Chapter Sixteen #2
“Mr. Rochester said much of the same thing to me. It was his encouragement that decided me to reveal my identity to Mr. Layton.”
“Then I am looking forward to meeting Mr. Rochester when we visit his bookshop.”
They arrived at Mrs. Penny’s shop, and Lia went into the back for her fitting.
Justina went about the store, fingering various bolts of fabric.
She would have to have an entire wardrobe made up for the Season, something she was not looking forward to.
Yes, she would enjoy the many balls because of her love of dancing, but going to so many social events would be tiresome.
She decided she would take Ariadne’s attitude and only attend a handful of events, the ones which interested her the most. She would be happier doing so, and it would allow her more time to spend with her family and her painting.
Lia emerged from behind the drawn curtain. “My dress is almost ready. I must return on Tuesday for the final fitting. Have you thought any more about the upcoming Season?”
“I have decided I will make my come-out,” she shared.
Tears sprang to her cousin’s eyes, and she embraced Justina. “Oh, Aunt Agnes would be so pleased to hear that.”
“I am going to take my cues from Ariadne and Julian. I will not attend every event. If I am going to make this debut into Polite Society, it is going to be on my own terms.” She grinned. “But I do plan to attend my fair share of balls and dance until the wee hours of the morning.”
Lia slipped her arm through Justina’s, and they left the dress shop, heading to David’s shop.
“Tray and I have decided that we are going to accept Verina’s invitation to spend Christmas with her. This first Christmas without Mama will be a difficult one. The three of us would like to be together.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” her cousin said.
“I am also going to remain with Verina and Matthew and come to town when they do.”
“You will need to arrive a bit early in order to have Madame Laurent start on your new wardrobe.”
Justina thought a moment. “Tray and I plan to stop in town for a few days before we go to Redfield. Perhaps I could visit Madame Laurent’s shop so that I could be measured then. She might start on some new ballgowns for me.”
“That is an excellent idea.”
By now, they had arrived at David’s shop, and Lia said, “Oh, there is a new sign.”
She glanced up and saw it read Rochester’s Books & Sundries.
“I am eager to see everything,” Lia said as she pushed open the door.
Two customers were inside. David stood behind the counter, writing up a receipt for one who had completed her shopping.
He glanced up. “Welcome to Rochester’s, my ladies.”
They stood to the side until he finished his transaction, and then Justina and Lia stepped to the counter.
“Mr. Rochester, I would like you to meet Viscountess Cressley, my cousin.”
He nodded a greeting to Lia instead of taking her hand in his, another sign to Justina that they were of a different class.
Meeting her at the Duke of Norville’s, where he was accepted as a family member, was one thing.
Meeting her cousin here in Kidsgrove as a shopkeeper was something quite different.
“You are one of the ten cousins I have heard so much about,” he said.
“That is correct, Mr. Rochester. We are so happy to have you in Kidsgrove, especially since you have brought a bookshop to us.”
He held up a finger. “And a lending library, my lady.”
Lia laughed easily. “Yes, Justina has told me of it. Might we go upstairs? I wish to see if you have anything suitable for my older children, who turn three soon, and my niece, who is nine years of age.” She smiled. “My youngest would only teethe on any book I brought to her.”
“Lady Justina passed along your suggestion, and I did order a few children’s books, my lady. Please feel free to make your way upstairs. No need to ever ask permission.”
Justina turned and saw a new sign posted near the staircase. It had a hand with a finger pointing up the stairs. Lettered above it was Book Shop Upstairs. All are welcome. She glanced back to David.
“I saw your new sign outside.”
“Yes, Mr. Gerry made it for me, as well as the sign for patrons to know to climb the stairs. Please look at how I arranged the furniture and see if it is to your liking. As an artist, you possess a better eye for that kind of thing than I do.”
She followed Lia up the staircase and was amazed at the number of books she saw.
Every shelf in both sections was filled.
Half a dozen people browsed the shelves, four of them in the lending library section.
More signs indicated which was the lending library side and which were the books for sale.
Two people sat in chairs in the lending library portion, deeply engrossed in their reading.
“My, Mr. Rochester has assembled quite a number of books,” Lia exclaimed. “Help me find where the children’s books might be, Justina.”
It was easy to find her way around the books for sale because David had followed the system she had established for the lending library.
“Here, along this shelf, Lia,” she indicated.
As her cousin perused the available children’s books, Justina walked about, taking in everything, pride filling her.
Once Lia had made her selections, they returned downstairs.
“What did you think?” David asked them.
“I think I will be coming in weekly, Mr. Rochester,” Lia told him, smiling. “I would like these for my twins and niece. No need to wrap them up. We will be reading them immediately the minute I arrive at Crestbrook.”
His gaze met Justina’s. “Did the arrangement of the furniture please you, my lady?”
“I would move one chair.” She told him which one and how to angle it.
“I will do so,” he said. Hesitating a moment, he asked, “Will you still have time to meet with me at three o’clock?”
“Yes, I will go to Mrs. Little’s now with Lia.”
They strolled to the teashop, and Lia asked, “Why is Mr. Rochester meeting you?”
Justina explained about the book discussion, and Lia said it would be something she would be interested in attending if she had time to read the selection.
“Mr. Rochester and I are going to come up with a list of things to discuss regarding the novel. Questions which will help move the discussion along.”
“Shall I wait with you and drop you at Traywick Manor?”
“No, I knew you would need to get back to Rupert and the children. Tray is sending the carriage for me. It will be here at four o’clock.”
They entered the bakery, the sweet scents of sugar filling the air. Lia asked that a cup of tea be brought for both of them, along with raisin scones. They sat and talked for a few minutes, and then her cousin bid her farewell.
“I know you are making the right decision to go to Verina’s, as well as making your come-out. The family will be pleased,” Lia said.
“It is the right thing to do,” she agreed. “I will call upon you soon. Give my love to Rupert and the children.”
As Lia left the teashop, Justina prepared herself for David’s arrival. Ten minutes later, he came through the door, causing her heart to leap.
She hoped she could manage to stay on an even keel around him.