Page 89 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“I’ll go and find Julia,” said Elinor. “I’m sure she’ll help with the sewing.”
Arabella felt a mix of emotions, up and down in mood, like the shape of the hills rising and falling on the horizon. She’d felt calm and positive on waking, then plunged into despair at the sight of her gown. It wasn’t so much the destroyed dress as the malice behind it. She had her own suspicions, too, as she remembered ice-cold blue eyes.
A dress was nothing; she’d lost her beloved husband, so losing a dress was unimportant. The care and concern of her friends in the little sewing group was inspirational. The dowager duchess leaving ball preparations to sew a seam on her replacement gown was unheard of. She felt her spirits lighten as she looked at everyone working together to create something beautiful.
They finished the dress at six o'clock and waited while Arabella stepped into her new gown.
Emma gasped, and Aunt Grace began to cry. Mrs Cribbage and Madame congratulated each other. The dowager nodded her approval.
“You look so beautiful,” said Aunt Grace softly. “My dear, that gown is exquisite, and the colours are perfect for you.”
“We had to be a little imaginative with the design,” said Mrs Cribbage, “but I believe we have improved the design. Madame’s French seams meant we could join the two fabrics together so it hangs elegantly.”
The torn dress, combined with the dowager’s old dress gave this new creation depth and texture. As Arabella moved, the gown shimmered, and on impulse, she twirled around and heard the gasps around her.
A tiny voice sounded from the doorway, and she looked around to see Henry and Freddy. “Mama, you look so beautiful, just like a fairy princess,” Henry said.
Arabella’s emotions almost overwhelmed her, and she felt tears of joy welling up in her eyes.
“Non, non, non, Arrêtez maintenant. Je ne veux pas de larmes sur ma création. Arrêtez, arrêtez de pleurer.”
Arabella laughed as Elinor handed her a handkerchief, and Madame covered her dress with a shawl.
“Mama, that sounds terrific. Can I learn French, please? I want to talk like Madame,” Henry chimed up, obviously entranced by the cadence of the French words.
“Me too,” echoed Freddy. “Uncle Robert has a house in France, so I need to speak French when I go there.”
“Shoo, shoo,” said Madame. “We still have work to do here. I shall teach you French tomorrow if the dowager duchess will allow me to stay for a few days. I find I rather like it here at the castle, and I would like to see Madame Cribbage’s establishment.”
“By all means, stay as long as you want. The children certainly seem keen to begin learning a little French,” the dowager replied. She looked towards her daughter and saw that something was wrong. “Elinor?”
“We forgot that the headdress was damaged too. I’m wondering how we can dress Arabella’s hair,” Elinor told her.
“I’m sure we have some ribbons somewhere,” said Arabella. “I’ll be fine.”
“Wait, I have an idea,” said the dowager with a hint of excitement. She rushed out of the room, returning a few minutes later with a cloth bag. “How about this?” she asked. “It was great grandmamma’s,” she told Elinor. “I’d forgotten all about it.”
The sparkles on the tiara caught the light as it was brought out of the cloth bag. “It’s made with peridot and a few diamonds. I remembered about it when I saw you wearing the peridot pendant. They should match, I think,” the dowager explained.
“Et voilà,” said Madame, placing the tiara on Arabella’s head and standing back. “C'est parfait. Voici la belle du bal.”
Emma clapped her hands. “Arabella really is the belle of the ball.”
***
As Arabella entered the castle ballroom with the Thraxtons, she had the impression that a sudden silence had just descended. Everyone in the small groups sharing news and gossip turned to look at the Duke of Montbury’s bride-to-be.
She took a deep breath and kept smiling and talking to her companions.
The decorations she had worked on with Elinor created a themed effect. Everywhere boughs of greenery were hung around the room or placed on any available surface. Roses and other flowers were tucked into the displays. Swathes of muslin in summer colours had been hung around the orchestra and in the dining room. “I can’t wait to see the lanterns lit up outside,” Arabella told Emma.
“It has got a distinct and different atmosphere to the usual decorations at a ball. Well done, you and Elinor,” responded Emma. “I suspect you may have great fun with planning balls when you are a duchess.”
Arabella looked at her almost in surprise. “I hadn’t thought of that; there is too much to think about,” she said, laughing.
The orchestra began playing a range of chamber music, until the duke, together with the dowager duchess, Elinor, and Simon entered the room.
She didn’t notice Robert until she smelled his cologne and knew he stood beside her. “I believe you promised me every dance,” he joked.
