When Lizzy entered the main lobby of the shop, she noticed the dummy for the dress.
She ignored her mother as she approached. She was blessed to have been able to finish the tear in the dress and she didn't bother to inform her mother about it. The window was beside the front door as Lizzy made her way over.
"Keep in mind that that dress is going to there for a week." Her mother called.
Lizzy nodded as she set the box to the side underneath the dummy. She remembered how to set the dress up and for window shoppers it had to be precisely right. If Lizzy could attest to anything she knew that if it wasn't done properly she would hear it from her mother. She could hear her clicking away at the cash register as Lizzy inwardly rolled her eyes when her mother did what she always would whenever Lizzy would finish one dress.
"Ignore me as usual." Lizzy thought as she started to prepare the dummy for the dress.
A few customers were in the shop but Lizzy wasn't paying much attention as she narrowed her eyes at the display. There were three dummies for the Bennet's Shop for window shopping. Lizzy knew too that accessories were in front and they would be polished at the back and without the help of her sisters, she was always asked to clean them and they would end up complaining about what went right and what would go incredibly right later in the modeling industry!
After the display dummy was relatively prepared, Lizzy reached over and taking the dress from the box, she continued her work as her mother chatted on with a few customers here and there. As Lizzy would have known she was ignored and her work would be praised by her mother who would praise her stepdaughter when they would return from their "prancing about" the salons' as models and Lizzy was only preparing herself for their success stories.
"Though I truthfully doubt they will ever make it." Lizzy thought as she took out a small stool so she could put the dress on in the window. The other two dresses would be tended to later as she started her work on the left. To Lizzy they reminded her of the Holy Trinity though she shuddered at the thought. She didn't bother to inform her mother what she'd done that Sunday and she was thankful for this but at the same time if she found out – she would be in a different situation than where she was now.
Once the box was open, Lizzy turned the dummy towards her and with her eyes, she started to concentrate on how the dress would drape itself on the dummy. Though Lizzy had done this countless times she remembered her mother wanted this dress precisely set up right. And it had taken Lizzy all morning to fix the rip and though she would have learned the end of the spade with her mother, she was a little surprised to find that she wasn't lectured when she entered with the dress at the Hour of the Angelus and not yelled at for being late!
At that moment, as she reached over to put the dress on, the back door opened and the shrill voices of her sisters could be heard and they shook the bell above the entrance as Lydia exclaimed.
"What a nerve racking day! And I'm famished!"
"It's your own fault you didn't eat! I knew it when we exited and the Ford came! You have no one to blame but yourself!"
If Lizzy knew her sisters they were already ranting at each other from an un-successful day at the modeling offices they pranced to earlier that morning. And they were also the ones who were supposed to help her with the dress… not prance about looking for a job!
The costumers in the shop ignored their voices when the two sisters made their way in and when Lizzy watched, in the reflection of the windows, she watched as both of the sisters' walked over to their mother and started to talk with her about their day. Her mother paused when she looked at her daughters and for a moment, Lizzy saw something which she knew she never could participate in. As the dummy was being draped, Lizzy heard the words from their mother she never got and it pained her to listen. Even from where she was she could feel that her mother loved them more than her and it was all Lizzy could do but keep her tears of longing in.
Instead she continued her work as the dress draped over the dummy and when Lizzy was finished, she returned it to the left before she stepped from the stool and ignored the commotion by the counter, which was loud, Lizzy retrieved the box before she made her way across the room and being ignored, as was the custom, she entered the back room and only prepared herself for another sight.
"My sisters' modeling dresses… ripped and torn… as usual."
Setting the box aside, Lizzy walked forward and approaching the table, which was in the center, stared at the two dresses she'd sown for her sisters the week before. As she would have guessed; yes. They were both ripped and torn and when she reached out and picked one up, Lizzy only guessed which one of her sisters' would ask her to mend it for the following day.
"And without having them rant at me," Lizzy thought as she collected both of the dresses, "I will mend these behind their backs and have them in their rooms before they knew what was coming."
