Page 30 of A Duke in Autumn

It was rather startling, as an idea. He would need to contemplate it, over the next few days, perhaps, whilst avoiding his mother’s conversation where he could.

Each day, for the rest of the week, he rode out to see his tenant farmers, spent hours in his study going over the estate books, and more – all things which were his responsibility, and which his mother could not criticise him for doing – especially as she had pushed him to come home from Bath and take up exactly those responsibilities. But every moment of those days, Lady Eugenia was not far from his thoughts.

~~~~~

Eugenia was settled in the window seat again, with sketches of gowns scattered about her. Across the room, her mother sat embroidering. For a moment, Eugenia paused in her drawing to savour that fact. In one short week, so much had changed, because she had decided to grasp what she wanted – at least the first small thing that she wanted. Her heart still ached within her, every time that she thought of it, for she was quite certain that she loved Oakthorpe, and that she would never have the opportunity to tell him that, but the gift he had given her in the words of that first dare, had changed her life.

She had Juliana to thank, as well – for when she had sat in this very spot, having just realised, too late, her love for Oakthorpe, Juliana had come into the parlour, seen her sitting there, and come across to her, curious. Eugenia replayed the conversation in her mind, again.

Juliana had reached her, and looked down at the sketches around her.

“Oh Eugenia, these are beautiful! Did you draw them all? How clever of you – I have never been all that good at drawing – or at imagining designs. You are so lucky to be able to create such things. Will you… will you draw some designs for me, that I might get Mrs Merton to make them for me?”

Eugenia had looked up at her in shock, with a warm sense of delight growing inside her. Here was yet another person, a person whose opinion she cared about, who thought her designs worth wearing.

“Of course I will, if you wish it, Juliana. But you will need to sit with me, and tell me what you like, and what you don’t like, so that I can adjust to make the designs truly unique to you.”

As Eugenia had uttered those words, pushing aside the pain in her heart and focusing on the excitement that Juliana’s request had caused within her, her mother had entered the room and, hearing the last few words, as well as seeing the two of them close together, peering at something, she had come across to them.

“What designs? What are you talking abou….?”

Her words had trailed off as she saw the sketches. Eugenia had frozen in fear, waiting for the inevitable scolding.

“Eugenia, did you draw these?”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Aren’t they wonderful? I was just asking Eugenia to design some gowns for me, so that I can get Mrs Merton to make them. I just love the idea of wearing something utterly exclusive, and designed by my own dear sister.”

Juliana’s words buoyed Eugenia up, and she watched her mother’s face. It was obvious that the Dowager Duchess was startled by Juliana’s words. She swallowed, then spoke again, almost hesitantly.

“But… that is tantamount to engaging in trade! Ladies do not… Juliana, are you sure?”

Juliana winked at Eugenia, knowing that the Dowager Duchess could not see it, then turned to her mother-in-law.

“I am absolutely sure. I do not see why a lady should not create beautiful things, and have them made real. For that matter, I do not really see why a member of the ton should not engage in business – men invest all the time – what is so different about this? This is far more creative than just supplying money, after all. Ladies are urged to draw, and to paint, as suitable ladylike pursuits – why not put the results to good use? Is hanging a painting on the wall so different from me wearing a gown made from one of Eugenia’s designs?”

Eugenia watched her mother consider the idea – really, actually think about it, rather than simply spout the words that society expected. Her heart swelled within her – Juliana had just given her a priceless gift! She waited, barely daring to breathe, sitting absolutely still.

“I see… well, when you put it that way… it is, after all, not like Eugenia was actually making the gown with her own hands, is it?”

“It is not – although sewing is another skill that ladies are encouraged to develop…”

“Perhaps you are right. And in this case, Eugenia is not receiving any payment for her design, so… that makes it not actually trade, doesn’t it.”

“That was exactly my thought. Although I am sure that many a modiste would happily pay for designs such as these. But we are not suggesting that – I am just being rather selfish, and wanting a beautiful gown, designed just for me.”

Eugenia could have hugged Juliana on the spot. She might also have mentioned that Madame Bergeron had, actually, offered to pay for her designs – but that would have been utter foolishness. Instead, she stayed still, and spoke very softly.

“So, Mother, does that mean that you do not object if I continue to draw my designs, and do some specifically for Juliana?”

Her mother, having come to a decision, smiled, and waved a hand dismissively, as if there had never been a question of it.

“Of course – I can see that you are far more talented than you have admitted, daughter. Do continue. I look forward to seeing what you design for Juliana.”

“Thank you, Mother.”

And with that, her mother had turned away, and gone back to her own activities. But, for Eugenia, the world had changed. So much so, that now, a mere week later, her mother did not even look at what she was doing – she simply accepted it.