Chapter 20
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Elizabeth had approached Mrs. Whitmoor about touring the other areas of the house. In the attic they'd found a lovely old-fashioned set of rose entwined bedroom furniture. As the sturdy bed was designed to hold a heavy canopy, Elizabeth wondered if it wouldn't serve in a more centered arrangement, while preserving Mark from unwanted morning sun.
She approached Mark about it. He was busy and told her that anything she liked was fine.
When he finally stopped to eat, Elizabeth asked him again, "Is it really fine if I have the bedroom done up in flowers?"
Amused he told her, "I meant what I said, anything you like is fine love, even excessive flowers."
Elizabeth arranged with Devons and Mrs. Whitmoor to have the old set cleaned up and brought down once suitable mattress and draperies could be prepared. Since the furnishings themselves were heavily rose carved, she asked that the materials be flower free.
Mrs. Whitmoor suggested hunter green, a masculine color to offset the feminine carvings, that would compliment the painting Lord Waverly had in his room. Elizabeth approved. The two servants thought it would probably be ready before she and Lord Waverly returned from visiting her parents.
The day before her birthday, Elizabeth stood for the final fitting of the white worked muslin morning gown she was planning to wear for her wedding. She was amazed by the quality and quantity of delicate white embroidery that had been added to the material in barely a week. This gown swept the floor with it's generous folds of skirt. Her new maid stood beside her and Elizabeth still felt a little intimidated by the small domineering French woman.
Their initial meeting had been awkwardly presided over by the ever helpful Devons. It turned out that her new maid had been hired away from her previous employer, willingly so, but Elizabeth felt uncomfortable about the situation.
Elizabeth had forthrightly asked if the maid, Antoinette, had enough training to act as her teacher in the matters of dress and etiquette that would be required of her new position as a Marchioness. Antoinette, reluctant to promise too much had indicated that yes, in matters of dress and hairstyle, but likely not for public manner.
Elizabeth worried privately that perhaps she was going to wind up needing to ask Mark for a governess, which sounded silly, but she really felt that she had no idea how a Marchioness was supposed to go on. The highest ranking woman of any close acquaintance of hers, was the Countess Briarly, Mark's aunt, whom she'd always regarded with alternating awe and astonishment.
When they returned to the coach, Antoinette informed her new mistress of the dozens of small items that she felt would be needed in the morning, that had been overlooked. Ribbons and flowers and pins were on the list. Also she required proper brushes and combs and other tools to do Elizabeth's hair in the morning. Elizabeth asked if she could estimate the cost of all of these things, and if she would be willing to take on the task of acquiring everything.
Antoinette was willing to accomplish the shopping in what remained of the afternoon, if she were allowed the coach and another maid or footman to accompany her. The amount she estimated was more than Elizabeth had left of her traveling money, but Elizabeth was reluctant to ask Mark for pin money before they were even truly married.
"If I give you everything I have left, can you make do, perhaps leave out the less essential items?" asked Elizabeth.
Antoinette considered her new mistress thoughtfully. "I can," she replied, "but many of these things you will need year round."
Elizabeth confessed, "After we're properly married, I won't mind so much, telling Lord Waverly that I need pin money. He told me I could do as I liked with both dressing room and bedroom, and that he was willing to buy a hundred dresses if I wished, so I don't think he plans to be a stingy husband. I just feel odd about asking before it's official." She watched Antoinette anxiously for her reaction.
Antoinette surprised her. "I approve, it doesn't do to show a man that you are too dependent on him," she said, shockingly, to Elizabeth. "We will manage tomorrow upon your own funds," the maid declared sturdily.
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Elizabeth had approached Mrs. Whitmoor about touring the other areas of the house. In the attic they'd found a lovely old-fashioned set of rose entwined bedroom furniture. As the sturdy bed was designed to hold a heavy canopy, Elizabeth wondered if it wouldn't serve in a more centered arrangement, while preserving Mark from unwanted morning sun.
She approached Mark about it. He was busy and told her that anything she liked was fine.
When he finally stopped to eat, Elizabeth asked him again, "Is it really fine if I have the bedroom done up in flowers?"
Amused he told her, "I meant what I said, anything you like is fine love, even excessive flowers."
Elizabeth arranged with Devons and Mrs. Whitmoor to have the old set cleaned up and brought down once suitable mattress and draperies could be prepared. Since the furnishings themselves were heavily rose carved, she asked that the materials be flower free.
Mrs. Whitmoor suggested hunter green, a masculine color to offset the feminine carvings, that would compliment the painting Lord Waverly had in his room. Elizabeth approved. The two servants thought it would probably be ready before she and Lord Waverly returned from visiting her parents.
The day before her birthday, Elizabeth stood for the final fitting of the white worked muslin morning gown she was planning to wear for her wedding. She was amazed by the quality and quantity of delicate white embroidery that had been added to the material in barely a week. This gown swept the floor with it's generous folds of skirt. Her new maid stood beside her and Elizabeth still felt a little intimidated by the small domineering French woman.
Their initial meeting had been awkwardly presided over by the ever helpful Devons. It turned out that her new maid had been hired away from her previous employer, willingly so, but Elizabeth felt uncomfortable about the situation.
Elizabeth had forthrightly asked if the maid, Antoinette, had enough training to act as her teacher in the matters of dress and etiquette that would be required of her new position as a Marchioness. Antoinette, reluctant to promise too much had indicated that yes, in matters of dress and hairstyle, but likely not for public manner.
