Lucy was startled. What had her brother just said?
“I might be attracted to him, but you forget that he is not attracted to me.”
Harold smiled. “We shall see. It has been my experience that young ladies often resist what they most desire.”
Lucy looked at her brother but refused to respond to such an inane statement. But then she asked, “You said just now that Mr. Goodwin need not be concerned whether I had a living or not. But I do. Is that not so?”
Harold had a strange look on his face as he fumbled for words. “I ah… did I… what are you asking?”
“You told me you would bestow a substantial living on me soon after we met. I remember what you said clearly.”
“Oh, I think you misunderstood. I said I wouldliketo bestow a living on you but did not promise it immediately. My funds are not liquid at this point in time, and I could not offer that until later. I am so sorry if you misunderstood me, dear sister.”
Lucy was suddenly stricken by anxiety. Could she have misunderstood as he suggested? Was she now without any money to bring to a marriage? She was going to need to think through this revelation but now was not the time.
“I think we best go down to breakfast now,” Lucy said. “I am to assist her Grace this morning outfit her daughters in mourning weeds.”
“And I must assist his Grace. We must do all we can to help at this difficult time.”
* * *
Madame Hortense stood next to her Grace and examined the three daughters.
“And how many dresses are we talking about for each young lady?” she asked.
Judith became flustered by the question, and she turned to Lucy. “What is proper?” she asked. “Of course, we have the funeral in just a few days. We need formal wear for that. We must have deep mourning—bonnets, veils, gloves… all semblance of propriety.”
“Your Grace, that will only be for one day—and deep mourning only need be for you after the funeral. Certainly, your daughters will need several dresses for everyday wear as well,” Lucy advised.
“Yes, yes. But the expense… three daughters and myself. I have only what I am wearing now.” She threw her hands in the air. “How very inconsiderate of Matthew to break his neck at this time, just when I was hoping for wedding dresses.”
“Your Grace,” Madam Hortense insisted, “If I am to make suitable attire for your young ladies in time forzeefuneral I must get busy immediately. Let us focus onzeefuneral attire, and I shall make day dresses after.”
Judith grabbed hold of Lucy’s arm and leaned her head on her shoulder. “Oh, Lucy, why must I suffer so?”
“Would you like to sit down, Your Grace?” Lucy asked.
“I should, yes.”
Lucy led Judith to a comfortable chair as Madame Hortense came forward with fabric samples for her to examine.
“Zisiszeevery latest in fashionable fabric forzosein mourning,” she said, handing her Grace a number of swatches.
“But I thought the whole idea of mourning was to avoid fashion,” Lucy offered.
But Madame Hortense brightened up, “Ah… but one must still display one’s position in society. It would never do to appear shabby, however deeply one must grieve.”
That seemed to reassure her Grace. “Then you choose, Ann, my dear. I cannot begin to think of anything else but my dear departed husband today.”
Ann went over with Charlotte and together they examined the samples Madame Hortense handed them.
“How covered must we be?” Ann asked.
“For young ladies,zeehair must be not showing. However,zeeface is still permissible. It is onlyzeewidow herself who must be veiled.”
“Perhaps we might endure this for the funeral,” she said holding up a black swatch, “But might we ease into grey in our everyday wear?”
“Not for at least six months to a year,” Madam Hortense insisted.
