Chapter 16

"I'm thankful we didn't have to pull tricks to get them to act right today," Prudence stated. She had grown rather bored of the silence in the carriage. Jane had come to learn some of Prudence's telltales.

"Aren't we all? My whole body aches from last night's drama." She whined and tugged at her blouse.

"Hmmm," came Prudence's reply.

Jane let out a frustrated groan. "The girls have become hyper monster and are now exasperatingly difficult to handle." She exhaled sharply. "I was so frustrated last night- they almost pushed me to the wall."

Prudence chuckled at this.

"They are a handful. But sometimes I wonder if they can tone it down. My governess used to say this to me. Now I say it to them. When did I get this old?" She laughed and Prudence joined in.

"I love the girls so much. They are beautiful and smart. They remind me of Sarah and I when we were young. I am committed to be there for them. I'd do my best," she vowed.

Prudence clasped her hands together. Her sharp eyes shone with respect. Jane could almost feel the increase in Prudence's appraisal of her. Of course, she had always expressed passion for her great-grandchildren, Prudence may have thought she'd become less passionate once she got to experience them. Saying this out loud again, Jane could tell she had fully convinced the dowager that she was a real one.

"Do you know of their parent?" Prudence asked abruptly.

Jane was taken aback by the question. She had been briefed about the late Lord Algernon by the housekeeper who had shown her around a few days after her arrival. However, she couldn't put her in trouble so she lied. Besides, she didn't really know anything anyway.

"No… I don't." She answered after a while.

Prudence smiled softly "The servants didn't give you a gist or two about them?" She teased.

Jane caught on quickly and vehemently shook her head "No, they were quite reserved about the matter."

"My son had Algernon at his youthful age. He was so proud of his son when he was born. When I saw him wrapped up in a white towel, all pink and smooth I cooed in love."

Jane looked at Prudence. As she spoke it was obvious, she was reliving the past and a ghost of a smile visited her face.

Jane sat still. She was captivated by Prudence's voice. She felt such strong emotion in it that it resonated within her. Jane could just imagine little Algernon in Prudence's arms. She smiled back at Prudence.

"I thought he'd live longer than me. I thought he'd live to see his children grow. But I was wrong." She bowed her head. A tear threatened to drop down.

The noise from outside the coach had long been forgotten. Jane could hear Prudence sob softly. She wanted to console her. But didn't want to overstep her boundaries. Another sob from Prudence helped her decide.

She stretched out and placed her hand on Prudence's wrinkly ones. "You need not tell me this if you can't bear it." She caressed her hands.

Prudence sniffed and ceased her sobbing "No, I need to tell you. You ought to understand better what you are into." She placed Jane's hands in the middle of hers, reciprocating Jane's touch. "I am good now."

"Algernon was the heir to the title. So, he mostly concentrated on that. He was offered the best. And when it was time to settle down, he married the love of his life. I can still remember that day. It was beautiful to see their love match." Prudence tapped Jane's hand.

"I bet." Jane provided with a sly smile.

Prudence's expression hardened "When she died, Algernon was not there. He had earlier gone out on an important trip. When he came back, his wife was dead. It broke something inside him. I watched my grandson become a ghost of himself." She sighed.

Jane could feel her pain. Her eyes were slowly pooling up as Prudence spoke. Losing a loved one was never easy. The pain would subside over time but it never fully goes. She had lost her mother at a young age. Even if she had not had much time with her. Jane had missed her. She still did

"Algernon was a responsible man of the ton. He'd visit White just as every other man. But he never drank himself to a stupor till the days after his wife's burial."

She could never wish this sort of pain on someone. No. For a brief moment, she pondered how she'd act if she lost the person she loved so much.

Colin

She was sure she had grown strong feelings for Colin although she would not outright admit it to anybody. So, the thought of not seeing him again, not hearing his voice, would break her. But to the point of alcoholism? She didn't think so.

"We have arrived at the dressmaker's." the coachman announced.

Jane and Prudence had been so caught up in their conversation that they didn't realize when the wheels stopped moving. They shared knowing looks and giggled like little girls at a girls' night party.

"We'd continue our conversation as we shop and consult the dressmaker," Prudence declared.

