Caroline at the Tailors
Wide-eyed Robert stepped back expecting much more then the young
women before him, considering the violent way the door was opened. " Can I
help you Miss...." Realization hit and the old gentleman gave a gracious bow.
"Duchess Caroline how may I help you?"
Caroline caught her breath and calmly addressed the tailor, he wasn't
working for the man that just ruined her life, well, not directly. "It
has been decided that there is a need to *celebrate* my upcoming nuptials
and so the king is hosting a ball for which I need a dress."
"Oh I know all about the ball." Robert said, relieved that Caroline was
being mor friendly then she had appeared. "In fact, the Prince was here but a
few hours ago with a.....another cousin I think. Your younger sister perhaps?
Buying her a dress for the ball as well." Robert was in his sixties. his
older age and pleasant demeanor made him a popular tailor with the young
ladies as well as the men. Being older, there was never cause for fear when
Robert's hands were upon the women. He was always a gentleman. Most
considered it as though their grandfather was making their dress. Also, being
older, Robert was pleased his memory served him so well as to relate his
visitor with Caroline.
Caroline gave the older man an odd look. "You must be mistaken, I have no
other siblings." And there were no other family members in London at
the moment. she thought to herself, she nearly lost her temper, but held
her tongue, deciding to see what kind of information she could ger from
the old man. "Could you tell me about this girl George was with," she
said sweetly, "I just can't think of who he might have come out with."
She had no other siblings? Oh dear. Yes, now that Robert
thought about it, the young woman couldn't have been related to
Caroline. The girl, Gwen, had an Irish appearance which contrasted
highly with Caroline's dark hair and small features. Robert had seen
George with many women in his day but had assumed he had quit his
playboy ways with his marriage so close. Obviously he had been wrong
and made a giant mistake in mentioning the Prince's visit in front of
his betrothed. He had been acquainted with George much longer then
with Caroline and that is where his loyalty lay. Trying to steer the
conversation away from the prince, Robert took out his measuring tape
hoping Caroline would forget he mentioned another
woman. "So.....well....do you have a particular color or style in
mind Ma'am?"
'I'd prefer black' she thought to herself but kept a nice attitude with
the many. "I'm not that particular, any I'm sure will do, but first you
must tell me about this other girl. Perhaps some more of our cousins
arrived today and I missed them, could you describe the girl?"
Robert breathed a sigh of relief. It very well could be another
relative. What would be the harm in telling her now? Laying some
samples of fabrics on the counter, Robert rambled. "Let me see... She
had red hair and was very thin. Looked almost Irish if you ask me but
that doesn't seem likely-she spoke with a flawless British accent. I
think her name was Gwen. Yes that's it. The young woman's name was
Gwen. They came in and purchased a gown for her to wear at the ball.
A lovely rose one too. She must be a younger cousin-she seemed to be
a little younger then you or the Prince. HE is such a good man, to be
so fond of his little relatives, showing them around."
A young girl, English though might look Irish, named Gwen. Caroline knew
for sure this was no cousin, probably one of George's mistresses no
doubt, but Caroline kept up the show, "I don't have any cousins named
Gwen, perhaps someone on the other side of George's family," she said to
the tailor, "Why don't we try that one." she said continuing on while not
paying much attention to the fabric she chose for her own dress, waiting
to see what else the man may say about the girl.
"Ah, this is a beautiful fabric" Robert said approvingly, picking up
the light violet swatch that
Caroline had chosen. "It will look very becoming with such dark hair. And
it's a very royal color as well. Well done!" Putting up the other swatches
the grey-haired tailor continued on about his visitor. "Yes I suppose she
must be on his mother's side then, that is why he appeared to know her so
well. Miss Gwen seemed as giddy as a schoolgirl to get that dress. And to
think she wasn't even aware there was a ball until I suggested how nice it
would look there!" Robert's smile vanished as he realized the implications of
his words. The afternoon came back vividly now. They had come in because
George had somehow splashed the young lady with mud and to compensate he was
buying her a dress. He, not knowing at the time that they were not so
acquainted, mentioned the ball. And *that* was when George invited her. In
essence, he had just told the Prince's bride that he had been buying trinkets
for another woman right before their marriage. The poor old man closed his
eyes and said a small prayer as he helped Caroline onto a stool and silently
began taking her measurements. Oh hell, the Prince would have his head for
this.
