The rooms that had been prepared for her were tastefully elegant, furnished entirely in cream and gold. The large, four-poster bed was the highlight of the entire room, with golden pillows and cream covers. Tasseled ropes kept the drapes open, ready to welcome her into its restful confines.
Her sketchbook had already been placed on the elegantly appointed writing desk and her books neatly arranged to the side. The staff had also taken it upon themselves to provide her with ink and paper.
“Everything is so beautiful,” she murmured, trailing her fingers over the smooth wood. “Oh, Father, I wish you were here, though.”
Chapter 6
Madame Woolworth made good on her promise and within three days, the ivory gown for Claire’s Presentation was delivered to the Slade townhouse promptly at eleven o’clock.
Trixie, who had previously been bent over her books, immediately rushed over into the drawing room when she heard the news, eager for a glimpse of the gown her sister would wear before the Queen.
Claire stood in trepidation as the box was brought before her. With trembling hands, she carefully lifted the lid, only to find it swathed in thin paper to protect it along the way.
“Do not keep us in suspense, Claire!” Trixie urged her. “Go ahead and open it!”
Claire laughed at her sister’s impatience. “One would thinkyouwere the one going to see the Queen and not I.”
She gently eased the paper to the side to reveal the warm ivory gown arranged in gleaming folds in the box. The court gown was, quite frankly, the most absurd thing she had ever seen in her entire life and walking in it would require a great deal of grace and fortitude.
Trixie had a dismayed look on her face, once she saw the trappings that went with the gown.
“Claire, you are going to look absolutely ridiculous in it!” she bemoaned.
Claire grimaced as she put the gown back into the abnormally large box it had come in. “At the very least, even if I were to look ridiculous, I shall take comfort that most of the young ladies at Court will look equally ridiculous as well.”
“That is a wonderful way of seeing things,” Lady Suzanna said, mirth shining in her eyes. “Although, I do say so myself, that Madame Woolworth has truly outdone herself this time, to be able to produce such a contraption inthreedays.”
“Maybe you should try it on to see if it fits,” Trixie said, looking doubtfully at the gown. “Or we could check if it falls apart the moment you take a step.”
“I do not suppose someone with the reputation Madame Woolworth has would create a flimsy court gown.” Claire turned to another box, which held an extravagant affair of feathers. She looked helplessly at Lady Suzanna. “I think that it must be the goal of young ladies everywhere to look like some type of exotic bird to court.”
Lady Suzanna let out a peal of laughter. “Oh, dear heart, you are too precious! And, yes, everybody at Court does resemble an exotic bird. Why, you will come across plumages of all sorts when you are Presented, you will see.” She smiled at Claire and told her, “Now, put it all on so we can see if you still possess the ability to walk under all this.”
It took Claire a full half hour to get laced into court dress and two maids to assist her into the contraption. When she emerged from her rooms, she was fairly certain that she was going to fall flat on her face and embarrass herself before the Sovereign.
“Itisrather uncomfortable,” she said with a grimace. “And I do sincerely hope that it will not take too long, else I feel I shall run out of breath in the midst of it all.”
“Do not fret, dear heart. Oliver shall be with you in place of Lord Rowley,” Lady Suzanna reassured her. “Should you feel like you are about to succumb to the vapors, then just fall back on him. He is stronger than he looks.”
“Whatever do I need fortitude for?” Oliver mused as he walked into the drawing room. He took one look at Claire and the reluctant smile that tugged at his lips made her want to tear the offending gown off and hide.
“Why, hello there, Claire,” he smiled. “Is that you? I cannot see you beneath all that froth and lace.”
Trixie made a face. “Now, I never want to be launched into Society.”
“Oh, you will have your turn,” Claire smiled widely at her. “And it shall bring me some measure of comfort that in four years, you will be the one wearing court dress while I urge you on from the sidelines.”
The drawing room erupted into laughter as Trixie looked absolutely horrified at the prospect of having to wear the same sort of gown as her sister did.
“Now, that your gown for Court has been taken care of,” Lady Suzanna tilted her head, “we can go see Bond Street for any more things that you will need.”
Claire struggled to keep her face straight, even as her heart yearned for her sketchbook.
One day, she told herself,I shall take a turn about the city and see the buildings for myself.
For now, it would seem she would need to exercise a great deal more patience into the rituals of the Season that were expected of her.
At the very least, I have Lady Suzanna with me. It would be quite dreadful if I were to come out into Society without her guidance.
