Chapter 25
Countess Catherine Hubbard was conversing with Sir Geraldine Brooke. The tall Sir Brooke was complimenting the new dress Catherine had made for today’s ball.
“It’s very beautiful.”
“Not bad, right? What do you think, Sir Brooke? Would you like to try one on yourself?”
At Catherine’s suggestion, Sir Brooke laughed as if amused. Resting a hand on his waist, he replied,
“Perhaps one day, if the chance arises.”
It was around then that Everdeen entered Catherine’s line of sight. She also noticed the Duke of West spot her and walk out of the hall. That wasn’t surprising. What was surprising, however, was that Everdeen had come with Sean.
“Did you come alone?”
Casting a sidelong glance at Everdeen, Catherine quickly turned her eyes back to Sir Brooke and answered his question.
“I was supposed to come with Lord Roan, but he injured his leg while riding and couldn’t attend.”
She had been debating whether she ought to cancel her attendance when Everdeen showed up with Christine. Catherine recalled the young designer who had fainted upon hearing Everdeen was a noblewoman, and she smiled to herself.
Even after regaining consciousness, the girl had been flustered for quite some time. But her talent for dressmaking was undeniable, and Catherine was looking forward to the gown she had promised to make.
“My, and yet you still came? What an honor.”
At Sir Brooke’s words, Catherine smiled sweetly. Just then, murmurs began to ripple through the crowd.
“Look over there, it’s Lady Usher and Countess Hubbard.”
The guests’ eyes shifted toward Everdeen and Catherine. Hearing the whispers, Sir Brooke turned as well and spotted Everdeen.
“Did you order your gown from Red Ribbon?”
Only when Catherine asked this did people finally realize that the dress Everdeen wore was the same design as Catherine’s. Until then, everyone had been too focused on what the two women might say to each other to notice their dresses.
Sir Geraldine also noticed, and his expression turned startled. Except for a few differences in color and trim, the two of them were wearing the exact same gown.
“No. I ordered mine from someone I personally know.”
Everdeen replied stiffly, her face frozen. Both women looked equally tense, as if they were deeply embarrassed by the situation.
“From another shop, yet you ended up with the same design?”
“Of all people, those two wore identical gowns…”
At Everdeen’s answer, onlookers began to whisper among themselves again. It was obvious the dresses were identical in design. Then Catherine sharply remarked,
“Your dressmaker must have copied Red Ribbon’s design.”
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
The tension between Catherine and Everdeen was palpable. Sir Geraldine, flustered, tried to intervene, but Everdeen spoke firmly,
“My gown is the same design Lady West wore not long ago.”
She meant that Annette had worn it first. At that, Catherine closed her mouth. It was better to let the guests speculate and spread the story themselves.
Just as the two had planned, the onlookers began to chatter excitedly about the amusing incident at the ball.
“Then are you saying Red Ribbon copied Lady Annette’s dress?”
“Maybe Lady Annette ordered hers from Red Ribbon?”
“And then they remade it for Countess Hubbard? Paul would have to be insane to do that…”
At those words, people fell silent. The complicated relationship between House Hubbard and House West was already well-known in society.
There was even a rumor that the child Catherine had given birth to was Martin West’s. The gossip went further: Catherine had wanted marriage, but Martin had run away.
And now, with Everdeen—who was said to have refused marriage to Martin West and even attempted suicide—embroiled in the situation, curiosity soared sky-high.
“It must be a misunderstanding.”
Regaining his senses, Sir Geraldine stepped between the two women. After all, this was his household’s ball. Everyone might enjoy the drama, but if the two really quarreled, it would be disastrous.
“Is it really a misunderstanding?”
Catherine replied as though to him directly, then turned away. Her demeanor made it clear she was offended. Sir Geraldine hurried after her, but Catherine fended him off with the excuse that she was unwell and was leaving.
“Lady Usher?”
At last, Sir Geraldine returned to Everdeen. Since Everdeen had clashed with Countess Hubbard, and seemingly achieved her goal, she was walking across the hall, ignoring the stares.
“I am Geraldine Brooke.”
“Oh! Hello. I’m Everdeen Usher.”
