Her day began with refreshing the floral arrangements. Fortunately, Gran’ther Tim had somehow caught wind of some of her changes, and had brought a wheelbarrow of flowers and greenery up from the orangeries. “Too wet for ye ta be mucking about outside,” he told her. “An’ I’ve a minute or two extra thanks ta tha weather.” Between the two of them, they quickly had the displays refreshed and the withered ones changed out. Celeste even managed a cup of tea before the Duchess rang for her.
Her Grace seemed to be feeling better, and was happy to sit up in bed and eat a hearty breakfast. She was even more pleased when a delivery from the village proved to be more fabrics that she wanted Celeste to make up into new gowns.
Soon the two of them were almost companionable as they designated a sprigged muslin for a new morning dress, a crisp lawn for an afternoon walking dress, and a brown silk to make up into a dinner dress. In addition, there was good bit of heavy twill, perfect for creating a new riding habit. Celeste carefully partitioned off in her mind the time that she would spend making the dresses, and gave her artistic abilities full rein as she sketched, discussed, and planned the new wardrobe for the Duchess.
With the clothing plans made, the Duchess announced that she was hungry. “Please ring for some lunch, then you may help me get into my riding habit. I shall go riding today.”
“Are you certain that is a good idea, Your Grace? It is sure to be muddy on the trails.”
“I am quite sure. As interesting as all this is, I believe I shall go quite mad if I am cooped up inside this moldy old heap of stone for another day.”
Celeste found Gwyndonmere Castle to be quite comfortable. The walls were solid, the roof did not leak. The Duchess’s chambers had large windows that could be opened to catch the summer breezes off the lake when the weather was nice, and her bed could easily hold a family of six in its downy depths.I suppose it is all a matter of perspective.
The Duchess was eager to be off, so she did not insist on her usual bath before dressing. Instead, she gobbled down her lunch as if she were starving and was happy with a simple knot of curls at the back of her head to support her riding hat.
“You may take the fabric and thread up to the solar and begin at once. I am especially eager to have a new dinner gown, so you may start with that one.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Celeste said. She willed her stomach not to gurgle, even though her morning tea was only a distant memory.
Once the Duchess was safely out the door, she began to bundle the sewing supplies together. She then stepped to the door, and saw that David Hammonds was on duty as footman.
“David, can I get some help? The Duchess desires me to work in the solar this afternoon.”
“Of course you can, Miss Singer. Tell me what you want moved and where. I’ll be glad to. Just let me tell Mr. Hammonds what I am doing so he won’t think I’ve left my post unattended on purpose.”
Celeste waited at the open door to the Duchess’s chambers until David returned. “Mr. Hammonds says that not only can you have some help, he will send up a little something to tide you over until dinner since you were closeted with the Duchess all through lunch. He’s adding a little bit extra because Gran’ther Tim will be up in a while to tend the plants.”
Celeste flushed a little at this. “I think I was supposed to do that,” she said. “But I’ll be glad of the company.”
“I don’t doubt that at all. Miss Sedgewick says you’ll have your work cut out for you trying to make dresses all alone. She’s thinking to send Betty up to help you with some of the plain seams.”
Celeste smiled with relief. “That would be wonderful. Tell her thank you, because I know that there are many things that need to be done. It is a great kindness to send Betty to me.”
“She also says she will send up a horn book as well as a story book, and that you are to teach Betty her letters.”
“I will be glad to, although I am not sure how reading and sewing will go together.”
By the time Celeste had collected the fabrics, and she and David had carried them out to the solar, Betty was there. She was busily setting out a luncheon of bread and cheese, a basket of fresh strawberries, and a large pot of tea. There were plates and utensils for three. “I’ve not had lunch either,” Betty explained, “Nor has Gran’ther Tim. But that basket over there is sewing supplies from the laundry. Miss Sedgewick says that you’ll have enough to do without having to search for tools to use. We can heat the pressing irons at the hearth, and there’s a pair of Sheffield scissors, too, that will make cutting the patterns so much easier.”
“Oh, my! I always wanted a pair, but they are so very dear. If I do not see her tonight, be sure and tell her thank you.”
When Gran’ther Tim arrived, they all three ate quickly. Betty then put the luncheon things in a basket for David to take down to the kitchen.
Gran’ther Tim then set up a trestle table, and Betty spread a clean white sheet over it to protect the fabric from snagging on the wood. With that done, Celeste set about picking apart a dinner dress that the Duchess had discarded as being too shabby to wear again. She would use that dress as a pattern, since it fit the Duchess well.
With Betty’s help, it did not take long to take the dress apart, pin it to the new fabric and to cut the pieces using the steel Sheffield shears. When that was done, Celeste set Betty to work tracing her letters on a polished board using a piece of charcoal.
“I understand why Miss Sedgewick wants me to speak proper,” she said, enunciating the words carefully. “But why do I need to learn to read and write?”
“So you can help label the pickles and jam,” Celeste said calmly. “When your have learned the letters, we will work with the hornbook. If there is enough time, I will read a story aloud to you. But I might be called to serve the Duchess before we have a chance.”
“Be sure ta listen ta Miss Singer,” Gran’ther Tim put in from where he was training up a vine. “I remember tha time tha late Duke’s gran’ther decreed that all his folk would learn ta read n write. It were a hard thing, an’ the school master he got believed that a boy learns best if well-beaten.”
“Dear me!” Celeste was a little taken aback by this pronouncement. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”
The three of them passed a pleasant afternoon, scarcely realizing the that both literal and figurative storm clouds were gathering on the horizon.
Chapter 37
