The Beautiful Wallflower

CHAPTER TEN: The hat

The sun shone bright, heating up the air inside the house. Victoria was standing in a beam of light, enjoying the feel of heat through the layers of her dress.

She was wearing a pale blue dress, the smallest crinoline she owned underneath it. The blue fabric was decorated with white lace and embroidery. Twas not a dress she adored, which made it her favourite one for baking.

She knew a lady should not bake, that it was not her place, but Victoria loved it. The love had started when she was very young and their cook was passionate about food. Whenever her father would be too busy, Victoria would sneak in the kitchen and watch the cook bake whatever she asked for.

When she was older, she got the courage to ask the cook for lessons. The woman only agreed after Victoria's father did, and invited the young lady to her kitchen every two days. In her own estate, she had a different cook, but just like her, the staff was special. So instead of looking odd at their mistress or offering their help, they all sat at the kitchen table while Victoria made apple cake.

"Tis quite a nice hat, wouldn't you say?" the cook asked. In the middle of the table stood a hat one of the young stable boys found. He said lord Brompton had thrown the hat away while running for his horse as if he was winning a race.

The butler looked at the cook. "Tis a hat, Melany."

"Aye, tis a hat. Tis a nice hat, I tell you."

"Melany, George doesn't understand fashion," the maid, Sophie, said. "Do not ask him about a hat."

"But he ought to know about fashion as his mistress loves it so much. Wouldn't you say, lady Victoria?"

Victoria simply laughed. She knew other ladies and lords would be shocked when servants conversed with them in such easy fashion. But Victoria was used to it. In fact, she wanted her servants to call her Victoria, not lady Victoria. But she had not yet convinced them.

"I do not expect you to love the things I love," she said as she poured the batter in a bowl.

"Love?" the cook said. "My lady, you adore fashion!"

"And you adore over exaggeration," Victoria said laughing. "I will bring lord Brompton his hat this afternoon. But first, I wish to finish this cake and head to the market."

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Victoria descended the stairs in a deep green walking gown. Her hair was tucked inside a hat that was secured on her head with a purple ribbon. She wore black gloves, matching the decorations on the bottom of the dress. She liked the dress for its original colour, yet it did not catch the eye of people who were not looking for it.

As she reached the last step, she saw Mr. Lennard coming toward her.

"Lady Victoria," he said formally, "you have a guest in the parlor."

Victoria sighed. She had hoped on leaving the house and not being seen by noble lords and ladies, but it seemed her hope was lost. Even if she wanted Mr. Lennard to tell the visitor she was not at home, it would be quite unrealistic, for the butler had let the visitor inside the estate.

"I have had quite enough of all these useless visitors. If they do not wish to know why I do not live with lord Brompton, they ask me when the babe will come."

Mr. Lennard chuckled silently, but Victoria heard it anyway.

"Tis not a joke, Mr. Lennard," he said as she walked toward the parlor, planning on wrapping up the guest's visit and sending her home. "All these ladies will one day be the death of me."

"I certainly hope not, my lady. But the visitor is not a lady-"

Victoria did not hear the rest of her butler's words for she had already thrown open the door. He was correct, the visitor was not a lady - nor a gossipmonger.