Page 37 of Lady for a Season
“You call me Aunt Caroline,” the Duchess corrected her coldly. “You must practise, or you will slip up. You will write a sample so that I can assess your handwriting. Can you dance?”
“No.”
“Play an instrument?”
“No, but –”
“Draw?”
“No.” Drawing lessons had been reserved for the boys at the Foundling Hospital, in case it should help them with future trades.
“Can you ride a horse?”
“No.”
“Sew?”
Maggie was relieved. At the Foundling Hospital she’d been one of the best sewers, her stiches neat and even, her mending and darning invisible. “Yes,” she said firmly.
The Duchess narrowed her eyes. “Plain sewing or embroidery?”
“Plain.”
The Duchess sighed.
“I can do netting,” said Maggie, stung at having her skills so obviously dismissed.
“Well, that is something at least. Duval, you will provide threads and beads for Miss Seton so that she can do netting. She can start by making herself a reticule. And you will teach her embroidery. Meanwhile you will prepare a sample of embroidery she can have with her when company are present, that will make it appear that she is working on something.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“She has a beautiful voice,” said Edward.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Margaret…CousinMargaret has a wonderful singing voice.”
The Duchess raised her eyebrows.
“You would do well to make the most of it, if you want her to appear accomplished,” said Edward. “You are determined to think poorly of her, but you are making a mistake.”
The Duchess gave a cold nod, then continued addressing Joseph as though she had not been interrupted. “Tell the stables to find a horse for Miss Seton and have her taught to ride, she must begin at once.” She paused and Maggie thought she saw her swallow. “His Grace will also need a suitable mount, for use both here and in London.”
Joseph, too, seemed reluctant in his response. “Yes, Your Grace.”
Both avoided looking at Edward, and he stayed silent.
“Very well,” said the Duchess, after a long pause. “I will hire drawing and dancing masters, and a singing instructor. They will have their work cut out to have you both ready for society in only four months.” She turned to Celine and Joseph. “You willassist their education in whatever form is necessary, be it the need for a dancing partner or informing Miss Seton when she does not behave in a manner befitting a lady.”
Maggie’s handwriting was reluctantly passed by the Duchess as acceptable, and their days began to take shape. Upon rising, they were dressed by Jane and Joseph, made their way to breakfast, allowed a brief walk in the gardens, then began their education for the day, continuing until past midday, when they would eat a simple repast, before recommencing lessons until late in the afternoon. They were allowed very little free time.
“If you are unoccupied at any time, you will take up your embroidery,” insisted the Duchess.
Maggie carried a small bag containing her silks and other embroidery needs with her at all times. Luckily her neat stiches in plain sewing meant that her cross-stitch came along well enough to complete a sampler that was not considered disgraceful, after which Celine set about teaching her other styles of embroidery, which Maggie took well to, stitching leaves, flowers, water and birds in ever increasing complexity. She often found herself taking it up when servants were in the room, for their endless presence made her anxious. Having spent their entire lives around the nobility, surely they would take one look at her and know her for a maid?
“They will judge me,” she confided to Celine, but Celine shook her head.
“They feel sorry for you. They think you were brought up without much money and now must find your way in a grand house with the Duchess as your aunt criticising you. They do not whisper anything else about you.”