And quickly glancing over her shoulder, she made sure neither of them were watching before she put the dresses in the same box, which held the one for the window shoppers, in before she hid it under another table. She would retrieve it later because Lizzy heard one voice ask the minute she stepped over to the kitchen.
"Lizzy? Care to make me a pot of tea?!"
"Yes, Kitty." Lizzy replied as she was already ahead of her sister.
She knew what kind of tea she wanted and as Lizzy made her way over to the cabinet, she kept to herself when Kitty called.
"And a warm scone beside it, Lizzy! Last time I asked you for one it was cold! And add the cream if you would!"
"Yes, Kitty." Lizzy replied but she inwardly rolled her eyes.
She knew too that if she let out peep her backend would be kicked or at least she would endure a lecture from her mother. As Lizzy set three mugs out, she kept her calm when Lydia entered and on cue, to Lizzy's mind, got the same request from the other stepsister.
"Lizzy? Do the same for me! Only make sure you make the Earl tea thick!"
"Yes, Lydia."
Kitty looked at Lydia as Lizzy made her way over to the stove and as she poured the water in, she listened silently to the conversation. As was the usual routine – she was ignored.
"Lydia? That's one of the best times I've seen you turn red as a beet when we entered the office! You could have done better if you held yourself a little more like this."
And Kitty showed how she could hold herself a little higher when she rose and showed Lydia how to keep herself poised for the modeling. Lizzy seen this many times and she wasn't enthralled when Lydia inhaled sharply when Kitty added.
"And if you expect to have the right poise – you have to keep the upper body straight while the feet walk like this."
"You don't have to boss me around with all those reminders!"
"Yes; but as you're older sister, it would make sense to remind you ever now and then."
"Indeed? I was doing what I could!"
"Yes. And I'm sure they all were proud of you." A voice answered.
Lizzy turned in time to see her mother standing in the doorway. She was wearing the cashier dress and Lizzy only imagined what she would ask of her later. But her mother's eyes were on her two daughters who were seated by the table. The kettle was starting to heat the water and Lizzy remembered the scones where in the little compartment beside the stove. She'd baked them the day before and she knew they were still fresh and she was thankful for this. Here, Lizzy turned and would have taken three out when her mother's voice called.
"Lizzy?! Those mugs are chipped. Go fetch the best ones, would you?"
"I didn't notice that until now." Kitty said as she peered over where the mugs were. Lizzy said nothing when her stepsister scanned the mugs before she looked at her and mimicked her mother's reaction as she added.
"And plus those were old anyway. Go and fetch the best ones, Lizzy."
"And keep in mind the ladies will be coming over tomorrow morning, Lizzy." Lydia answered as Lizzy made her way towards the exit. She knew she would sew those ridiculous dresses that evening after a load of house cleaning would be piled on her in less than three seconds. She timed it correctly when her mother hissed at her as she picked up the box of her sisters' dresses.
"And the floors need to be washed and polished. I expect it done by tomorrow morning and the windows cleaned too. There's a list on the counter and you should know what needs to be done."
"Yes." Lizzy replied softly though she yearned to run.
When she entered the shop, she was thankful not a costumer was in sight and Lizzy remembered the shop closed early. Whenever her sisters returned from their "modeling prancing" they always had stories to tell her mother. And as she knew it she was excluded. The things she was perfect at was collecting their dresses, torn as they always were, to mend and serve them tea to their fancy. Though Lizzy never mentioned it she knew what her sisters' problem was and why their success in the modeling world always turned on them.
"Their bodies aren't to the forms of the modeling offices' they're going to." She said to herself as she looked at the work she would be doing later.
"And my mother is overlooking that. She's also ignoring her they lack the blessing of sewing and helping with the Bennet's Shop. Which is something they lacked for the success of the shop."
Lizzy sighed and when she remembered the mugs for her sisters, she quickly made her way to another part of the building where she would find three new mugs and then return to the kitchen. When she selected the best ones to her mother's and sisters' likings, Lizzy walked through the shop, and when she did, she offered a silent Hail Mary as she prayed.