The carriage door swung open. A small wooden strait attached to the bottom of the carriage was released and laid to rest on the floor. Prudence gracefully walked down the stairs with the help of the coachman. Jane followed suit.

Her eyes widened in surprise as Prudence led her to the dressmaker's shop. Despite Prudence's glowing praises, Jane had expected a grand establishment. Instead, it was a small shop on a corner aisle, painted bright yellow with a large glass window displaying a variety of clothes and fabrics.

Prudence cleared her throat, indicating they had arrived. Jane, realizing she had been standing by the carriage lost in observation, hurried to catch up. Following Prudence inside, Jane was once again impressed. The interior was spacious, painted a soft pink, with exquisite ball gowns on display and the scent of lavender in the air. The contrast between the exterior and interior was striking.

Jane felt like she was in a different world. The energy in the room was lively as women of different stations went about checking, trying, and buying different garments. Help scurried around attending to the women.

"Give us your finest. My duchess is going to a ball and she must dazzle." Prudence loudly announced.

It gathered the attention of some women in the shop. Those who recognized her muttered greetings her way. Her face poised calm, she beckoned to the woman Jane had earlier seen. j

"Juwan Miguel at your service, Your Grace," the woman swiftly approached. She curtsied to both Prudence and Jane. She was beautiful. Lips full and red. Eyes brown as melted chocolate. Her black hair curled around her face in a beautiful swirl.

Some minutes later, they were in a private room going through gowns on ten different racks. Once they were left alone, Prudence cleared her throat and continued the conversation from earlier on with no preamble.

"When he became a drunkard, he changed completely. He became a negligent father. Louisa and Margate were also grieving. Algernon couldn't see this. He was so consumed by his grief that he couldn't see that his children needed him. Those little girls had to toughen it up and go with the program. I wish he had focused on them... maybe he'd have not been dead by now." Her voice broke at the end. She gave a soft laugh. "Can't cry over spilled milk they said."

Jane noticed how Prudence kept cycling back to humor. Anything to numb how painful it was to talk about it. Jane gave a small laugh in return.

"He also neglected his duties. I had to step in at some point because he was letting the estate finances dwindle. I was scared for my grandsons, my great-grandchildren, and their heritage." She flipped through the ball gowns on the first rack Juwan the dressmaker had provided.

Jane was more meticulous in her pursuit.

"Colin, my second grand baby was at the war at the time. He didn't know how his brother had gotten worse. He had no idea until I called him back home after Algernon's health started declining," she continued.

Jane sighted a blue dress and pulled it out from the rack. It had small blue gems sewn into the bodices with long hands and a deep V cut that would show a lot of cleavage. It was beautiful but not for her.

"Colin left the war for his brother. He tried everything he could to help his brother's alcoholic behavior and took the girls in. But try as he did, Algernon's health didn't get better. He drank till the day he died." Her hand paused on a deep blue gown. "He died after one year of Colin's return. It was tragic. We were all grieving. No one could effectively console the other. And we had to move on fast. The estate matter was to be tended to. The girls were to be seen too." She sighed.

"They were devastated after their father died. Their spirits were down. It was their uncle who helped bring back their spark. He took them in and loved them… you see, Colin was neglected as a child too. His father saw him as the spare son. Colin understood the girls' feelings better than I did as they were also neglected. He'd never admit to this, but I know…" She said as she turned to see Jane holding a turquoise gown with a sad look etched upon her face.

"Oh my sweet." Prudence rushed to her and held her.

"It's so disheartening that they all went through that," she said quietly, imagining the pain they must have felt.

"I know. I am glad you are in their lives now. Your existence makes everything better," Prudence consoled her. "Did you find anything you like?" she asked.

"I want this gown," Jane declared, holding up the turquoise gown, "and I found some beautiful gowns for my sister and the girls. I'll get them."

"Yes, yes, Jane my darling. You do that" Prudence smiled. "While at that, why don't you get something for Colin?" she muttered.

"I didn't get that," Jane probed.

"I said you should get some nightgowns, they would look good on you," Prudence suggested.

"All right," Jane complied as she hugged her new gown to her chest.