Lucille looked puzzled but the other two smiled at her analogy.
Less than two weeks after the demise of their parent, Sofia was travelling on the coach to Bath. She had with her only a battered portmanteau, no trunk was strapped to the rear of the vehicle.
The city was twenty miles distance from their home at Laycock, and she was to become companion not to an elderly lady but to a girl of seventeen. Miss Annabel Sinclair was considered too old for a governess but not ready to be presented. The young lady and her numerous family lived in one of the large houses recently built.
Aunt Jemima had produced a trunk of expensive garments, silks, satins, and fine cotton lawn, no longer wearable as they were but with more than enough material to be used to sew both Sofia and Colette a new wardrobe.
Between them they'd constructed two pretty bonnets lined with material that matched or complemented her three new ensembles. Sofia dipped her head to hide her smile. She'd never been so well-dressed, felt so grand, could almost believe herself to be a lady in her new finery.
She smoothed the soft cotton material of her blue pelisse; it contrasted wonderfully with the lighter blue of the gown she wore beneath it. This fitted snugly under her bosom and then fell loosely to just below her ankles. Being so free of the voluminous skirts and inconvenient undergarments of her previous attire was a revelation. She was considered by her sisters to be a beanpole, unfashionably tall, so this new style of gown suited her much better.
Her sisters had chosen this particular colour as they said it was perfect with her dark hair and exactly the same colour as her blue eyes. In order to maintain the mirage of being from a wealthy home she had to remember to keep her boots hidden beneath the hem of her gown. Real ladies would have half-boots that matched their outfit.
Even the uncomfortable journey in the stagecoach was a novel experience and she revelled in every minute of it. This was the first time she'd travelled from Laycock and she intended to enjoy every moment.
After three hours of bumps and jolts the vehicle rocked to a standstill. The coach had made its way through the Walcott turnpike and arrived at last at the Post Office, adjacent to the Abbey, the Roman Baths, and the Pump Room. There were chairmen and porters eagerly waiting to take those descending from the coach to either the White Hart or the York Hotel which her aunt had told her were by far the best inns in Bath.
The door opened and the steps were let down and Sofia stepped out, eyes wide, gazing around in awe at the magnificent buildings, the smart pedestrians and even smarter carriages drawn by matching teams.
Quickly she moved to one side to allow the other passengers to disembark. She was immediately hailed by a uniformed servant – as they didn't employ any at home, she wasn't altogether certain if the man was a coachman or a footman.
'Miss Brotherton, allow me to take your bag. The Sinclair carriage awaits.'
She nodded regally; she'd been well schooled in how to behave in polite company. Although they were on familiar terms with their servants at Hilltop House her aunt had drilled it into her that if she wanted to be respected, have her instructions followed, then she must remain aloof.
The young man, about her height, nodded and pointed to a smart Landau pulled by four matching bays, on the far side of the large courtyard of the hostelry. They were standing patiently, and the coachman was sitting on his box watching her arrival.
She couldn't help herself. 'What a stunning team, I particularly like bays although my father preferred greys.'
This compliment was received with a grin. 'These aren't the best in the stables, miss, you'll see when we get there.'
The conversation was established so it was too late to retract. 'What am I to call you?'
'I'm Jethro, undergroom. We'd better get moving, the master doesn't take kindly to being kept waiting not by no one.'
He opened the door of the carriage, kicked down the steps and she climbed in. The interior was as immaculate as the exterior. She thanked God that the family had been able to provide her with ensembles that wouldn't make her look out of place.