"And please grant me the grace to do what I'm going to be asked. This isn't going to be easy and with the cleaning of the house, as well as the sewing of their dresses, I need all the strength you can give me, Blessed Mother."
Then Lizzy re-entered the kitchen in time to hear Lydia exclaim.
"Lizzy! That kettle has been ringing like a rooster on a farm! Care to take it off the burner and pour us some tea?! And where is my scone?!"
"And mine as well! Lizzy! Remember what I asked you that I want it warm and not cold?!"
"Along with the cream? Yes." Lizzy replied as she walked over and put the mugs on the table. Her mother watched her with eyes like a hawk but Lizzy paid little heed. The Hail Mary she'd prayed aided her as she walked over to the stove and after removing the kettle, turned the heat off and then made her way over to the other ladies who only stared at her. Lizzy disliked this feeling greatly when she braced herself for the next part.
"Lizzy? Where are the teas we asked? You don't pour mine before I select my mug!" Kitty exclaimed and it rang through Lizzy's ear.
"Thank goodness none of the costumers are here to listen to this." Lizzy silently said to herself but she kept her feelings in when Kitty reached across and selected one of the mugs Lizzy brought. It was colored blue and white and Lizzy waited, with the boiling kettle in her hand, for Kitty to look at her and demand her service to her.
"Lizzy? The tea. Now."
"Yes, Kitty."
Lizzy was already prepared. She was wearing an apron which had pockets and reaching into one of them, she took out the black tea bag Kitty always liked most and when her sister held the mug up, Lizzy placed the bag in before she poured the steaming water in. As the sound entered her ears, Lizzy heard Kitty yawn as she said.
"Well, Lizzy? This is going to take a century! Where is that scone I asked?"
"In…"
"Yes. In the compartment. Go and fetch that. And then I want some cream in my tea. And I hope the one in the fridge isn't moldy! Like what happened last time!"
"Oh! Kitty! You had to mention the cream is moldy?!" Lydia exclaimed as she sharply looked at Lizzy. She was finished pouring the water when Lizzy heard Lydia exclaim.
"Lizzy?! Go the market and buy us some more, would you?!"
"And that's another part of her chores." Her mother said in a cold manner.
"Oh! We need that reminder! Thank you, mama!"
"Indeed."
"Well, Lizzy?"
"Yes?"
Kitty peered at her tea and made a face. The steam touched her face before she looked at Lizzy as Lydia reached over and got her mug next.
"Earl Grey; not black."
"Black is your favorite." Lizzy replied though her temper sparked.
"That was yesterday, Lizzy. Now I'm displeased. I want Earl Grey."
"And oh! Lizzy! This cup isn't cleaned! Get me another one!" Lydia called and it rang through Lizzy's ears. She as truly thankful none of the costumers were here to listen to this. They could have travel across the states to avoid hearing her sisters! Her mother was of no aid when she added.
"Hmm. Lizzy? Best go and get another one."
"Yes." Lizzy replied.
"But she's first going to fix my tea and then that scone!" Kitty exclaimed.
"As if you're the one who tells her what to do." Lydia said as she hit her sister's hand with the mug. Lizzy took this chance to take Kitty's mug out of her hand quickly and thankful the water didn't touch her, Lizzy took it over to the sink where she dumped the water and praying to God and thanking Him the food He'd given them, she took the bag out and tossed it out. Then she re-poured the water and though she was irritated, Lizzy found the Earl Grey tea Kitty demanded to have before she returned her mug to her.
"That's better. Now where is that scone?" Kitty asked and Lizzy answered.
"In…"
"In a minute? Make it a second."
"Mine will turn into a millisecond if you don't get mine before hers."
"Lizzy?" her mother asked.
"Yes." Lizzy replied before she turned and walked over to the scone compartment. She knew this was coming but she kept her peace when she opened the door and thankful they were still warm, Lizzy had her way in the kitchen, as she retrieved the plate out. She smiled to herself when she realized Kitty was still pouting about the tea but when she remembered the cream, Lizzy knew it was in the fridge. Both of them and she remembered too Lydia insisted she shop for more cream as well as anything else her mother wanted in the pantry. But she was had to give her sister her scone before she would complain about another thing. Thankful she knew her way around, Lizzy quickly took out the plate and with the scones warm, brought them over and placed them in the center. Her sisters' looked at them and for a moment, a little pouting was silenced. Lizzy knew that this was another cue. Ignoring her mother she walked back and then took out the longed for cream out of the fridge. Beside it was the cream which would bring happiness to Kitty for her scone.