Everdeen was surprised when Geraldine, whom she thought had followed Catherine, appeared at her side. The tall woman with long black hair tied back wore embroidered trousers—a curious detail.
“Those are very fine trousers.”
About to ask if Everdeen was all right, Geraldine found her words caught in her throat at the unexpected compliment. Studying Everdeen, who seemed far too bright for someone who had just quarreled in public, she asked,
“Did you do that on purpose?”
“What do you mean?”
Feigning innocence, Everdeen made Geraldine realize she had approached Catherine deliberately. Strange woman, Geraldine thought. Walking alongside her, she pressed,
“You wore the same dress as Countess Hubbard on purpose? How did you know what she would wear?”
“I told you, didn’t I? It’s the same gown Annette wore before.”
“You mean Annette West?”
So she knows Annette. Everdeen paused mid-step and gave Geraldine a closer look—confirming she was a woman, not a handsome young man. Then she politely asked,
“And what relation are you to the Earl of Brooke?”
“He is my father.”
So, she was Sir Brooke. No wonder she was concerned, given the quarrel had erupted at her family’s ball. Everdeen offered an honest apology.
“I see. I’m sorry for causing such a disturbance.”
“No, no… It’s just that…”
Waving her hand, Geraldine lowered her voice as she glanced around.
“I was curious why you would deliberately wear the same gown.”
“As I said—Annette’s design was stolen by Red Ribbon and sold to Countess Hubbard.”
So what? Geraldine still didn’t quite understand and looked at her blankly. Wasn’t that the same as saying she had come to pick a fight? Everdeen smiled sweetly.
“The designer is my friend. And this wasn’t the first time Paul had stolen her designs, so I decided to act.”
She had done it for her friend. Geraldine’s jaw dropped, and she found herself staring anew at the little woman before her.
Petite in stature, with red hair and green eyes—Everdeen Usher. Geraldine had, of course, heard the stories: the young lady linked with Martin West, said to have killed herself after refusing him.
People had described her as quiet and demure. Yet the woman standing here was anything but. She was bold, fiery, the kind to confront injustice head-on.
“But now your relationship with Countess Hubbard will suffer.”
At Geraldine’s worried words, Everdeen hesitated, then said,
“Well… the Countess agreed to this, too.”
What? Geraldine’s jaw dropped again. She stared in disbelief at Everdeen’s mischievous smile, then hurried to keep pace as she walked on.
“So the two of you staged it?”
“I needed the rumor about Paul stealing designs to spread.”
That was why she had arranged to wear the same gown to the ball. Geraldine could hardly believe it.
“People will say you and the Countess quarreled.”
“And the reason will be that Paul sold stolen designs.”
“But society won’t boycott Red Ribbon over this.”
Of course not. Red Ribbon was still one of the most popular ateliers in society, and this incident alone would not ruin it.
Everdeen knew that too—she wasn’t naïve enough to expect otherwise. Stopping at the doorway, she turned to Geraldine, lifted her skirts slightly, and said,
“But now everyone knows my friend designed a gown so desirable that even Red Ribbon’s owner wanted to steal it, that Lady West wore it, and that a countess ordered it too.”
Christine’s problem had always been her lack of reputation. Without noble patrons, she had no standing.
But after tonight, people would be curious. Some would order from her out of sheer interest.
“And Red Ribbon’s owner won’t dare steal from your friend again.”
Geraldine nodded at that. At the very least, Paul would think twice before copying Christine again.
“Still, for all this trouble, the gain seems rather small, doesn’t it?”
Opening the door for her, Geraldine asked. The servants waiting there bowed as they passed. Looking outside, Everdeen saw the West family carriage parked in front of Brooke Manor and replied,
“Sometimes, people must bear greater losses in order to claim what should be their most natural right.”
After all, she and Sean’s true goal was to announce her survival. And the rumor of Lady Usher clashing with Countess Hubbard in identical dresses would spread far quicker than mere news of her attendance at the ball.
“Sorry for causing such a stir.”
Everdeen said, then walked toward the waiting carriage where Sean sat with a disapproving expression.
“Is it done?”
He asked. The goal had been achieved. When Everdeen nodded, Sean tapped the carriage roof. Moments later, it began to move.
The chapter is reversed 🥺