myself, my lady, and took the liberty of sponging out the marks on the pale blue silk.”
The doubtful look on Edna’s face sent a pulse of panic through Hope. “You don’t think it’s suitable, do you?”
“I think your colouring deserves a richer hue.”
“That means you think it’s unsuitable, doesn’t it?” pushed Hope.
Edna nodded slowly. Then she said, “I think tea is ready to be served now. I’ll have another look through the wardrobe.”
* * *
“These scones are delicious,” declared Hope biting into her second one. She caught her aunt’s faintly disapproving glance. “But I certainly couldn’t manage a sandwich or a piece of cake as well.” There, she’d redeemed herself. “I shall have to make sure I can fit into my dress for the dinner.”
“You have some fine dresses, Hope,” began Aunt Constance, “but I should like to take you shopping for a new one as this will be your first formal dinner at my home during your stay here. We will visit my dressmaker in Wimpole Street and order a dress for you. It will be designed to accentuate your best features. I thought green silk to bring out the colour of your eyes. What do you say? And then we’ll take luncheon at The Dome.”
Hope sprang up and hugged her aunt. “How generous you are, Aunt. I should love to go shopping with you. Will you purchase something new as well?”
“Goodness me, no. I have several wardrobes full upstairs. In all sizes and colours. Your uncle used to like me to be well presented. He always complimented me on my outfits. But now I have to wear mourning.” She looked away, but not before Hope noted, with horror, her aunt’s moist eyes.
“Uncle Eustace was lovely. He was a good match, Aunt.”
That made Constance snort and the intimate moment passed. Hope couldn’t wait to tell Edna she was getting a new outfit. She pictured herself running her fingers over the silks and velvets. All the colours of the rainbow, but deeper and richer. She longed for the outfit to be finished so she could see if it met her expectations. Could that be because she wanted to impress someone? If so, she wouldn’t be telling. She glanced at her aunt who appeared to be deep in thought.
“I still have all Eustace’s belongings. I haven’t been able to tell Stevenson to remove them.”
This was a new, softer side of her aunt that Hope hadn’t seen before. “May I help in any way, Aunt?”
“Encourage me, my dear. It is pointless holding on to his possessions. I’ve tried to make a start, but I find it upsetting. I must face the fact that he is gone. Please go upstairs to the second floor, Stevenson will show you the room, and you will see the herculean task for yourself. I can’t think about it anymore today. I will go and rest until dinner.”
Hope wasn’t quite sure how she felt about surveying her dead uncle’s possessions, but she wanted to help her aunt. She hadn’t known Uncle Eustace very well, but she remembered he wasn’t particularly tall and had been somewhat slight. Quite in contrast to her aunt’s formidable stature. She wouldn’t involve Stevenson just yet, but would first see exactly what there was to be dealt with.
After entering rooms she had never glimpsed before, she finally found one containing all manner of things a gentleman might require. The first objects to catch her attention were the hats piled upon a tallboy. A top hat took her fancy and without a second thought she placed it on her head. Looking round she found a long mirror in front of the window and scrutinised her image in it. She tucked her hair up inside the hat and looked at herself from every angle. If she had a brother he would surely look like this. Taken with the idea of dressing up, Hope searched the cupboards and found trousers, a shirt, waistcoat and jacket. Having discarded her own garments and thrown them on a chair, she quickly donned her uncle’s clothes. They were a little large, but not outrageously so and were just
The doubtful look on Edna’s face sent a pulse of panic through Hope. “You don’t think it’s suitable, do you?”
“I think your colouring deserves a richer hue.”
“That means you think it’s unsuitable, doesn’t it?” pushed Hope.
Edna nodded slowly. Then she said, “I think tea is ready to be served now. I’ll have another look through the wardrobe.”
* * *
“These scones are delicious,” declared Hope biting into her second one. She caught her aunt’s faintly disapproving glance. “But I certainly couldn’t manage a sandwich or a piece of cake as well.” There, she’d redeemed herself. “I shall have to make sure I can fit into my dress for the dinner.”
“You have some fine dresses, Hope,” began Aunt Constance, “but I should like to take you shopping for a new one as this will be your first formal dinner at my home during your stay here. We will visit my dressmaker in Wimpole Street and order a dress for you. It will be designed to accentuate your best features. I thought green silk to bring out the colour of your eyes. What do you say? And then we’ll take luncheon at The Dome.”
Hope sprang up and hugged her aunt. “How generous you are, Aunt. I should love to go shopping with you. Will you purchase something new as well?”
“Goodness me, no. I have several wardrobes full upstairs. In all sizes and colours. Your uncle used to like me to be well presented. He always complimented me on my outfits. But now I have to wear mourning.” She looked away, but not before Hope noted, with horror, her aunt’s moist eyes.
“Uncle Eustace was lovely. He was a good match, Aunt.”
That made Constance snort and the intimate moment passed. Hope couldn’t wait to tell Edna she was getting a new outfit. She pictured herself running her fingers over the silks and velvets. All the colours of the rainbow, but deeper and richer. She longed for the outfit to be finished so she could see if it met her expectations. Could that be because she wanted to impress someone? If so, she wouldn’t be telling. She glanced at her aunt who appeared to be deep in thought.
“I still have all Eustace’s belongings. I haven’t been able to tell Stevenson to remove them.”
This was a new, softer side of her aunt that Hope hadn’t seen before. “May I help in any way, Aunt?”
“Encourage me, my dear. It is pointless holding on to his possessions. I’ve tried to make a start, but I find it upsetting. I must face the fact that he is gone. Please go upstairs to the second floor, Stevenson will show you the room, and you will see the herculean task for yourself. I can’t think about it anymore today. I will go and rest until dinner.”
Hope wasn’t quite sure how she felt about surveying her dead uncle’s possessions, but she wanted to help her aunt. She hadn’t known Uncle Eustace very well, but she remembered he wasn’t particularly tall and had been somewhat slight. Quite in contrast to her aunt’s formidable stature. She wouldn’t involve Stevenson just yet, but would first see exactly what there was to be dealt with.
After entering rooms she had never glimpsed before, she finally found one containing all manner of things a gentleman might require. The first objects to catch her attention were the hats piled upon a tallboy. A top hat took her fancy and without a second thought she placed it on her head. Looking round she found a long mirror in front of the window and scrutinised her image in it. She tucked her hair up inside the hat and looked at herself from every angle. If she had a brother he would surely look like this. Taken with the idea of dressing up, Hope searched the cupboards and found trousers, a shirt, waistcoat and jacket. Having discarded her own garments and thrown them on a chair, she quickly donned her uncle’s clothes. They were a little large, but not outrageously so and were just
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