P is for Penelope

Chapter 28

  Another ball.

I lined my soldiers up.

Martha carried a tray next to me with the new brooches, compact mirrors, and blushes. I had created to be our first products.

"Everyone, remember, our lively hood depends on us acting like we are more advanced and better than everyone. Make them jealous of the brooches, mirrors, and blush products. Remember how I applied the products. A little goes a long way." Everyone nodded.

I placed the brooches in place. Each matching the mirror.

"The Prudence" mirror had an engraved handfan spread open with a tiny rose vines and the brooch the same with bright pink roses and gold scroll.

Prudence smirked as it matched her bright pink gown perfectly. I placed the brooch on the right side of the front of her dress.

"The Philippa" mirror featured a beautiful horse running through a meadow. The brooch featured the running horse with violets in its mane.

Philippa smiled as she stared at the mirror and brooch that I placed on the left side. It all combined well with her floral lavender gown.

"It is quite pretty!" She whispered excitedly. I smiled at her.

"I'm  glad you like it. The designs were inspired by the meaning of our names." Everyone smiled at that even our mother had a tiny one.

I moved on to Marina. Her eyes widened  a bit. I had her wear a seafoam blue dress with scallop details. Being friends with the modiste most sought after by the ton has its benefits.

"The Marina" mirror featured beautiful engraved ocean waves with a gold shell in the middle. The brooch was the gold shell with ocean waves engraved in an alternating  pattern across the shell panels, with a single pearl at the base. I placed the brooch in the middle at the top of her dress bodice. She looked darling with the tiny pearls I had Sarah place in her hair.

"You look so beautiful!" I told her genuinely. She smiled so big with teary eyes that I immediately hugged her.

"No crying! We have not even made it to the ball yet." Mother admonished jokingly as she patted both of our heads. All of us laughed at that.

I let go of Marina and grabbed the only matching mirrors. I gave one to my mother and placed the other in my pocket.

"The Penelope" featured the basket weave pattern on the compact mirror. The brooch had two designs. Both had a gold heart  with a basket weave design base, but "Penelope's heart" featured  a red rose flower bouquet with a gold ribbon.

"Portia's love" featured a flower bouquet with a red rose,pink rose, and purple violet with a gold ribbon bow with a single pearl in the middle. I placed her brooch near her heart as I did mine.

"The mirror is part of  The Penelope design, but the brooch has two designs. Mine is Penelope's heart. Yours is Portia's love." I explained with a smile.

She looked at them teary-eyed herself. She reached for me for a hug and kissed my forehead. My sisters came over and joined the hug as well. Once we let go, we went over some last details, and off we were.