done. He had to do this for Miss Digby. She deserved it.
Finally, she had finished choosing the design for the dress she might wear on a normal day and she had chosen a good deal for the gown as well. But he saw the anxiety in her face as she considered what she might wear to a ball. It was not the sort of place she had ever been.
Nathaniel walked over to her and leaned in. “I think that one is ideal,” he remarked, pointing to an example that seemed to suit the occasion.
“You believe so?” she enquired.
“Most definitely,” he replied.
“Then that is the one I shall choose,” she decided.
With that, they concluded their shopping and he saw that she was quite content.
“I cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for me,” Miss Digby told him as they walked to the coach.
“It is nothing. I look forward to the dresses being finished and you having a chance to wear them. I am glad that you are satisfied with them,” he told her.
She seemed thoughtful for a moment and he wished he could know what was going on inside of her head. Miss Digby was very expressive with her face, but her thoughts were sometimes a mystery to him.
“Is everything all right?” he asked.
“Yes, yes of course. It is only that I remember finding a gown of my mother’s a few weeks ago. I wore it when your grandmother first asked me to come to her estate. I cannot help but wonder where it came from. I had never seen it before and it was certainly the sort of thing that would have been specially made,” she remarked.
“Perhaps it was made for someone who gave it to her?” he asked.
Olivia squinted her eyes as if processing that possibility. But it was only a moment before she replied with a very decided awareness.
“No, it was for her. I am certain. I only wish I knew how she came by it.”
Chapter 22
Olivia was entirely taken aback by all that had occurred between herself and the earl. His kindness and the ways he had taken care of her and her family of late continued to astound her.
It was strange to feel overwhelmed by this man and sense that he was growing to care for her, not just out of obligation. He truly seemed to want her happiness and he was working quite hard to obtain it.
Over the course of their time together, it was growing quite apparent that they had many similar interests. But through all of their conversations, one thing rang consistently true between them.
