Oliver smiled and nodded his head. “Precisely. Unless one is a known miser, then a sudden shift in appearances will draw such assumptions.”
“How complicated,” the young girl huffed. “Can it not be surmised instead that one has already tired of such frivolous fripperies?”
“I was once of the same mind,” the young duke told her, “but then, the majority of Society are set in their ways. It would take a miracle to move their minds from certain…prejudices.”
Claire soaked in all of this from her chair, her teacup pressed daintily to her lips. As the older sister, she took it upon herself to pave the road for Trixie, who would be launched into Society after another four years. Whether she succeeded or failed spectacularly, it was her younger sister who would reap the consequences of her “performance” in this Season.
“Very well, then,” Oliver smiled as he stood up. “I shall leave you ladies to your business. I will be in my study, should you need anything.”
After he left, Madame Woolworth was ushered into the drawing room with two young women trailing after her. She appeared to be at least fifty, with dark brown hair pinned elegantly underneath an extremely grand hat.
“Madame Woolworth,” Lady Suzanna greeted her smoothly. “I am so glad you are able to come at such short notice. This is Lady Claire Rowley, the eldest daughter of the Viscount of Ranhold, and her younger sister, Lady Beatrice.”
As soon as she saw Claire, Madame Woolworth exclaimed, “What an exceptionally beautiful young lady! Why, Lady Suzanna was quite right in her suggestions.” She clapped her hands imperiously and her assistants brought in several bolts of cloth and placed them at their feet.
There were bright silks and satins, as well as delicate lace. There were rich brocades and sheer organza. All in all, it took her two assistants a total ofseventrips to finish unloading the lot of it.
“With your coloring, might I suggest these to milady?” Madame Woolworth gestured to the richly colored fabrics in hues of rust and brown. “The lighter colors will make you look pale and sickly, while darker colors will have you bursting like a gorgeous flower!”
“I agree,” Lady Suzanna said. “Claire is better suited to darker colors.”
Madame Woolworth nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed, milady.”
“Claire will need a whole wardrobe, Madame Woolworth,” the duke’s sister pointed out. “Day and evening gowns, riding habits, and the like.”
“I have never thought I would need so much clothes in my life,” Trixie breathed in awe. “Oh, Claire, you will look perfectly lovely in all of these.”
Claire nodded quietly, running her hand over a bolt of silk the color of the night sky. It was a deep shade of blue—almost black—and it shone with what seemed like cool fire.
“I want this,” she announced.
Lady Suzanna took one glance at the fabric she had pointed out and agreed. “Deep blue, a wonderful choice, dear heart.”
Together, they selected more bolts as Madame Woolworth made her assistants take down notes. After which, they took Claire and Trixie’s measurements.
“I shall have the first gowns sent to you within the week,” she promised. “Which fabric would you prefer for your Presentation? It is fashionable to choose ivory, although some young ladies do dress in the palest pinks.”
“That one,” Claire pointed at a bolt of warm ivory organza she had chosen earlier.
“Yes, with some elegant embroidery, that would do very well for your Presentation,” Lady Suzanna agreed. “You have exceedingly good taste, Claire.”
“Very well, then,” Madame Woolworth smiled, noting it down. “I will endeavor to have it done as quickly as I can.”
After discussing a few more styles with Lady Suzanna, she swept out of the drawing room after Marley. Her poor assistants then had to carry all those bolts of cloth back to her carriage.
As soon as she left, Trixie sank into her seat in an unladylike heap. “Coming out is not for the faint of heart,” she muttered.
Lady Suzanna and Claire laughed at her observation.
“Well then, you should be much relieved that you will not be going through all this in the next three years,” her sister teased her. “Who knows? Maybe when it is finally your turn to be Presented, you will make more demands of Father and will have the whole of London working day and night for your wardrobe!”
“You know full well I am not that sort of person, Claire!” she protested. “Although it seems quite exciting at first, I am beginning to find it all so taxing.”
Claire laughed. “Maybe now, you will apply yourself more to your studies than to minding our preparations.”
“Indeed, that is astonishingly appealing right now.”
After she had excused herself, Lady Suzanna also announced that she would retire to her rooms until dinner. Without her other companions, Claire had not much left to do so she proceeded to her own rooms as well.
