Page 9 of The Duke of Distraction
Chapter 2
Sarah made sure her mother was busy speaking with Mrs.Kyle at the front of Marsden’s Millinery before stealing to the very back corner of the store where Mr.Marsden’s primary assistant, Dorothy Hinman, stood.She’d been eyeing Sarah since her arrival.
“Good afternoon, Dolly,” Sarah said with a smile.Since the races several days ago, she’d been looking forward to seeing Dolly.
“Good afternoon, Miss Colton.I’m so pleased to see you.”
Sarah could tell that Dolly was trying not to look expectant, and that she was also failing miserably.Her light brown eyes were alight with anticipation, and the barest of smiles curved her lips.
“I’ve done it,” Sarah whispered after casting a look over her shoulder toward her mother.“I have enough saved to start the shop!”
Dolly’s mouth opened, and a small gasp escaped before she clapped her hand over her lips.“My apologies.”She looked toward Sarah’s mother in horror and then glanced toward Mr.Marsden, who was consulting with another client at the counter.
“Don’t be concerned,” Sarah said softly.“They can’t have heard anything, and it is exciting, isn’t it?”
“I can hardly believe it.”Dolly shook her head as tears filled her eyes.
Sarah touched the woman’s shoulder.“Now, don’t cry.They’re bound to noticethat.”
“You’re quite right.”Dolly sniffed and pushed her shoulders back with a determined smile.Though she was in her early thirties, Dolly looked younger than that.However, the fierce look in her eye at present gave an air of maturity—and experience.
Good, they’d need both in this new endeavor.
“I still have much work to do,” Sarah said.“But hopefully, we’ll have the shop up and running by fall.”
Dolly shot a glance toward her employer and winced.“I hope Mr.Marsden isn’t terribly cross with me.”
“How can he be after all your years of service?Besides, he can’t possibly fault you for wanting to better your position and increase your income.”It would be Sarah’s shop, of course, but not as far as anyone could tell.Dolly would be the outward face of Farewell’s—that was the name Sarah had chosen.It sounded dignified, and she hoped they would “fare well.”Behind the scenes, Sarah would manage things.But most of all, she would design hats to her heart’s content.Andbestof all, she would get paid for it.
Husband hunting be damned.
Her parents would hate this enterprise, which was why Sarah hoped to keep them ignorant of it until it was far too late for them to stop it.Or to ignore how lucrative it was.Which would in turn nullify the need for Sarah to marry.Though she suspected her mother would still want that.
It was more than the financial aspects.The viscountess took it as a personal failure that her daughter hadn’t yet wed.
Sarah’s gaze drifted to her mother.She took that moment to look toward Sarah too, and their eyes connected.Mother’s brow furrowed, which meant it was time to end this brief but necessary meeting with Dolly.
“I must go,” Sarah said.“I’ll send word when I’ve property for us to tour.”
Dolly nodded enthusiastically.“I’ll look forward to it.”Her focus moved upward to Sarah’s hat.“I like this design very much.That’s an excellent interpretation of a cavalier.”
The brim on the right side was low, but pinned up on the right in the cavalier style.However, instead of installing feathers where it was pinned, Sarah had affixed them to the top, which added height and volume.“I’m pleased you like it.I’ve attracted a few stares.I was worried it was a bit daring.”She grinned, then left Dolly before her mother came to interrupt.
Sarah joined her mother and chatted with Mrs.Kyle for a few moments before they made their excuses and left the shop.
As they walked to the coach parked just up Bond Street, Sarah’s mother glanced in her direction.“Were you discussing your new hat with Mr.Marsden’s assistant?”
“I was.She was very complimentary.”
“It’s rather fetching.”Her mother’s blue-gray eyes kept fixating on Sarah’s hat.“I still can’t believe you made that entirely on your own, but then I know you didn’t purchase it.Come to think of it, when was the last time you purchased a hat?”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Sarah said.It had, but she tried to distract her mother from realizing how long Sarah had been creating her own hats.At first, she would purchase the basic hat and trim it herself as many women did, but in the last couple of years, she’d taken to making them entirely herself.Forming the hats without attracting more than her maid’s notice was the most challenging part.
“I might ask you to make me one in that fashion,” Mother said as they reached the coach.
Sarah’s chest swelled beneath her mother’s praise.Typically, Sarah disappointed the viscountess in most ways and was glad to know she didn’t do so in everything.
They returned home, and as soon as they stepped into the hall, Sarah’s good mood was torn to shreds.
