‘Aunt Mary charged me with ensuring that you will be a credit to her. She was an elegant woman of excellent taste.’ Mrs Gardiner smiled. ‘To ensure that you appear just as elegant, she put money aside for just thispurpose. When it is their turn, your sisters will also be provided with a complete new wardrobe.’
Once the materials were taken care of, Aunt Madeline took the sisters to several modistes. When Elizabeth queried the need for spending so much time being measured each time, her aunt explained, ‘I know that it is inconvenient for you to suffer through the same ordeal several times, but each of the modistes has different specialties. While Madame Dupont creates exquisite ballgowns, Mrs Smith has a way with subtle morning dresses. Mrs Johnston on the other hand is renowned for her pelisses, spencers, and cloaks.’
‘And by spreading the work amongst several modistes, we can get our outfits quicker,’ Mary surmised, and Mrs Gardiner agreed.
It appeared that Mrs Gardiner was well known and respected amongst the better seamstresses and modistes in town, who all bought their supplies from Gardiner Enterprises.
Within two days, the first dresses started to arrive. A week later, the three sisters each owned a completely new wardrobe.
During those days, their new maids also experimented with new hairstyles for the sisters.
Once they were dressed in their new finery, Jane could not help but exclaim to her sisters, ‘If I had not seen the transformation being performed, I could be excused for not recognising either of you. You were always very pretty, but now both of you are simply stunning.’
Mary gave a bashful glance at the mirror. ‘I confess it is rather nice not to look like a little grey mouse.’
~T~
On the first opportunity since their arrival in town, on which Elizabeth did not have an early appointment in the morning for fittings or when Mrs Gardiner took the sisters shopping for accessories, she rose early and was pleased to note that the weather was perfect for a walk.
It was sunny and the day promised to be warm, but at this early hour it was still cool.
Elizabeth quickly ate a muffin with her cup of tea before setting out towards Hyde Park, accompanied by a maid named Susan and John, one of the footmen.
Since it was long before the fashionable hour to promenade around the park to be seen, it was virtually deserted. The few people whom Elizabeth noticed appeared more interested like herself in a brisk walk rather than a languid stroll.
It was also early enough that the air still smelled fresh and clean.
As Elizabeth did not wish to be out for too long, she only went as far as the north end of the Serpentine, and after walking along it to the other end, she returned to Gardiner House.
Her uncle and Mary were already enjoying their breakfast when she entered the dining room.
‘The intrepid traveller returns,’ Mr Gardiner greeted his niece. ‘Did you have a nice walk?’
‘It was lovely, thank you. I thoroughly enjoyed stretching my legs.’ Elizabeth beamed at her relations and made her way to the sideboard, where she helped herself to a generous breakfast.
‘Did you go far?’
‘Only as far as the Serpentine. Since I was gone for less than an hour, It cannot have been much above three miles.’
Elizabeth sat down with her plate and applied herself to the food with gusto.
Mr Gardiner watched with an indulgent smile. ‘Ah, the benefits of youth. A hearty appetite.’
Elizabeth looked at her uncle appraisingly. Seeing her uncle for the first time outside his usual environment of Gracechurch Street, his warehouse or with the family at Longbourn, made Elizabeth look at him with fresh eyes and she realised that the beauty enjoyed by his sisters had not bypassed Mr Gardiner. He was still an exceedingly handsome man.
‘You know, uncle, if I did not know that you are but one year younger than mama, I would not think you to be much above thirty years of age, the same age as Aunt Madeline.’
She gave him an impish smile. ‘You are the opposite of most gentlemen your age, who have little hair and make up for that lack by having a large waist. Forgive me for saying so, but I must admit that I thoroughly approve.’
‘Ah, but you see, according to society, since I work for a living, I am not a gentleman. Which is rather fortunate since the activity keeps me from having the time to overindulge in food and drink. Hence, I still enjoy a trim waist.’
He gave Elizabeth an exaggerated bow, to hide his embarrassment of the compliment. While he thoroughly enjoyed his wife’s admiration when she looked at him, having his niece comment on his youthful appearance and trim figure was disconcerting.
Mary, observant as ever, noticed Gardiner’s discomfiture. ‘Lizzy, you embarrassed Uncle Gardiner,’ she chided.
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in shock, and she stammered, ‘Your pardon, uncle. I did not mean to… I only meant that most men your age appear old. That is… ah… I meant to say –‘
‘Lizzy, stop. When you are in a hole, stop digging.’ Mr Gardiner grinned at the flustered girl. ‘While I am not accustomed to compliments from beautiful young ladies, I shall accept it in the spirit it was intended.’
