Bertrice Small: The Duchess

Allegra looked archly at her cousin, and Sirena had to stifle her giggle. The two girls ate scantily and quickly, in order to be swiftly excused from the table that they might go to Mademoiselle Fran-cine. But Lady Abbott understood their excitement, and released them before the sweet and the cheese were served. They both rose slowly, attempting not to appear too eager. Then they curtsied, and walked carefully from the dining room through the doors the liveried footman held open. As the doors closed behind them Allegra and Sirena looked at each other, and then raced for the stairs. Stepping from his office, Charles Trent saw them, and smiled.

They burst noisily into the Primrose chamber where Mademoiselle Francine was waiting. The Frenchwoman arose, and looked disapprovingly at them, shaking a finger.

"Mademoiselles! Are you horses that you clomp?"

"Forgive us, mademoiselle," Sirena said politely. "We are so anxious to have you measure us so our gowns may be made!"

"Ahh," the lady replied with a small smile. "Well then, come, mes petites, and let us get your gowns off so I may ascertain what we have to work with. You are both very different. Are you related?"

"We are first cousins," Allegra said. "I am Allegra Morgan, and this is Lady Sirena Abbott."

"Thank you, mademoiselle," the Frenchwoman replied.

Allegra walked to the bellpull, and yanked upon it several times. She told the footman who answered her call, "Fetch Honor at once and Lady Sirena's maid, Damaris, as well."

"Yes, Miss Allegra," the footman replied, and hurried off.

"You have samples, Mademoiselle Francine, that you wish to show us? We might look while waiting for our maids," Allegra said.

Well, Mademoiselle Francine thought as she brought forth her box of samples, she has the manner of a duchess for all she is just plain Miss Morgan. "We have just obtained a marvelous selection of silks and satins from France. They shall be quite sought after, you understand, Miss Morgan."

"We shall buy the entire bolts of whatever we choose," Allegra said matter-of-factly. "I should not like to see myself coming and going, nor would my cousin. Ahh," she held up a clear pink striped silk, "this would be perfect for you, Sirena! It favors your coloring."

"The whole holt of each fabric you choose?" The Frenchwoman was absolutely astounded. These fabrics did not come cheap, for they had to be smuggled into England as France was no longer a civilized country in which to live, or do business.

"Yes," Allegra said. "Is there some difficulty in my request?"

"I must ask Madame Paul, Mademoiselle Morgan. Never have I heard of such a thing!"

"It must be," Allegra said firmly. "I am certain that Papa will make it well worth Madame Paul's while to cooperate, but if she feels she cannot meet our wishes, I can always obtain my fabrics elsewhere. Of course I would want Madame Paul to do our gowns. We will send a message to London to ascertain your employer's desires in the matter. Will that be satisfactory, Mademoiselle Francine?"

The modiste nodded weakly. "Of course, Mademoiselle Morgan," she replied. This innocent-looking girl was going to be a power to be reckoned with one day. She sat silently now as the two young girls pored over her fabric samples, not even daring to make suggestions. The Morgan girl obviously knew what she wanted, and she was not hesitant about telling her pretty cousin what would be suitable for her either. Oddly enough, the country-bred miss had excellent taste.

There was a knock upon the chamber's door, and it opened to admit two young women in maid's garb.

"Ahh," Allegra said smiling, "here are Honor and Damaris. Come, lasses, and help us to disrobe so Mademoiselle Francine can obtain the measurements she will need."

The servants quickly did her bidding. Shortly both Allegra and Sirena were standing in their lawn chemises. The Frenchwoman took her measurements, working quickly for she suspected that Allegra would have difficulty standing still for very long. She carefully wrote each figure down upon a clean sheet of parchment. "Neither of you will need a corset," she told them.

"I wouldn't wear one even if told I had to," Allegra announced.

"You may change your mind one day, Mademoiselle Morgan," the modiste told her with a small smile. "Voilà! It is finished!"

"You will return to London tomorrow?" Allegra asked her.

"Oui, mademoiselle, I will," was the polite reply.

"Then you will take my instructions regarding the bolts of fabric from Mr. Trent to your mistress. If she does not wish to cooperate with us, then I must go to the mercers who import through Papa's firm. I should, however, hate to lose that wonderful forest green silk. It will make me a most marvelous riding outfit, don't you think? I can just see the jacket with the gold frogs below my cream silk stock."

The modiste smiled. "You have not only an excellent eye for color, but for style as well, mademoiselle," she told Allegra.

"Thank you," was the quiet reply.

When Mademoiselle Francine reached London several days later she told Madame Paul of her conversation with Allegra Morgan. Madame laughed to her friend's surprise.

"And what did Monsieur Trent say?" she asked Francine.

"Marie! He said whatever the young mademoiselle wanted she should have! Is Lord Morgan that rich? And can you afford to lose all that wonderful fabric so that one girl may not see it made into another gown for someone else? Oh, Marie! It was so difficult to obtain that fabric as it is! Now not to have it to display and offer to our most important customers…!" Mademoiselle Francine was near tears.

"Do not weep, Francine," Madame said sharply. "We still have the fabrics that were not chosen, as well as a number of others besides. Actually it makes our season easier. Each bolt of fabric Miss Morgan chose for herself and her cousin would have made two to three gowns. Now we shall just have to make one gown, but we shall be paid for the three, plus the cost of the fabric! Those are Mr. Trent's terms to me. We shall have more time for our other customers, plus a handsome profit to bank as well. Now, tell me what the two young ladies were like. Plain? Beautiful?"

"Miss Morgan is extraordinarily beautiful. She has skin like a gardenia, Marie. It is quite flawless. Her hair is the color of that mahogany table you ordered from Mr. Chippendale last year. Dark, not brown, but not quite black, and with a faint hint of red to it. Her eyes are most unique in color; They are violet."

"Violet?" Madame queried, disbelieving.

"Violet," her companion repeated firmly. "She has dark brows, and thick dark lashes. She is taller than is fashionable, but actually not too tall. Slender with a tiny waist. Her bosom is not yet full, but pleasingly rounded. She has a lovely smooth broad chest that will make a wonderful display for her jewelry. Her hands and feet are delicately made.

"As for Lady Sirena, she will be an Incomparable without a doubt. She is dainty and petite. Her hair is that wonderful pure blond without any darkness to it. Her eyes are blue-gray with surprisingly long sandy lashes. She is so recherchée, and the gentlemen will adore her. Miss Morgan is quite protective of her, for Lady Sirena is as natural and sweet as a honeycomb. There is neither malice, nor deceit in her. She is most charming, and loves her cousin every bit as much as Miss Morgan loves her. They are an unusual pair."

"Miss Morgan then is not quite so helpless," Madame noted.

"Not that one!" Mademoiselle Francine said. "She is charming and obviously educated, perhaps too educated for a young lady of breeding and fashion. She does not tolerate fools, and speaks her mind. She is fully aware of the power and the status of her father's wealth, and the fact she is his heiress, confers upon her. If she wants something, she wants it! I wonder if the gentlemen will like her despite her great beauty and fortune."