"Ah, well," Caroline said keeping up her game of ignorance as the man
began to work. "I suppose word has not yet reached all of the
relatives. George and I only learn a few days ago ourselves, I have yet
to tell anyone back home of the event, much less the preceding
ball." Caroline wondered how much else the man in the long run would be
willing to help. "Tell me, are there any current trends in fashion in
England that are thought to be, oh, let's say daring or even
questionable."
"Oh good heavens my dear, there are too many to count!"
Robert said shaking his head and frowning. He helped he down off the
stool as he scribbled down her measurements. "I have seen a lot of
daring trends in my day but the low necklines and thinner skirts that
some women have tried to pull off....it's disgraceful."
"Well then. let's have it. Enough to be daring, but just short of
disgraceful. I always enjoyed being on the edge of fashion in Germany,
and after all George believes he is such the expert on attire, I want him
to understand that there are those that might rival him." she explained
to the tailor, though such an outfit would make the royals and the rest of
England gossip, for Caroline it was only the beginning.
Robert raised his eyes and tried not to look too shocked. "Of
course the dress shall be designed as you like it milady but....
might I suggest we tone it down a bit? If you want to be eye catching
I could tighten the bodice a bit and hint at other things but to be
so forward I fear might not go over well."
"Why not just go for all of it then? A tighter bodice, low neckline,
lighter skirt, oh I hate heavy skirts, a light skirt would be easier to
move around in and dance in anyway." she babbled on. She really had no
intention of dancing or moving anymore then the minium required, but it
sounded good anyway.
Robert's fatherly side could not help but show itself then. "
Caroline.... such a move would not be looked favorably upon. I *can*
make it for you, but you are a beautiful young woman. You do not need
all of that."
"I know I don't need it but I want it. I am sure that you are being
paid well for a dress in the style in which I wish is that not correct?"
Robert sighed. "As you wish Milady" he conceded. "So it is to have a
lower neckline and a skirt not as normally flared? Anything else?" The aging
tailor already knew this would be his least favorite assignment.
Hmmmm," Caroline began as the tailor moved about her. "What is the
latest length in sleeves?" Do people here still insist on them covering
a woman's wrist?"
Most emphatically" Robert insisted firmly. He was willing to
make a gown by her instructions but this was not a gown for a
prostitute. It was for the bride of the Prince of England, and some
things he would not do.
Well that won't do. If I am to be dancing and moving about I am bound to
become warm, and I don't do well with hot temperatures. No, something
shorter to help keep me cool would be better. The sleeves at most should
be three quarters if not half length. I'd almost like to go with no
sleeves but with the low neckline it would look silly wouldn't it."
Robert nodded grimly. She could ask him to, but regardless he would
leave the sleeves long. He doubted she would go complaining to anyone that he
hadn't made the gown *more* revealing. " I assume you want this to be ready
as soon as possible then?"
"No, the ball is in two weeks, I don't plan on wearing it until then, just
as long as you have the time you need in case any minor adjustments would
need to be made." the less time between the time she got the dress and
the ball, the less time for her mother to find it and get her a new
dress. Besides, in the meantime, Caroline had gotten enough information
about George's new toy she didn't need anything else.
"Very well then, I shall have the gown sent to you when it is
finished" Robert replied solemnly. HE would send it to Caroline at
the latest possible. That way she wouldn't have time to demand any
adjustments if he made a few of his own to the original design.
"Very well then." Caroline said as she stepped off the stool. "I'll
expect it in about a week and a half then. Good day Sir." she said,
exiting the shop and beginning to consider what to do about George and
his latest girl.