"And for Lydia," Lizzy thought as she noticed the jam for her, "she will get this before she complains about another rip in her dress."
Lizzy managed to return to the table in time to place what they longed for with the mugs as well as the scones and in time to hear her mother exclaim.
"Lizzy? You forgot one other person."
"Yes." Lizzy replied as she made her way over to the cabinet and took out her mother's favorite tea. She knew this one would satisfy her cold stare so Lizzy offered a prayer of courage as she returned to table. She muted out the voices of Kitty and Lydia as she continued to serve them; in her mind, Lizzy was already figuring out what she was going to do next on her priorities.
"Sew my sisters' dresses before tomorrow morning. Then scrub, wash, and polish the flooring in the shop. No doubt my mother wants me to dust the fabrics and arrange them to my best ability. Then check the dummies for window shoppers and clean that. And the bell above will either be replaced or kept." Lizzy remember overhearing her mother say that it needed to be replaced because it was old. She understood but having grown up in the shop all her life Lizzy liked it because it had angels on it and she always liked hearing the little ring. She was finished serving her mother her tea when there was the very sound of the bell she was thinking about and it rang.
"Lizzy? Would you care to answer that?" Lizzy's mother asked.
As if Lizzy knew her mother, she was always asked, though rarely, to answer customers who entered the shop. But Lizzy knew she obligated to do it.
Wiping her hands on the towel, which was on her apron, Lizzy nodded before she exited the room and soon entered the shop. When she put on a smile she was surprised to see a lovely woman, who was around her age or older, look around the shop but she was gentle as she peered around her. Lizzy remembered this woman as she looked at her as she asked.
"Welcome to Bennet's Seamstress. How can I help?"
"Are you the seamstress who can sew my maternity wardrobe?" The woman asked as she made her way over. Lizzy noticed she had a companion with her but she was outside; as if she didn't want to be in a seamstress shop but when Lizzy saw her, she nodded and Lizzy returned the gesture. When she heard her mother enter, Lizzy knew she would chat with the lady about the measurements and Lizzy was the one who would be asked to sew them at the time given. If Lizzy knew anything maternity dresses weren't in fashion but the shop did sell them and when Lizzy stepped away so her mother could talk with the woman, Lizzy prepared herself for more work than merely "re-sewing her sisters' modeling dresses."
And as usual her mother took over the conversation as she asked.
"Indeed, ma'am. What can the Bennet's Seamstresses do for you?"
"Well I would very much like to have a new set of maternity dresses, Mrs. Bennet. My baby won't be due until this spring and so I want to make sure the wardrobe is ready for their arrival!"
Lizzy peered at the woman and noticed she was showing but it was hidden yet apparent she was pregnant. Lizzy respected women who were pregnant and she didn't judge them but thanked God and Our Blessed Mother for the blessing of children! She waited in the background but knew her mother would scold her for having been in the way so Lizzy did one thing she was great at. Stepping from the counter, she made her way to the back room and remembering where the cleaning supplies was, she took out the broom and once this was in hand, re-entered the shop as her mother chatted on with the expectant mother about what dresses she wanted and when she wished to have her measurements for the time she would give. In the process, Lizzy started to sweep the floor of the shop and she wondered how in the world she would manage to clean it as well as go to market and buy the groceries. And sew her sisters' dresses for the next morning!
"And if I'm correct," Lizzy thought as she walked by one of the shelves, which displayed more of the dresses for the shop, "Kitty and Lydia are going to pout and demand if those aren't done – they're going to make sure I hear a mouth full later!"