Elizabeth worried privately that perhaps she was going to wind up needing to ask Mark for a governess, which sounded silly, but she really felt that she had no idea how a Marchioness was supposed to go on. The highest ranking woman of any close acquaintance of hers, was the Countess Briarly, Mark's aunt, whom she'd always regarded with alternating awe and astonishment.
When they returned to the coach, Antoinette informed her new mistress of the dozens of small items that she felt would be needed in the morning, that had been overlooked. Ribbons and flowers and pins were on the list. Also she required proper brushes and combs and other tools to do Elizabeth's hair in the morning. Elizabeth asked if she could estimate the cost of all of these things, and if she would be willing to take on the task of acquiring everything.
Antoinette was willing to accomplish the shopping in what remained of the afternoon, if she were allowed the coach and another maid or footman to accompany her. The amount she estimated was more than Elizabeth had left of her traveling money, but Elizabeth was reluctant to ask Mark for pin money before they were even truly married.
"If I give you everything I have left, can you make do, perhaps leave out the less essential items?" asked Elizabeth.
Antoinette considered her new mistress thoughtfully. "I can," she replied, "but many of these things you will need year round."
Elizabeth confessed, "After we're properly married, I won't mind so much, telling Lord Waverly that I need pin money. He told me I could do as I liked with both dressing room and bedroom, and that he was willing to buy a hundred dresses if I wished, so I don't think he plans to be a stingy husband. I just feel odd about asking before it's official." She watched Antoinette anxiously for her reaction.
Antoinette surprised her. "I approve, it doesn't do to show a man that you are too dependent on him," she said, shockingly, to Elizabeth. "We will manage tomorrow upon your own funds," the maid declared sturdily.
Elizabeth had approached Mrs. Whitmoor about touring the other areas of the house. In the attic they'd found a lovely old-fashioned set of rose entwined bedroom furniture. As the sturdy bed was designed to hold a heavy canopy, Elizabeth wondered if it wouldn't serve in a more centered arrangement, while preserving Mark from unwanted morning sun. She approached Mark about it. He was busy and told her that anything she liked was fine. When he finally stopped to eat, Elizabeth asked him again, "Is it really fine if I have the bedroom done up in flowers?" Amused he told her, "I meant what I said, anything you like is fine love, even excessive flowers." Elizabeth arranged with Devons and Mrs. Whitmoor to have the old set cleaned up and brought down once suitable mattress and draperies could be prepared. Since the furnishings themselves were heavily rose carved, she asked that the materials be flower free. Mrs. Whitmoor suggested hunter green, a masculine color to offset the feminine carvings, that would compliment the painting Lord Waverly had in his room. Elizabeth approved. The two servants thought it would probably be ready before she and Lord Waverly returned from visiting her parents. The day before her birthday, Elizabeth stood for the final fitting of the white worked muslin morning gown she was planning to wear for her wedding. She was amazed by the quality and quantity of delicate white embroidery that had been added to the material in barely a week. This gown swept the floor with it's generous folds of skirt. Her new maid stood beside her and Elizabeth still felt a little intimidated by the small domineering French woman. Their initial meeting had been awkwardly presided over by the ever helpful Devons. It turned out that her new maid had been hired away from her previous employer, willingly so, but Elizabeth felt uncomfortable about the situation. Elizabeth had forthrightly asked if the maid, Antoinette, had enough training to act as her teacher in the matters of dress and etiquette that would be required of her new position as a Marchioness. Antoinette, reluctant to promise too much had indicated that yes, in matters of dress and hairstyle, but likely not for public manner. Elizabeth worried privately that perhaps she was going to wind up needing to ask Mark for a governess, which sounded silly, but she really felt that she had no idea how a Marchioness was supposed to go on. The highest ranking woman of any close acquaintance of hers, was the Countess Briarly, Mark's aunt, whom she'd always regarded with alternating awe and astonishment. When they returned to the coach, Antoinette informed her new mistress of the dozens of small items that she felt would be needed in the morning, that had been overlooked. Ribbons and flowers and pins were on the list. Also she required proper brushes and combs and other tools to do Elizabeth's hair in the morning. Elizabeth asked if she could estimate the cost of all of these things, and if she would be willing to take on the task of acquiring everything. Antoinette was willing to accomplish the shopping in what remained of the afternoon, if she were allowed the coach and another maid or footman to accompany her. The amount she estimated was more than Elizabeth had left of her traveling money, but Elizabeth was reluctant to ask Mark for pin money before they were even truly married. "If I give you everything I have left, can you make do, perhaps leave out the less essential items?" asked Elizabeth. Antoinette considered her new mistress thoughtfully. "I can," she replied, "but many of these things you will need year round." Elizabeth confessed, "After we're properly married, I won't mind so much, telling Lord Waverly that I need pin money. He told me I could do as I liked with both dressing room and bedroom, and that he was willing to buy a hundred dresses if I wished, so I don't think he plans to be a stingy husband. I just feel odd about asking before it's official." She watched Antoinette anxiously for her reaction. Antoinette surprised her. "I approve, it doesn't do to show a man that you are too dependent on him," she said, shockingly, to Elizabeth. "We will manage tomorrow upon your own funds," the maid declared sturdily.
