~Chapter 25~
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Harriet. I’ll show you to your room.”
“Thank you.”
“Please, you donāt need to be so formal. Would you like your meal brought to your room, or would you prefer to dine in the dining room?”
“You can bring it to my rooāhuh?”
“Understood. I’ll carry your bags for you.”
The kind maid picked up the bags from the floor and led the way. Harriet had already glanced around when following the butler earlier, but the Pellon Countās mansion was far bigger than the Listerwell Viscountās estate.
It wasnāt just bigger, but everything inside was much more luxurious.
āI can’t believe Iāll be living in a place like thisā¦ā
She was glad she had mustered up the courage to write to Trisha. The maid, Esther, walking ahead, glanced back at Harriet and started a conversation.
“We were all wondering who might be coming, and when we saw a young woman, we were really surprised. And to think you’re the countess’s grandniece…”
“Didnāt it seem strange that I, someone none of you had ever seen before, showed up?”
“More than that, it was surprising that someone would come to live here. Occasionally, guests stay for a night or two, but youāre the first to come to live with the countess.”
Now that she thought about it, it felt somewhat empty despite the mansionās large size. It must have been because there were so few people living in it.
“So, has Grand Aunt been living here alone for 13 years?”
In this huge house, all by herself. She must have felt lonely.
Just then, Esther stopped in front of a door.
“This is the room where you’ll be staying, Miss. Over there is the countess’s bedroom, and thatās her office. Iāll show you around the other house gradually.”
With that brief explanation, Esther smiled at Harriet and opened the door wide.
For a moment, Harriet couldnāt believe her eyes.
“This is… my room?”
“Yes! The countess gave strict instructions, and we worked hard to make it nice. Do you like it?”
Harriet stood there, mouth slightly open, as she slowly looked around the room.
The walls, curtains, and bed canopy were all in a soft, pale blue. The dressing table and fireplace were white.
The sofa, couch, and chairs were covered in blue paisley fabric, and the walnut wardrobe and table gave the room a sense of elegance.
An expensive-looking carpet covered the floor, and a cabinet next to the fireplace displayed teacups and a teapot.
Finally, her eyes rested on the vase of flowers on the table. The fresh pink flowers in the vase were something Harriet hadnāt been allowed to have since she was twelve years old.
“Do you like it?”
Of course. So much that she wanted to cry.
***
Clop, clop.
A carriage made its way through the bustling streets of Genoa, the sound of the horse’s hooves ringing out cheerfully. Both passersby and other carriages moved aside as soon as they saw the Pellon family crest on the side of the carriage.
The carriage stopped in front ofĀ Lubarās Dress ShopĀ on Peyton Street, and the owner rushed out to greet the guests.
“Welcome, Countess Pellon! Itās been a while!”
“Indeed, it has been a while, Ashley.”
“I was surprised when you booked the entire morning! Are you changing out your entire wardrobe?”
Her question was understandable. Although Trisha was an important client, she wasnāt the type to buy multiple outfits at once.
But blocking out three hours without accepting other customers could only mean she was placing a large order.
“Why would an old woman like me need a new wardrobe? The person you should be focusing on today isnāt me.”
Trisha glanced over her shoulder.
“Harriet, introduce yourself. This is Ashley Lubar, the owner of the dress shop Iāve been dealing with for a long time.”
“Itās a pleasure to meet you. Iām Harriet Listerwell.”
Harriet curtsied slightly toward Madam Lubar, who looked quite surprised. Harriet was curious how the shop owner would react since she most likely knew who she was.
But Madam Lubar was not only a skilled designer but also a seasoned businesswoman. She immediately greeted Harriet with a warm smile.
“Itās a pleasure! Iām already excited to make dresses for such a lovely young lady. Hohoho!”
Though her words might have been a bit of flattery, Harriet truly felt her heart race.
The elegant and luxurious dresses displayed in the windows, the refined atmosphere, the professional attitude of the staff…
This was what it was like in the shops she had visited with her parents as a child. Back then, she had taken it for granted, but now, looking back, she realizes how privileged her childhood had been.
