A knock at the door broke her out of herreverie. Rachel sailed into the room, followed by a maid with astack of gowns in her arms. “I’m guessing we are about the samesize. I’ve chosen gowns from my wardrobe until your gowns aremade.” She asked the maid to hang the dresses in a massivearmoire.
Rachel plucked a blue linen gown from thepile and held it up in front of her. “I think the coloring of thiswould look lovely on you. Scandalous, but a new style started byQueen Marie Antoinette. The chemise a la reine is incredibly lightand simple, consisting of layers of blue, thin muslin with alow-laced bodice, belted at the waist and no panniers. Comfortablefor when I’m working in the laboratory with Anthony, butscandalous.”
Alexandra smiled. What would Rachel think ofher attire on the island where she gallivanted in nothing but herchemise and no undergarments?
“When we arrive at Belvior, I want to showyou the bathtub I invented.”
“Invented? How does it work?” The woman wasa wonder.
“Nicholas’s father was very generous inallowing me to tinker with my project. Water is heated and storedin a cistern behind the fireplace in the kitchen, and then pumpedby pumps I had installed to a second-floor chamber. The apparatuscuts down on the need to haul buckets of water up and down thestairs.”
“You are a fascinating woman, Rachel. Ican’t wait to see your bathing chamber.”
Rachel held up a towel. “No more than you,Alexandra. To survive what you did…why, you are extraordinary. Youmust dry off. The dressmakers are downstairs and ready to measureyou.”
Alexandra stood abruptly, sloshing waterover the floor. “So soon?”
“The Rutland men work quickly and demandservice in a fastidious manner. There is the matter of having adress ready for the opera this evening.”
Alexandra wrapped the towel around her.“Opera! I’ve always wanted to attend an opera.”
“That is what Nicholas said. I told him towait, that you needed your rest from your travels. He has orderedcarte blanche on your new wardrobe and we must not disappoint.”
Like a swarm of locusts, a team ofseamstresses flooded into the room. Inspecting Alexandra, the headdressmaker made clucking sounds with her tongue, inserting a“oui”intermittently to demonstrate her approval. Alexandrastood on a stool while a rich array of silks, satins and brocadeswere ushered forward for her perusal.
Overemphasizing her French accent, thedressmaker postured. Not because she was French but because it wasdeemed fashionable and no doubt more profitable. “I will makemagnificent clothing. Your figure and coloring are glorious.” Sheclapped her hands and a seamstress handed her a tape measure.
The pin-sticking dressmaker draped fabricover her, measuring and re-measuring. Laces, bombazines,undergarments, silk stockings, were flashed before her and decidedupon, everything to outfit a queen. The dressmaker fussed and herseamstresses nodded in agreement. Alexandra started to protest theexpense but Rachel shook her head.
Rachel sampled a pastry from a tea tray amaid had brought in. “I can’t resist anything but temptation,including cream puffs.” She licked the cream from her lips. “Mostimportantly, I am tempted to share proud news…my husband, LordAnthony has been invited to be a member to the Royal Society ofScience for a discovery he made.”
Alexandra’s eyes widened. Nicholas hadinformed her that his brother had a scientific passion and theRoyal Society of Science was greatly esteemed. “What did hediscover?”
“He has developed a battery that retainselectricity longer than normal.”
“I would love to see his device.”
“I’m sure he’d love to show you for the solereason he’d use any excuse to be back in his laboratory. Only thefact that his brother was alive and returning on a ship were weable to tear him away. I enjoy the entertainments London has tooffer so it is going to be a splendid time showing you around.”
Hours passed. A sudden wave of vertigobefell her and she had to step down. Her stomach flip-flopped. Theillness she contracted on the ship was making an untimely entrance.“I need some time to myself.”
She begged Rachel with her eyes.Now.
Rachel sprang from her chair and clapped herhands. “Everyone out. Lady Sutherland needs her rest. You haveenough measurements to go on.”
The dressmaker raised an eyebrow, picked upthe bolts of materials and accoutrements and huffed out, herseamstresses following in her wake.
Alexandra sagged against the mahoganybedpost as she struggled not to retch. Pressing her handkerchief toher lips, she closed her eyes and willed her unruly stomach not torebel. Her head pounded. Never had she felt this miserable in herlife.
Her eyes snapped open in distress. Rachelhad miraculously produced a commode and Alexandra wrapped her armsaround her abdomen and leaned forward to retch.
A few tears were squeezed from her tightlyshut eyes as she bowed and retched again. The muscles in herabdomen continued to spasm until her stomach felt like a fist. Afew minutes later, she straightened and flopped on the bed.
Rachel pulled a gold brocade comforter overher. “Does Nicholas know he is to be a father?”
Alexandra tightened her fingers on thebedding.Never.The doctor told her she could never have ababy. Could she? Her breasts were fuller and ached. She’d been soterribly ill over the last weeks, but it usually went away by theend of midmorning. She had been a bundle of nerves, blaming heremotional state leaving Nicholas.
“Your assumption is ridiculous, LadyRutland.”
