Jane Ashford by Three Graces

Author:Three Graces [Graces, Three]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

The following morning, Euphie’s hair was cut by Lady Fanshawe’s dresser, under the countess’s close supervision. Euphie watched wide-eyed as her braids were unwound and snipped off, to be replaced by a cloud of auburn ringlets all around her face. “Much better,” pronounced her employer in a self-satisfied tone, and before the girl could take a breath, she had summoned her own dressmaker to supplement Euphie’s wardrobe.

“We shall want several gowns,” she told the woman when she arrived. “Two for evening, I suppose, and a walking dress, and two morning dresses. That will do to start, at least. Let us look at

your patterns.”

They proceeded to do so, the countess clearly in charge.

“That one is pretty,” said Euphie hesitantly after a while, pointing at one of the models in the dressmaker’s booklet.

“Oh, my dear, not pink!” was Lady Fanshawe’s reply. “You must never wear pink, with your hair. Pale green, blue, buff, perhaps brown, and of course, white—but never pink.”

“That’s what Aggie always says,” answered Euphie a little wistfully.

“Aggie? Oh, your sister. Well, she is quite right. I think we will have one of these, and a simple white evening dress, and…” She went on with complete certainty, while Euphie wondered whether the treat of getting new dresses was quite the same when one was allowed no choice in the matter.

But another concern was more pressing. “Lady Fanshawe, you cannot buy me so many new things,” said Euphie. “You mustn’t.”

“And why not?”

“Well… well, because I am only—”

“You were engaged to be my companion, and I require the people around me make a good appearance. The clothes you have are not suitable.”

She said this very coolly, but Euphie could not help but realize that true kindness lay beneath her tone. There was no necessity for her to clothe her hired companion.

“Besides,” continued the older woman, “I am enjoying myself immensely. I had forgotten how much fun it is to outfit a young girl; my daughters came out years ago, and they have never wanted much help. Only think, I haven’t felt bored this whole day, and it is nearly teatime. You cannot deny me this pleasure, Euphie.”

When she put the matter this way, Euphie could do nothing but bow her head in assent.

“Let us go and have our tea, and then we shall look through my closets and see what we can find for you. I have dozens of shawls and gloves and that sort of nonsense, none of which I ever wear.”

Euphie started to protest again, but the countess waved her words aside.

“I will not listen. Haven’t you realized yet that I am a disagreeable old woman who always gets her way? And I don’t mean to change for you.”

Smiling, Euphie followed her into the drawing room, where tea was already laid out, and they sat down behind the teapot. The girl vowed that she would be as helpful as possible to Lady Fanshawe, to make some return for her kindness.

In the next few days, Euphie learned the routines of her new home and recovered most of her customary gaiety, dampened since her parting from her sisters.

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