Lady Penelope drew in a deep breath through her nose. “To take them to the necessary shops to see that they are outfitted from their dancing slippers and kid boots to ribbons and hats and everything that must be worn in between so that they are turned out in a manner that is befitting the wards of a duke.”
“Yes, of course.” He also dreaded how much this may cost. A mistress, if not given a strict budget could spend ten thousand pounds in one afternoon, not that he had ever been so generous. But he did not want Society to see him as parsimonious. Further, he was quite wealthy and his coffers should not suffer overly much. “How much do you need?”
“Given they have already acquired some of their gowns and such, it should not be more than seven hundred pounds.”
While his cousins gasped at the amount, and likely because they had not spent so much in a lifetime, he understood. “Very well.”
“Each!” she added.
“No,” Judith objected.
“That is too much,” Bernice insisted.
They may be quite shocked at Lady Penelope’s proposal. He, however, was not.
“I will provide a letter of credit so that the necessary purchases can be made. However, do not spend simply because you have been allowed to.”
Lady Penelope drew herself up. “I do not waste funds, Your Grace,” she bit out with irritation. “Your cousins will only be allowed to purchase that which I deem is necessary for their station.”
“I apologize for any insult,” he offered with sincerely. “However, I know how my sister enjoyed shopping and have reviewed the bills my father often received.”
“She was also the daughter of a duke and her appearance reflected not only on her, but your family and thus was judged on it. Which is why I am going to make certain that your cousins are not seen in a poor light.”
Their eyes held for a moment and he tried to determine if Lady Penelope was challenging or censuring him. Not that it mattered because he was grateful that she was taking this matter in hand. Henry just wasn’t certain if he would thank her and that would be decided after he received the accounting and saw how his cousins were attired.
The first meeting with His Grace and the cousins had been a success. Penelope truly did not expect to spend more than five hundred pounds on each, which was still far less than what most wealthy and titled families spent to outfit their daughters for a Season. However, one never knew when the unexpected may arise and it would be easier to spend less and have His Grace appreciative than to be forced to ask for more and need to explain.
Tomorrow they would begin at ten, where Penelope had already arranged for fittings with her favorite modiste. By the end of the day, dresses should be ordered, feet measured and gloves purchased. Thankfully, the Season was already underway so the modiste would be less busy than the weeks leading up to the first ball when everyone was in London early for the very purpose of being outfitted.
She was also excited for tomorrow. It would be enjoyable to see the Simpson sisters outfitted to perfection with fabrics that complemented their features and coloring better than the gowns they currently wore.
Not that they were ugly or ill fitting, but Penelope knew they could look better once they were turned over to a more experienced modiste and perhaps one who was warned not to go to too much expense.
With those thoughts, she stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the ball in search of them. But when she did not see the sisters with the wallflowers, she looked for them throughout the ballroom but they could not be found. Thus, she made her way to the retiring room but it was empty. With a frown, she returned to the balcony and looked again but the only person she saw from that household was His Grace, the Duke of Eldridge.
This was very odd as they had been with him at every other ball so she made her way to the ballroom and approached.
“Your Grace,” she greeted with a curtsey.
“Lady Penelope,” he returned with suspicion. Did he not trust her?
“Where might your cousins be this evening?”
“They requested to remain in so that they may retire early and be rested for your shopping excursion tomorrow. Their conversation at dinner led me to believe that they were excited and concerned.”
“Why the concern?” She was not surprised that they would be excited. Most misses were when they knew that they’d be acquiring new dresses.
“The amount of funds we discussed was beyond their comprehension. They did not even spend that amount amongst the five of them when they first arrived.”
“I have no doubt because they visited an inferior modiste,” she offered quietly. “They likely compared the cost in the shops with no mind to the quality.”
“May I ask, is a wardrobe all you have planned?”
Did she dare tell him everything that she had listed?
No, she quickly decided because he might not approve.
“That will depend on what I learn tomorrow. However, I would suggest that you hire a dancing master.”