Lizzy continued her work but as she did, she paused at one point, to look at the dresses her mother was displaying on the shelves. Some of them were of Victorian fashion but the majority of women were starting to take the skirt a little higher from the calf. Lizzy remembered her Catholic upbringing and how feminine modesty mattered but she also disliked it greatly that her sisters and her mother didn't take this into consideration at all! Lizzy stopped in her sweeping when she heard her mother say loudly.
"Oh, yes, ma'am! We'll have your maternity wardrobe finished before your time! When shall you like to come in for measurements?"
Lizzy knew where this was going so she resumed sweeping. She was already preparing herself for the woman's answer and if Lizzy knew her mother – whenever she would boost her voice like that – she was actually talking to Lizzy to ready the sewing room and modeling stand for the woman who would come in for the measurements. Though as Lizzy continued to sweep the expecting mother was kind as she answered.
"I will come in two weeks, Mrs. Bennet. I already have the measurements but all that needs to be done is to have the dresses made. I'm in no rush and neither is this baby. We're already going to have a blessing for their arrival and we're not needing them right away."
"But the Bennet's Seamstress's are fortunate to have ladies sew you anything, ma'am." Her mother replied but Lizzy knew she was clenching her teeth behind her lips.
"Name one thing my mother needs to hear is religion." Lizzy thought as she continued with her sweeping. She would probably hear an ear load later but she offered a prayer as she worked. The lady was one of those her mother would have longed to keep in the shop and show her other outfits but Lizzy knew that if religion was mentioned her mother wanted to hear none of it. Keeping her sweeping, Lizzy brought out her checklist of the things she was going to be asked to do.
"One of them is sweep, scrub, wash, and then wax this floor." She thought as her mother chatted with the expectant mother.
"Then after that is over, I'm supposed to sew Kitty and Lydia's dresses before tomorrow morning."
She cringed when she remembered her sisters' modeling friends' were coming the following morning and Lizzy summarized that 4 of them would be in the sewing room and she would be asked to measure them with all their requests of what kind of fabric they wanted and when they expected the dresses to be finished. As she was checking this off, she heard her mother say.
"We shall expect to have those dresses finished in two weeks, ma'am. I shall see that you have a perfect day!"
"Thank you, Mrs. Bennet. As I mentioned, I am in no rush. May God bless you."
Lizzy looked over and thankful she was hidden behind a shelf of cloth, watched as her mother thanked the lady, though Lizzy knew her lips were pressed, as she watched her leave the shop. When the door to the shop closed, Lizzy braced herself for the ring when her mother mother cried in her direction.
"Lizzy! Get these theses dresses started by the end of this week!"
Lizzy wished the shelf was her curtain but she peered at her mother as she answered.
"Yes."
"And she isn't due until spring! She will be needing these when that baby of hers is born! Make it quick!"
Lizzy wanted to remind her mother she had other duties but she wasn't able to when she watched as mother ran her hand across the counter. Lizzy resumed her sweeping but when her mother's voice hissed she paused again when she said.
"And this counter needs to be dusted. Dust it once you're done with the floors."
"And Lizzy?! Whatever is in this jam?!" Lydia exclaimed as her sister's head appeared in the oppose door's doorway.
"It's gone all moldy! I can see the fungus!"
"Lizzy? When you go to market, make sure you buy some fresh fruits and make a new batch of jam, would you?" Lizzy's mother added and Lizzy nearly wanted to snap the broom in half. How much would her mother ask of her when if she were checking she already had enough on her plate? But she remained silent of her feelings before she answered, though she prayed for steadiness in her voice.
"Yes. What shall the fruit be?"
"Gracious! Is she mute?! Strawberries if they are in season!" Lydia called.
"And she needs to be here for the dress fitting tomorrow!" Kitty added as she too appeared beside her sister.
"Moldy jam isn't important." Lydia exclaimed.
Here Lizzy watched as her sister eyed her and in a few seconds, Lydia raised the jar before she slammed it down hard on the floor. With a shattering sound, the broken pieces of the jar were scattered around and the jam went with it.
"Oh! Opps! Lizzy? Would you care to pick your mess?"
