Pascale Auber & the Ruritanian Riddle

XVI Wardrobe - 2

"Afternoon, Joanna!" I called out, a smile brightening my voice.

Joanna looked up from her machine, lifting her foot and allowing it to sputter to a halt. "Pascale," she said, looking me up and down. "What brings you here, today?"

I spread out my torn skirt.

Joanna raised a single eyebrow.

"I fell out of an airship!"

The second eyebrow joined the first.

"It isn't important," I said, "What is important is I need something to wear to the WPA meeting and afterwards dinner at Delmonte's."

"Delmonte's?" Joanna asked. "I'm not allowed to dress you for personal engagements."

"It isn't a personal engagement! When I fell from the airship I was rescued by a Ruritanian diplomat - he invited me to Delmonte's." Before she could protest that my dinner might still be personal, I added, "And he is a useful contact! The boss said I had to go."

Joanna stood, pulling a small measuring tape from her apron pocket. "Very well. But you cannot wear the same outfit to an afternoon socialist meeting as a supper at a fine restaurant."

I held my arms out as Joanna took my measurements. "Is it really so fancy a place?" I asked.

Joanna turned, walked ten steps between the giant racks, and pulled one of the chains. There was a rattle and then, with a subtle groan, the rack began to turn, bringing clothing from the darkness of the ceiling down to floor level.

"Mr. Wells took me there for our first wedding anniversary. Of course, I had nothing but a rarebit and some lemon-flavoured  water ice. I couldn't expect Mr. Wells to pay for anything more, at those rates. That said, the mechanical orchestra is divine."

"The food there is that costly?" I groaned. "Should I watch what I order?"

"'Watch what you order' indeed! Order what he recommends, of course." Joanna pulled a cream-coloured shirtwaist off the rack, then replaced it. "That's the proper thing to do when you aren't sure of your suitor's financial situation."

"He is not a suitor," I retorted. "This is all business. He is involved in my case. Besides, even if he were not, I cannot very well marry a Ruritanian!"

Joanna raised her left eyebrow.