* * *
After her fitting, Lady Suzanne had a brief discussion with the heads of the household and Marley. She also wrote another round of letters, as well as gave instructions for certain bills to be paid—tasks that Claire was all too familiar with when she managed Ranhold House herself, except that everything seemed to be much more complicated in London than it was in the country. There were special rules that needed to be observed and a simple infarction would have the rest of thetontittering behind their fans.
It was finally about one o’clock, when they boarded the carriage and took the trip down to Bond Street, where the lavishly appointed shops drew Trixie’s admiration. Fashionable ladies in their best gowns for daytime paraded down the street, inspecting the shops and spending ridiculous amounts of money at the drop of a hat.
“Here we are,” Lady Suzanna announced. “Martin is one of the best milliners in London and your wardrobe is considered incomplete if you do not have at least one of his creations.”
They proceeded into the shop, where the milliner, Martin, personally greeted Lady Suzanna.
“We are honored that you have chosen to visit our shop, milady,” he gushed, his gray eyes twinkling. They slid over to Claire and Trixie. “Ah! So these must be the daughters of Lord Rowley that you mentioned. Beautiful! Simply stunning!”
Claire blushed at the profuse praise and wondered how she could ever emulate Lady Suzanna, who did not look the least bit flustered at all.
It seems that I have quite a lot to learn, she surmised.
They also bought dancing slippers—a great deal of dancing slippers—as well as boots for riding.
“Riding in Hyde Park is a good way to meet more people,” Lady Suzanna told them. “While I am fairly certain that the both of you are exceptional riders, it is also important to be dressed for the occasion, as you will come across several young gentlemen out for their morning ride down Rotten Row, too.”
“Well, this riding habit, I can live with,” Trixie grinned. “What about you, Claire?”
The older Rowley sister nodded. “It does look a great deal more comfortable than court dress.”
After shopping, the girls returned to the townhouse for luncheon. As they sat at the table, chatting about their day, Oliver walked in with a pensive look. Claire noticed it immediately but felt that it was not her place to speak about it.
“Is there a problem, Oliver?” Lady Suzanna asked him as he sat down beside her.
“I have just received news that a certain acquaintance of mine will be in London for the Season,” he told them. “I have not seen him for a while.”
“Why, he must be looking for a wife!” Lady Suzanna clapped her hands. “Tell me, will he be a good fit for our Claire? Why, we should introduce them to each other after Claire has made her curtsey.”
As Lady Suzanna talked, a strange expression came over Oliver—one that did not escape Claire. She chose not to mention it and prod him further, although she wished he would tell her so she could follow his advice.
“So,” Oliver said with a smile, “I heard that my dear sister has dragged you both to Bond Street.”
Claire nodded. “The shops are rather beautiful and it seemed as though everything in the world is in it.”
Oliver smiled at her. “That is also where a great number of ladies gather in the mornings.”
Claire thought back to the numerous shops that lined the street. The ladies were mostly drawn to those selling gowns, bonnets, shoes, and all other sorts of fripperies. She wished she had time to buy more sketching supplies, though.
And she wished that the next time she took a turn about the city, it would be to see the grand buildings she had only ever dreamed of seeing.
* * *
Finally, the day of the Presentation came and Lady Suzanna accompanied Claire to the Palace, where she would curtsey before the Sovereign. Trixie struggled not to laugh as her sister gingerly walked to the carriage that awaited her.
“Take care not to fall over,” she reminded her sister.
“Laugh while you can, sister dearest,” Claire smiled sweetly at her sister. “For one day, it shall be your turn.”
The entire affair passed like a dream to Claire. So concerned was she with keeping up with appearances and just barely making it through the entire event without disgracing herself that she hardly enjoyed any of it.
She was, however, thankful that Lady Suzanna had been there the whole time, for there were periods where she felt certain she was going to lose consciousness. It was extremely admirable how the duke’s sister sailed through so gracefully, when Claire felt that she had to struggle to just breathe from the corset that restrained her.
As soon as they were done, Oliver was already waiting for them with a carriage emblazoned with the Duke’s coat of arms. He smiled at her, helping her as she struggled to get her court gown through the door.
“I never want to be attired so again,” she admitted to him, as soon as they were in the confines of the carriage. “I feel the most ridiculous I have ever been in my whole life and even if all the other young misses were dressed in a similar fashion, I feel that it is still absolutely ludicrous.”