"Lydia! That was a good one! Yes; Lizzy. Care to clean this up?" Her sister sided with Lydia.
"Why don't you?" Lizzy was tempted to ask but the eyes of her mother were on her. Lizzy watched as the woman walked over to the window, which was across from the counter, and she knew her mother was going to close the shop for the next morning. As this was occurring, Lizzy heard her mother say.
"Lizzy? Clean up your mess."
"Yes." Lizzy replied though her grip on the broom tightened.
"Well once that's finished, we may as well shower and get ready for the ladies tomorrow, Lydia. And in the morning," Kitty glanced over and sneered at Lizzy, "we expect to have fresh jam for breakfast! Along with a new batch of scones!"
"Yes." Lizzy's mother added as the door to the shop was heard being locked.
"That will be lovely!"
"Wait!" Kitty paused as she turned and almost collided with Lydia.
As her sister growled, Kitty made her way over to the counter, and after taking out a sheet of paper, she took out a pen before she wrote something on the paper. Then making her way over to Lizzy, she waved the sheet in her face as she said.
"Here's what I want to have for breakfast tomorrow morning. I expect to have it on a tray in my bed before our friends' come, Lizzy!"
"Before ten?" Lizzy answered as she recovered herself from the blow.
"Ah. Look at her; clever."
"Well since that's going to happen, do the same for the rest of us." Lydia added as she too walked over and followed her sister's example. Lizzy took into thought what they wanted but she wasn't liking where this was going. Were they aware she already had enough on her plate? The dresses they ripped, the polishing of the floors, the maternity dresses for the expectant mother, the jam to make, their lady modeling friends' dresses, grocery shopping? And all that needed to be accomplished before sunrise tomorrow?!
"Lizzy here's what I want and I expect it to be before me before she wakes up!" Lydia called as she walked over and handed Lizzy her paper. As if she needed to know Lizzy thought but she kept this in as she read Lydia's breakfast requests.
"And she wakes up a little late so I'll be first!"
"Indeed?"
"Yes."
"Make it prompt, Lizzy." Mrs. Bennet answered as she looked firm at Lizzy.
Lizzy needed no reminders of what she was going to do. She took both of the papers and with the broom still in her hand, she answered, as she tucked the papers in her apron.
"As you wish."
Then the three ladies laughed at Lizzy before they left her standing alone in the shop. With the broom in her hand, the papers in her apron, Lizzy prayed before she resumed sweeping. After that she would retrieve the rest of the cleaning supplies before she would scrub, wash, dry, and then wax the floor. This would take two hours and Lizzy remembered her sisters' modeling dresses as the expectant mother's maternity designs that would be set up in the sewing room. Then she remembered too they wanted her to shop at the market and at this hour, which was approaching dust, Lizzy prayed for more strength as she began her work. But she wasn't finished when one of her sisters called from upstairs at one point.
"Lizzy?! Remember our friends' are coming tomorrow by ten! Expect to be in the sewing room by fifteen minutes after and fix those dresses for us, would you?"
"Yes." Lizzy called as she used scrubbed the floor.
"And don't forget to clean that mess up in the shop!"
"Your mess." Lizzy thought but she kept her mouth closed. The shattered pieces of broken glass and the jam were the last she'd get to. Lizzy was already getting a headache with all the requests she was being pulled at to do. But she didn't voice this as she rose and when she noticed the broken jar, she decided to take care of that while she paused in scrubbing. She was thankful the sweeping went finely but this part was always the most challenging. Broken pieces of glass and sticky jam weren't a perfect mix but she knew it needed to be done. After she retrieved the proper tools to clean that up, Lizzy resumed her scrubbing of the floor as the two hours continued. The floor was one of the hardest duties her mother always asked of her and if Lizzy wanted any aid it would be that her sisters' stand in and help her.
"But they care so much about being one of the best models they refuse to do this work."
Lizzy prayed again as she worked. The floor cleaning would take two hours and when she found herself arching her back after she let the wood dry, she was exhausted. But the waxing needed to be there before the next morning. And Lizzy remembered that if this wasn't finished an ear load from her mother would be replacing it.