Page 15 of The Duke's Last Dance
Any man in a Navy uniform had a certain appeal to him, and Nicolas certainly had it in spades.
“Of course. Now, you are ready for the day.” Amelia smiled at her.
It wasn’t long before Catherine, Amelia, and the Countess had gotten into a carriage. Her mother had made good on her word, and they were going to get her fitted for dresses today. They were headed to a fashionable French modiste in Town, and she was rather excited for it. She had never had such dresses before, even though her dresses had always been at the peak of fashion for the Season.
She wondered what this Season’s fashions would entail. Some years, it had a lot of feathers, and other years, it was a rather plain fashion, but it still looked good on everyone.
“What do you believe you will want on your dresses this year, Catherine?” Her mother interrupted her excited thoughts about the dresses.
“I want lace, if it is fashionable, and beautiful, rich colors,” Catherine replied. “I want to stand out in the crowd at my debut, Mother. I feel that rich colors are the best way to do that.”
“And if the modiste says that rich colors will not work for you? What then?” Her mother made a good point.
Catherine shrugged.
“Then I will wear what she believes will look best on me. I want to stand out, and that will be the best way to do it: following the modiste’s advice,” Catherine responded with a calculated tone. She wanted to make sure that if Nicolas was no longer interested in her, she would attract interest from other men. Making sure she looked her best was one of the best ways to do that.
“I see. I am glad you are already set to follow the modiste’s advice, even if it is not what you want to hear,” her mother said.
“I believe you will look good in whatever you chose to have the modiste make you,” Amelia commented. “I do not believe I have ever seen you wear a color that did not suit you, nor a style that did not accentuate your features.”
“That is because she has a good figure and face, Miss Amelia,” her mother added. “I am sure the modiste will agree with that much. You take good care of yourself for this Season, Catherine, and you will be married before two Seasons have passed.”
“I wholeheartedly believe that, Mother.” Catherine smiled. “I believe a smile is the best facial care, but I am willing to try other methods if I must.”
“I am glad to hear it,” her mother said. “In any case, we have arrived. Come along, Catherine, Miss Amelia.”
Her mother waited for the carriage door to open, and then she got out. Catherine followed with Amelia close behind.
The modiste’s shop was on Bruton Street, and it was a smart little shop. It had a small front window, but she could tell that the shop was bigger than the window let on. Perhaps that was a secret that the modiste used to attract only the best clientele.
Whatever the reason for the way the shop was set up, Catherine did not really care. She walked in after Amelia had opened the door for them, and her mother walked in right behind her.
“I will be with you in one moment.” A voice from the other side of the store welcomed them.
Catherine started to look around as she waited for the modiste to come to them. She did not wander far from where her mother stood, as this was a store that she did not want to get lost in. There was so much to look at, and she had a feeling that the modiste would take them through the stacks of fabrics, laces, colors, and even beads and buttons.
Footsteps snapped her out of her trance. When Catherine looked up, a young woman had come into the room. The modiste, the young woman mentioned, was still finishing with a client, but she had sent this young woman out to give Catherine an idea of what kind of patterns and dresses would be available here.
“Thank you, but the modiste can do that when she finishes. We do not mind waiting, ma’am,” her mother spoke before Catherine could say anything.
Catherine managed to hold her tongue. She had wanted to see the new patterns and things, but if her mother thought it could wait until the modiste could take them through the shop, then it could wait.
She continued to look around from where she stood until an older woman came out from the back room. This woman was followed by another older woman and a young woman. The young woman had a smile on her face, and the older woman looked as though she too had been pleased by the appointment.
Catherine, Amelia, and the Countess moved out of their way to allow them out of the shop. The older woman who had stayed came over to them.
“Ah, The Countess of Camberton! What a pleasure it is to have you and your daughter in my shop today.” The modiste smiled and then looked to Catherine. “You must be Lady Catherine. The pleasure is all mine.”
“No, ‘tis mine,” Catherine responded. “I am excited to see what awaits me here in your shop.”
“I am glad to hear it.” The modiste then turned to motion towards her shop. “The latest patterns, colors, styles… they are all here.”
“Wonderful, wonderful. Why don’t you take Lady Catherine around and show her what is available? I am confident that with your expertise, she will find anything and everything that will look beautiful on her,” her mother said. “Miss Amelia, we can stand off to the side.”
“’Tis customary for me to take the mother and daughter on the first tour, but if you insist that I take her alone, I shall,” the modiste responded. Her mother only nodded, insisting silently that she was going to let Catherine see the fashions on her own first. “Then, before I go, I must say this to all of you; Lady Catherine, you have the perfect shape and complexion for much of what I have in store for you.” The modiste’s smile widened.
“Thank you,” Catherine said.
