Just a little shout out to PearlSparrow13, Florencia7, GCTIGERFAN1, and Ditte3. and all the girls at work, and you too Manet, who are reading this. Thank you for your continued attention to my story, and all the reviews you have given. THANK YOU
Disclaimer: Kitty's gone Kitty's gone YEAH YEAH the Kitty's gone. I would do the moon walk again but still in this confounded torture..er.. er traction device.
Inaccuracies historical or otherwise will be made to listen to Murtogg and Mullroy stretch a 5 minute conversation into a 5 hour conversation
Chapter 29
At dinner that night, Rebecca's Father informed Rebecca's Mother about Lord Landesman's visit, and the proposal he had made. That sent Rebecca's Mother into a tizzy, "Oh Dear, I will have to get start planning the engagement party. I should be able to wait a few months on the Wedding planning, but you know how long it takes to do these things properly, and I'll not have anyone saying that Maria Creighton-Smythe did not give her daughter the finest engagement and wedding they have ever seen! We will have to have you measured for your Wedding dress, and your Engagement dress Rebecca. I am sure there will be several parties in your honor, and we will have to have dresses for those also. I should start tomorrow morning. I know there are things that will need to be shipped in, and that takes time, my goodness, so much to do and so little time." With this Maria Creighton-Smythe arose from the table, grandly, and left to go start planning.
Rebecca was flabbergasted. She hadn't even met this who knows who and her Mother already had them married! Oh to have just gotten on the Golden Spirit, and gone off with Captain Teague. Captain Teague, what was he going to think when he came back to find someone else courting her? Maybe this who knows who would find her totally disgusting and would change his mind about courting her. Maybe she could make sure he found her totally disgusting. Yep, she was good with that. Captain Teague had better be putting that plan into action pretty darn soon.
Her Father spoke then drawing her attention from her thoughts. "Now Rebecca………..after due consideration…………I have decided……………..to accept ………….Lord Landesman's proposal…………I will inform Lord Landesman tomorrow……………of our decision."
"Due consideration? Our decision?" Rebecca thought. "Just when did my wishes get considered?"
The next few days were spent trying to avoid her Mother. That was not always possible, so Rebecca was forced at times to accompany her Mother to the seamstress for measurements, fabric choosing, and various other activities Rebecca found useless and awfully boring to boot.
The day before who knows who was to make his first visit, her dress for said first visit was delivered to the house. Rebecca's Mother insisted she try it on immediately in case there needed to be any alterations. Jannika followed Rebecca to her room to assist. "Jannika, I'm not putting on that bloody corset again. I'm just not!" Rebecca said with vehemence
"Now child, the dress just will not look right without the corset. Then your dear Mother will be all upset, and probably drag you back to the dressmakers for corrections. You know you don't want that to happen now do you?"
"I guess not." Rebecca said in a voice full of resignation. "Let's get this over with."
Rebecca had to admit, as Jannika removed the dress from the box it had arrived in, it was pretty. As far as dresses go, that is.
The bodice was dark blue and had light blue ribbons laced up the front. The sleeves were elbow length and had light blue lace around the cuffs. The skirt was satin and also dark blue with light blue lace around the hem, and was rather full. It looked like it would be about ankle length once she had it on. There was also a pair of dark blue slippers in the package to go with the dress.
"Let's get this over with." Rebecca repeated.
"Finally" Rebecca sighed as Jannika finished arranging the dress just so so.
"I'll just go inform your Mother you are ready for inspection." Jannika chuckled as she left the room.
Rebecca looked up, and saw herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe it was her she was looking at. She even looked behind herself to make sure no one else was standing there. Rebecca usually avoided mirrors. She never did much with her hair that required the use of a mirror, same with her clothing. She mainly relied on Jannika to help her dress and do her hair when it was required.
But there she was staring back at herself. Jannika had quickly pulled her hair up and pinned it there in a loose bun, to keep it out of the way while she was getting dressed. There were loose tendrels falling down beside her face framing it. The color of the dress brought out her skin tone to the utmost advantage, and the dress fit her very well. She was actually kind of impressed with the way she looked. She looked like a fine young lady. She could surely give Christine Davenport a run for her money dressed like this she thought, and let out a snort just as her Mother entered the room.
"Now Rebecca, I have repeatedly told you that is a disgusting, inappropriate sound for a girl of your station to be making. I would have thought you had embarrassed your Father enough the other night at the Davenports! I see you have not yet learned your lesson. How much more disrespectful do you intend to be to your Father?" Her Mother didn't wait for an answer but immediately began "inspecting" Rebecca's dress.
"I knew that seamstress would not do a proper job. I think she has seen the last of our business. Just look what an inept job she has done on the trim. And that ribbon is not lying flat, and the bow is crooked, and there is a thread showing on the hem. If there were time, I would take this disaster back to her personally and demand she do it over. Correctly this time! But time is something we don't have the luxury of right now, so I suppose it will just have to do. I only hope Lord Landesman's nephew will overlook this, and not base his judgment of us on this….. pitiful excuse for a dress." And Maria Creighton-Smythe grandly exited the room.
To Be Continued
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