Page 46 of Caroline Saves the Blacksmith
The ducal carriage could be seen through the window, and the duke and the coachman were standing behind it and discussing something about one of the large rear wheels which they were inspecting.
“I thought you had changed your mind, Your Grace.”
The duchess shook her head. “Never! My word is my bond.”
“I am so happy you are here.”
“As am I. Is the dress complete?”
Caroline’s chest tightened in nervous anticipation. She had been so careful with the sewing of the Halmesbury emblem, knowing it had to be exact. “I shall collect it from the back.”
Caroline hurried to collect it from the shelf, pausing while she admitted that butterflies had taken flight in the region of her stomach. So many hours had been poured into making the gown over the past few months. Every spare minute she had found had been invested into it, but the final work had been completed overnight and throughout this morning. Was it the same high standard as her prior work?
It is my best work, so it will have to do.
Lifting the box, she carried it to the front, placing it on the counter. Her Grace came over, and Caroline opened the box to lift the gown out. Carefully unfolding it, and pushing the silver paper to the side, she presented the gown.
The duchess gasped, both hands fluttering up to cup her cheeks in amazement. “Oh! It is beautiful. You are an artist, Caroline!”
Caroline inhaled roughly, not realizing she had been holding her breath until air rushed back into her lungs. “Truly?”
“It is breathtaking. Heraldic. May I try it on?”
“Of course.”
She led the duchess to the back.
Annie stood at the fireplace, her jaw hanging open and her eyes wide at the fine noblewoman accompanying her employer before collecting herself to drop into a curtsy. “Milady.”
Caroline realized Annie had not been present when the duchess had visited the day before. “May I present Miss Annie Greer, Your Grace?”
“Your Grace?” The girl’s eyes had widened even more, if such a thing were possible. “Cor!”
The duchess grinned. “It is my pleasure to meet you, Miss Greer. How do you enjoy working for Mrs. Brown?”
“I love working here … Your Grace.”
“She is a remarkable artist. You will learn much as her apprentice.”
Annie nodded effusively in vigorous agreement.
Caroline assisted the duchess to divest her carriage dress and then to don the walking dress before standing back to admire her work. Her Grace’s chestnut hair was vibrant in contrast to the Prussian blue velvet. And from the back, the coat of arms in golden floss was as striking as she had imagined.
Viewing the gown in the mirror from different angles, the duchess returned to the front to show it to the duke, who had entered while they were in the back. His gray eyes lit with appreciation as he smiled fondly down at his wife.
“Is it not splendid, duke?”
“It is, but it cannot rival the beauty of the wearer.”
The duchess laughed sweetly, blushing in pleasure while brushing her hand over the front of the gown and fiddling with the buttons. “I adore it, Mrs. Brown. It is truly unique. I shall wear it when we visit our tenants on New Year’s Day. I think it will create quite a stir at Avonmead.”
Caroline exhaled heavily as the past vanished and her unencumbered future arrived. “I am so pleased to do this for you.”
Once she packed the dress back into its silver paper and box, the noble couple took their leave. Caroline walked out behind them to watch their departure in the gray light of twilight, waving to the duchess as the carriage pulled forward.
Looking down, she realized Annie had come out to stand beside her.
“Will I make a gown for a duchess one day, do you think?”
