Jane and Prudence had been so caught up in their conversation that they didn’t realize when the wheels stopped moving. They shared knowing looks and giggled like little girls at a girls’ night party.
“We’d continue our conversation as we shop and consult the dressmaker,” Prudence declared.
The carriage door swung open. A small wooden strait attached to the bottom of the carriage was released and laid to rest on the floor. Prudence gracefully walked down the stairs with the help of the coachman. Jane followed suit.
Her eyes widened in surprise as Prudence led her to the dressmaker's shop. Despite Prudence's glowing praises, Jane had expected a grand establishment. Instead, it was a small shop on a corner aisle, painted bright yellow with a large glass window displaying a variety of clothes and fabrics.
Prudence cleared her throat, indicating they had arrived. Jane, realizing she had been standing by the carriage lost in observation, hurried to catch up. Following Prudence inside, Jane was once again impressed. The interior was spacious, painted a soft pink, with exquisite ball gowns on display and the scent of lavender in the air. The contrast between the exterior and interior was striking.
Jane felt like she was in a different world. The energy in the room was lively as women of different stations went about checking, trying, and buying different garments. Help scurried around attending to the women.
“Give us your finest. My duchess is going to a ball and she must dazzle.” Prudence loudly announced.
It gathered the attention of some women in the shop. Those who recognized her muttered greetings her way. Her face poised calm, she beckoned to the woman Jane had earlier seen. j
“Juwan Miguel at your service, Your Grace,” the woman swiftly approached. She curtsied to both Prudence and Jane. She was beautiful. Lips full and red. Eyes brown as melted chocolate. Her black hair curled around her face in a beautiful swirl.
Some minutes later, they were in a private room going through gowns on ten different racks. Once they were left alone, Prudence cleared her throat and continued the conversation from earlier on with no preamble.
“When he became a drunkard, he changed completely. He became a negligent father. Louisa and Margate were also grieving. Algernon couldn’t see this. He was so consumed by his grief that he couldn’t see that his children needed him. Those little girls had to toughen it up and go with the program. I wish he had focused on them... maybe he’d have not been dead by now.” Her voice broke at the end. She gave a soft laugh. “Can’t cry over spilled milk they said.”
Jane noticed how Prudence kept cycling back to humor. Anything to numb how painful it was to talk about it. Jane gave a small laugh in return.
“He also neglected his duties. I had to step in at some point because he was letting the estate finances dwindle. I was scared for my grandsons, my great-grandchildren, and their heritage.” She flipped through the ball gowns on the first rack Juwan the dressmaker had provided.
Jane was more meticulous in her pursuit.
“Colin, my second grand baby was at the war at the time. He didn’t know how his brother had gotten worse. He had no idea until I called him back home after Algernon’s health started declining,” she continued.
Jane sighted a blue dress and pulled it out from the rack. It had small blue gems sewn into the bodices with long hands and a deep V cut that would show a lot of cleavage. It was beautiful but not for her.
“Colin left the war for his brother. He tried everything he could to help his brother’s alcoholic behavior and took the girls in. But try as he did, Algernon’s health didn’t get better. He drank till the day he died.” Her hand paused on a deep blue gown. “He died after one year of Colin’s return. It was tragic. We were all grieving. No one could effectively console the other. And we had to move on fast. The estate matter was to be tended to. The girls were to be seen too.” She sighed.
“They were devastated after their father died. Their spirits were down. It was their uncle who helped bring back their spark. He took them in and loved them… you see, Colin was neglected as a child too. His father saw him as the spare son. Colin understood the girls’ feelings better than I did as they were also neglected. He’d never admit to this, but I know…” She said as she turned to see Jane holding a turquoise gown with a sad look etched upon her face.
“Oh my sweet.” Prudence rushed to her and held her.
“It’s so disheartening that they all went through that,” she said quietly, imagining the pain they must have felt.
“I know. I am glad you are in their lives now. Your existence makes everything better,” Prudence consoled her. “Did you find anything you like?” she asked.
“I want this gown,” Jane declared, holding up the turquoise gown, “and I found some beautiful gowns for my sister and the girls. I’ll get them.”
“Yes, yes, Jane my darling. You do that” Prudence smiled. “While at that, why don’t you get something for Colin?” she muttered.
“I didn’t get that,” Jane probed.
“I said you should get some nightgowns, they would look good on you,” Prudence suggested.
“All right,” Jane complied as she hugged her new gown to her chest.
