The Duke's Daughter (Editing)

Chapter Nine

“Turn to ze left, please.” Mademoiselle Sherrie instructed me. Her thick accent was sometimes a little more than confusing for me to understand, so I prayed I had heard correctly. 

“I cannot wait to see your new wardrobe!” Olivia clasped her hand, smiling, “I was thinking that some pastels would look great with her skin, don’t you think Mademoiselle?”

“Oh yes, indeed. And perhaps some darker tones for ze dinner parties!” Mademoiselle Sherrie agreed. I tightened my muscles as her needle almost poked my skin.

“But yes of course! Darker tones are just so elegant, don’t you think Lenora?”

“What? Oh yes.” I said dazed.

“Is there something the matter?” Olivia asked almost concerned.

“No, I’m quite fine. I’ve just never had someone help me with dress choices.”

“Well we are family, darling. My, you do look extraordinary in that dress.”

I look down at Olivia’s old dress. It was a much better pick compared to Henrietta’s choice. The light blue accents made the white pop out beautifully. Olivia had someone fix my hair into a braid and picked up into a bun. For once in my life, I felt lovelier than usual.

“There you both are,” Anna appeared in my room, curtseying, “Lady Henrietta would like me to inform you that the evening meal will be at six o’clock. Oh and Lady Olivia, this letter came in for you. And before I forget remember tomorrow we will be studying a bit on Hamlet. Oh and Lenora?”

“Yes.” I turned my head.

“We will be having etiquette classes everyday for an hour.” I nodded at Anna’s words. Lovely.

“Oh how wonderful!” Olivia exclaimed, “My dear Drew is on Friday to visit for the rest of the month with my father!”

“I thought he lived just across the river.” I wondered aloud.

“He does, but he’s been serving England proudly for last few months.”

“Serving for what?”

Olivia gave me this ghastly look, “Do you know what’s happening at all in the world? Dear Lenora, there’s a war not too far away from here.”

Although the only kind of thing that I was truly interested in this world was history, but I’d read in the newspaper that the war was becoming very serious in Europe, “Then what does he do exactly?”

“He’s in charge of finding missing persons. Quite intriguing isn’t it?” Olivia said proudly.

“Sounds difficult.”

“Oh, but it is. But my Drew is so wonderful at it,” She laid on a sofa, “Are we almost done here, Mademoiselle? We must be getting ready for dinner.”

                     

Knock knock. “My lady?” A young woman entered my room and curtsied, “I’m Clare, your housemaid. I’m here to help you prepare for supper.” Clare looked down shyly, she seemed almost looked afraid to even talk to me. Her bright red hair shimmered with the light from outside and her thin body fit perfectly in her uniform.

“I really don’t need any help.” I said staring a little patronized. I’d never had anyone help get dressed and I wasn’t about to start.

“My lady, it’s my duty to do so.” Clare opened my wardrobe and picked out the white dress I had tried on earlier, “Here you go, I’ll pick out your shoes. Then I’ll fix your hair, there’s this lovely pin I found and I think it will look beautiful with your dark hair.”