“Not unless she wanted to step into a different social class. Actually, you can ask Mrs. Jamieson about that. Her sister-in-law married a surgeon, and Mrs. Jamieson practically excommunicated them.”
“Because he was asurgeon?”
“Well, back then it wasn’t considered a ‘suitable’ occupation for a gentleman.”
“So women could only be governesses—”
“A certain class of women, yes.”
“—and men could only be… what?”
“Curates or soldiers, generally. The ideal for that class was to do nothing—just go to social engagements, run their estates, and do some odd charity work.”
“Huh,” Julia said, considering. “Blanche, Kitty, and Mrs. Jamieson—none of them went to university, right?”
“Right.”
“Blanche seems smart. She’s sort of mean, but even her mean comments are clever. I could see her at university, or maybe as a professor.”
“Maybe now,” Aurelia agreed. “But back then I doubt she could have gone to university even if she woke up one day and decided she actually wanted to go.”
Antonia opened the door into the shop from the flat and came down the spiral staircase.
“All packed and ready to heave off tomorrow morning,” she told them.
“You’re sure you don’t want to stay? Oliver said to tell you you’re very welcome.”
“No, I’d better get home. I left in a rush,” Antonia said, nudging Julia. “I should go back and pull a few things together. I’m sure if I asked Max to bring the dresses Julia and I are planning to wear to the wedding, he’d show up with something bizarre from the back of our closets.”
“Oh! When do we get to see your dress?” Julia’s face lit up with excitement.
“Your mum is going to come pick it up with me when she gets back. Do you want to come with? The dressmakers said I could make an event of it.”
“Yes, please! Is it going to be big and poofy?”
“No! Have you never met me?” Aurelia laughed. “It’s very understated and sophisticated, just like I am,” she added in a mock-serious voice.
“Show her the photo of Mum,” Antonia suggested.
Aurelia opened the desk drawer where she’d been hiding the photograph from Oliver, digging under a stack of papers before finding it and handing it to Julia.
“Is that Gran?” Julia asked in a hushed voice as she ran her finger over the photograph.
“Mm-hmm. That’s her on her wedding day.”
“But her dress is yellow—why wasn’t it white?”
“Well, because she was very modern and cool,” explained Antonia.
“Are you going to wear her dress?”
“No. Unfortunately she didn’t keep it. It wasn’t a big, fancy gown, so I think she just gave it to a charity shop after she got tired of wearing it. But I’m having something similar made for me.”
“In white?” Julia asked hopefully.
“Close enough to white, yes.” Aurelia turned to Antonia as she saw her quickly wipe at her eyes. The sight of her sister’s tears made Aurelia’s own eyes well up. “Now you’re going to get me crying, thanks very much.”
“I’m sorry.” Antonia shook her head and let out a deep breath. “I’ll probably cry again when I see you try it on, and then again at the wedding,” she added.
