Grace narrowed her eyes at the approaching woman, then let out a loud laugh. “Ha! Francesca! You! You’re still here? Here I was thinking that you would have left the store to your daughter by now.”
The woman laughed politely. “Well, of course. My daughter manages the business as of now. I just come in from time to time as it keeps me agile and active.”
The Dowager Duchess laughed and nodded, expressing her understanding, being an active woman herself.
The store owner turned to Selina, noticing her for the first time. Her eyes flew wide in amazement and she covered her mouth with her hand.
“Oh my! She’s gorgeous!” The store owner turned to Grace. “Who is she?”
Grace chuckled, pleased with herself as she made introductions. “This is Selina Knight, my companion.”
Selina smiled and dipped her head in a polite nod at the woman. The store owner, in turn, curtsied to Selina, dipping low as she bent her head.
“M’lady,” she said as she rose. “Pleasure to have you in my establishment.”
“The pleasure is all mine, thank you,” Selina replied. “Your store is most wonderful.”
“Why, thank you!” The woman turned all smiles to Grace and the both chattered excitedly, catching up.
Selina watched with curious amazement as the Dowager Duchess talked freely and openly with the store owner. It struck her how different the woman was from the rest of the ton, watching how freely she spoke with a commoner, and even reaching around, hugging the woman.
Selina looked around the store again. The beauty of it was breathtaking and she imagined just how much work must have gone into creating such a business.
Quietly, she wondered if she could achieve the same success by hiding herself and trying her hand at something similar. She dismissed the idea as quickly as she considered it, however.
One thing about living as a commoner was the lack of help if her past ever caught up with her and came knocking. There was also the risk associated with drawing attention to herself, as one would be required to do to thrive in such a business.
The dangers associated with such an endeavor far outweighed the benefits, and the thought of it left her feeling sour and slightly depressed. She turned her attention to the two women still talking excitedly, trying out different fabrics.
“Here, dear, how does this look?” Grace said, testing some fabric against Selina. “I mean, taking into account her freckles, eyes, and lovely hair.”
Together, the storeowner and Grace pulled different assortments of fabric from piles, trying them over Selina’s body to see how the colors matched.
Watching them coo and frown with each selection slowly brought Selina out of her sour mood, and before long, she was smiling with the two women.
“This! I believe this works,” Grace said triumphantly.
Her accomplice laughed victoriously. “Why, you’re right, Your Grace. Ah, I get too excited when I dress up beautiful young ladies. Too excited.”
“Of course! I was just telling her the same thing!”
The store owner ran off excitedly and said over her shoulder. “Give me a moment! I need to find a measuring tape!”
Selina laughed as she watched her go, then turned to look at Grace with an excited twinkle in her eyes. “Right this way, my dear,” she said. “Let’s go try these on.”
She followed her to a fitting room at the back with a heap of very expensive clothes stacked high between her arms.
“So,” Grace said, holding one of the clothes against Selina’s body. “What do you think about Morgan so far?”
Selina looked down at her from the stool on which she was standing. The Dowager Duchess’ question had caught her entirely by surprise. “The duke?”
Grace nodded, setting down the fabric she was holding, picking up another one. “So? What do you think about him?”
Selina frowned a little as she thought about the duke.What do I think of him?
“I think he’s a fine man,” Selina replied after a short pause. “He handles his responsibility splendidly, and is a very polite man. I have no bad thoughts of him whatsoever.”
“Hmm… I’m pleased to hear that,” Grace replied solemnly. “I had been worried that, perhaps, you hadn’t been adjusting well to our new home.” She took a pause. “I know that Morgan can be very… unwelcoming sometimes.
