Madame Gossard clapped her hands in excitement. “Wonderful!” She gestured for her to come near. “Let’s get ye measured, and then we can choose colors. And ye can let me ken what items ye need.”
Oh, that was something she hadn’t thought about. What items did she need? Considering her wardrobe consisted of two gowns, and some undergarments, she supposed she would need a lot. But the cost would be high. She didn’t want Gunn to think she was taking advantage of his generosity.
“She needs a whole wardrobe, Madame.”
Jocelyn gasped. “Lizzie!” Embarrassed, she felt her cheeks flush.
Lizzie shrugged. “’Tis naught to be embarrassed about. Gunn told me right before we left that he wanted me to ensure that ye didna hold back and ordered a full wardrobe.”
“How verra kind of him,” Madame chimed in. “He must care for ye aplenty.”
“Well, I do not know about that, but he has been very kind since my arrival.” She stepped onto the raised dais, and madame approached, measuring tape in her hand. As Lizzie lost herself in going through the fabrics on the table, Jocelyn took advantage of her distraction to speak quietly with madame.
“May I ask ye a private favor?” she whispered.
Madame paused, her hands mid-air as she was measuring her arm-length. “Of course. What can I help ye with?”
“Is it possible to, er,” oh, how could she ask this delicately? Deciding that there wasn’t a way other than to just come out and say it, she continued. “Would it be possible for you to make the gowns and items a size or two larger than needed?
Madame’s brows drew together as she contemplated her question. Jocelyn could practically see the wheels turning as she pondered, sure she was trying to put two and two together to figure out the reason why she would ask such a thing.
“I suppose I could if that is what ye want, but ye wouldna want a poor-fitting gown, would ye? It wouldn’t put forth the best appearance. For ye or the laird.”
She didn’t want to make people think that Gunn wasn’t treating her well by putting her in ill-fitting gowns. “Mayhap, whichever styles ye choose cannot be form-fitting around the middle, and will fall loosely?”
Madame gasped, her eyes rounding before she glanced at Lizzie and then quickly back to her, nodding her head. “I believe I ken what ye are saying. Have no fear, your secret is safe with me.”
Jocelyn nibbled at the nail bed of her thumb nervously. What had she done? She’d told a stranger that she was expecting. She wanted to cry.
Madame placed a light hand on her arm. “Truly. Ye wouldna believe the things I hear when people visit my shop.” She giggled. “I have gossip on nearly every person that I’ve made an item for. Believe me when I tell ye, your secret will never pass my lips.”
“Thank you,” Jocelyn whispered, relief flooding through her.
“I will do what I can to make ye fashionable items that ye can grow into. How’s that?”
Jocelyn nodded. “I appreciate that.”
“Now, let’s finish these measurements and get to the fun part. Choosing your colors.” She smiled warmly and went back to work.
Daring a look at Lizzie, Jocelyn was happy to see that she wasn’t paying any attention to them.
It wouldn’t be long before signs of the babe would be visible. She had to brace herself for the time when she would have to explain it to Gunn.
A conversation she wasn’t looking forward to.
