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“Do you like it?” Rosaline stepped away from the counter and turned in a circle, making the skirt billow outwards. “Is it not beautiful? I have never owned anything like it before.”
“Own it? Rosaline, where did you get the money for something like that? Where did you buy it from?” Alfred was stepping closer toward her, an anxiousness in his tone that Rosaline did not recognize.
“Calm yourself, father, please.” She moved to his usual stool behind the counter. “You have a customer.” She pointed to the glass door just as the usual bell rang out.
Rosaline sat there with a smile on her face, watching as Alfred struggled to compose himself. He adjusted his waistcoat, flattening it out, and the turned to the customer.
“Welcome, welcome,” he said in an affable tone. “Please, do come in, peruse my wares, and let me know if there is any help you need.”
“Thank you.” The young lady nodded her head and beckoned her maid forward. Together, the two of them went off to the side of the room to look over some silks.
Alfred took the opportunity to come to Rosaline’s side, nearly bumping her off the stool in his eagerness.
“Rosaline, where did you get the gown?” he hissed in a whisper.
“I did not buy it, if you fear I am diminishing my savings.” Rosaline shook her head. “Yet I could have afforded it if I wished to.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that is the purpose of gowns such as these.” Rosaline gestured to it, rearranging the ivory skirt as it fell in soft folds around her legs. “They are meant to be affordable gowns.”
“Affordable!?” Alfred spluttered, a little too loudly. When the lady and her maid looked his way, startled by the sound, Alfred put upon an easy smile, pretending nothing was wrong.
Silence descended between Rosaline and Alfred for a minute as they waited for the lady and her maid return to their browsing. The entire time, Rosaline watched her father. Despite the easy smile, something in his jaw beneath that bushy mustache twitched.
What has him so anxious about my gown?
Once the customers had returned their focus to the silks, Alfred took Rosaline’s arm, holding it so firmly that she winced.
“What has you in such a state, father?” she whispered.
“You dare to ask me that?” He said, panicked. Even as he spoke, the lady and the maid hurried to the door, apparently having found nothing they desired. They left in a hurry. “Wait, is there anything I can help you with—” The door was closed. Alfred had rounded the counter, then fallen still in the middle of the shop. “This is madness. Few customers, and even fewer sales.”
Slowly, he turned to face Rosaline, gesturing down at the gown.
“It take it you got this gown from yourfriend.”
“Why do you say it like that?” Rosaline shifted uncomfortably on her stool. “Yes, father. It was a gift from Chloe.” She made a conscious effort to straighten the skirt another time, determined to take good care of it. “Do you not think it a kind gesture?” Her excitement got the better of her, and she leaned forward, with a smile in place. “Is it not a wonderful idea too? Producing affordable gowns that are so beautiful. So that ladies like me can buy them.”
“Wonderful!? You dare to say it is wonderful?”
“Father!” Rosaline raised her voice. “Why are you shouting?”
“Rosaline, do not be blind.” Alfred turned in a sharp circle, with the mustache on his top lip quivering. Silence fell between them, so all that was heard was Alfred’s heavy breathing. “Can you not see what your friend’s business has done to my own?” He cast a hand around the shop, gesturing to its emptiness. “This shop used to be full, yet it is not now. I have very few customers, and each one that comes in says they will think about their purchase before they hurry off again.”
Alfred stepped forward, reaching the counter and placing his palms flat on the surface. The sudden thud made Rosaline jump. “I followed one of them the other day. Where do you think they went next to compare materials? Straight to Miss Green’s door. I swear, I had a group of ladies in this shop the other day talk of Miss Green for half an hour straight. They compared my designs to hers; they were unashamed in their comparison.”
“Did they realize you were listening?” Rosaline asked carefully. Her father stepped back from the counter, fidgeting so much with his waistcoat, that the awkward action rather suggested he had been listening into the ladies without their knowledge of it. “Father, please calm yourself. We are in London. There are customers enough to support both businesses and more.”
“Then how do you explain the drop in my customers?”
“People are excited about the new business. It will balance out in time.” Yet Rosaline could see her words barely seemed to have been heard by her father. Alfred was walking away across the shop, shaking his head back and forth. “All will be well.”
“Tell me more about these gowns.”
“I’m sorry?”
“These gowns.” He waved an errant hand in her direction. “How on earth can Miss Green manage to make something likethatand yet keep it affordable. Tell me, Rosaline.”