“Come on in.”
Madam Lubar personally led Trisha and Harriet inside.
As they entered the dress shop, one of the staff turned the sign on the door. From now until 1 p.m., no one else would be allowed in.
Trisha sat comfortably on the sofa in the middle of the shop, as if she was familiar with the place.
“We have a lot to do, Ashley. Letās start by looking at some dresses for going out.”
“You havenāt even had any tea yet, Madam.”
“I didnāt come here for tea. Hurry up.”
“Oh dear, youāre as impatient as ever.”
Although she pretended to be a bit flustered, Madam Lubar had a smile on her face. She signaled to the back, and a staff member promptly brought out a style book.
Trisha handed it to Harriet.
“Why donāt you start by picking something you like?”
Feeling a little dazed, Harriet carefully took the style book and began turning the pages.
“Wow, these are beautiful.”
The first page alone was filled with gorgeous dresses.
When she lived at the Listerwell estate, Harriet couldnāt afford to have her clothes made at a place like this. Bella, of course, wore dresses from expensive shops, but Harriet was only allowed to visit places that were slightly better than commoner dress shops.
John liked to brag about how “expensive” her dresses were, but Harriet knew they were nothing like the clothes she wore as a child. The fabric was so rough against her skin, it was impossible not to notice.
āThis place seems even more expensive than the shops I went to as a child.ā
Just by looking at the clothes Madam Lubar and her staff were wearing, Harriet could tell. The designs were simple enough not to follow the trends too closely, but the detailed craftsmanship set them apart from ordinary clothes.
Harriet tried not to get too excited as she carefully looked through the style book. Eventually, she chose a simple, neat design.
“I think this one would be good. It wonāt show dirt easily, and itās simple enough to wear anywhere.”
She had chosen it partly because she thought it would suit Trishaās conservative taste. The dark gray dress could be given a different look simply by changing the shawl, making it a practical choice.
Trisha glanced at the design Harriet had picked and frowned.
“Are you picking a mourning dress?”
“Huh?”
“Youāre young. Wear something bright. You need to stand out, and standing out is how youāll make connections. Youāre not bad-looking, so why donāt you have more confidence?”
At those words, Harriet instinctively touched her face.
Considering Trishaās usual sharp personality, saying “Youāre not bad-looking” was practically a compliment.
Harriet had been told she was ugly for nearly 10 years, so the comment made her feel happy, almost embarrassed. It had been so long since someone saw her as pretty that the feeling was unfamiliar.
For the first time in a long time, she felt a bit of confidence returning.
Hesitantly, Harriet turned a few more pages in the style book. Then she pointed to a design that she had liked but only admired from a distance.
“How about this one…?”
It was a gray-striped dress with yellow ribbons. She was worried she might get scolded for choosing gray again, but to her surprise, Trisha nodded approvingly.
“That will suit you well. You have good taste.”
Even that small recognition made her heart race. Just as Harriet was quietly enjoying her moment of pride, Trisha spoke again.
“That oneās nice, but I think these will also look good on you.”
Trisha quickly flipped through the pages of the style book.
The designs she chose were even more fashionable than the one Harriet had picked. There was a white dress with black lines and ribbons, a bright yellow dress, and a solid purple dress with a checked pattern that seemed perfect for autumn.
“Hmm, you should probably get an Empire dress and an organza dress too.”
Muttering to herself, Trisha called Madam Lubar and began pointing out designs without hesitation.
“This one, this one, and also this one, and this one too.”
“Oh my, you have such a good eye. Theyāll look perfect on Miss Harriet. For the striped dress she picked, we could also make a jacket in a different color. Would you like me to do that?”
“Yes, that would be nice. Make it in a slightly darker color than the stripes.”
While Trisha and Madam Lubar were getting excited, Harriet stood to the side, her eyes wide in surprise.
“G-Grand Aunt… Isnāt this too much?”
“Weāve only just picked out your dresses for going out. What are you talking about? Weāre running out of time, so we havenāt even picked anything for winter yet. Ashley, letās move on to evening dresses.”
