Finding her place (4)

[the_comfortable_courtesan]

 It seemed no time at all when she heard a clink of china and opened her eyes to see Prue pouring water from a can into the jug on the wash-stand. Prue greeted her with a pious ejaculation concerning blessings upon a fine morning. Sophy thanked her, and started to get out of bed. Sure it was a little chill, but at least she did not have to run downstairs to wash under the pump – and o, she discovered as she came to that part of her ablutions, there was a piece of excellent fine scented soap on the stand – sure, Sophy Lacey, she said to herself, you are becoming quite the lady yourself! – and felt even more like a lady when she found that the water she poured into the basin was warm. 'Twas quite a pleasure to wash oneself in such circumstance. Still, it was a time of year when one was glad to hurry into one’s clothes.

A fine fire was crackling in the hearth – one would not expect Her Ladyship to come into a dressing-room that had not been well-warmed – and Docket was up and already selecting garments for Her Ladyship’s morning wear. She beckoned Sophy over and was about telling her what was proper for the time of day and the season –

But then Celeste came bearing a tray, and set it down for a moment on the dressing-table and went to put up a folding table that rested against the wall in one corner, and then went about setting out a teapot and cups and, o, breakfast. No matter of a dry crust, either: porridge, and what looked to be fresh muffins, and under a cover, eggs and bacon. Sophy looked at Docket. For us? she asked.

Indeed so, said Docket. Come, let us sit down and be about it, so that we can be in readiness for Her Ladyship’s rising. I must show you how to make her chocolate, that she takes first thing.

Sophy, feeling very comfortably well-fed – she could get accustomed to these ways! – watched very attentive as Docket made Her Ladyship’s chocolate, and tasted it herself, and held out a little on a spoon for Sophy to taste so that she might know how it should be, and poured it into a fine china cup saying that she would take it in herself.

While Docket was about that Sophy looked around her to see what she might be at, and began to pile their breakfast dishes onto the tray – now, should she take this down to the scullery, or would Prue or Celeste come collect it? Rather than standing pondering, she might put the chairs out of the way at least. And she had seen the cabinet whence Docket had taken the makings for the chocolate, so she might put those back –

Docket emerged from Her Ladyship’s boudoir remarking that she seemed in excellent fine spirits the morn – and Sophy might run down to the scullery with that tray –

So she did that, stepping very carefully for fear of some accident, and Celeste, that was already about washing up, said to leave it upon the side there. Sophy asked should she bring it down as a general thing and Celeste said, would be a kindness. Had been used to run up and fetch it to save Docket –

Sophy nodded. She could see that there was already a morning bustle about the place. But I must get back, she said, Her Ladyship gets up.

And when she returned to the dressing room, Her Ladyship was just entering, her lovely hair in disarray about her shoulders and Docket pursing up her mouth somewhat at the sight. Docket beckoned Sophy over and began about the matter of Her Ladyship’s morning toilette, describing in an undertone what she was about and in what order one should undertake the matter. Sophy hoped that she might remember all so that she might indite it in her fine book. Dressing for the morning – when she might be receiving particular intimate friends but not general company –

Docket gave a little nod when all was done, and Her Ladyship smiled at them both, before going downstairs to her own breakfast.

O, does she not look exceeding well? breathed Sophy.

Does one a deal of credit, conceded Docket. But as that goes, has not lately give that attention to fashion that would be desirable, sure I must obtain a fitting for her with Biddy – that is Mamzelle Bridgette, we were girls together in our first place – and meanwhile, you and I must be about furbishing up her gowns so that she is not sadly behind the style.

This was all exceeding instructive, though Sophy’s head began to whirl from being shown the plates from Ackermanns and the Belle Assemblée, that were far beyond the kind of thing Mama had ever had to make up. But what it came down to was being told by Docket to alter a seam or the shape of a bodice or change the trimming and she could do that, even did she not quite yet understand why. (Perchance this was a thing she might talk over with Maurice when she next saw him.)

It was not all sitting with her needle: besides the being sent to the kitchen for elevens or a snack and to desire Docket’s tray sent up and to take it down herself, there was dressing Her Ladyship to go out making calls.

She was writing up all this intelligence in her book, a practice that Docket entirely commended, when Docket said that 'twas the evening in the week when Dorcas held a prayer-meeting and Bible-reading in the belowstairs sitting-room for certain women from their chapel. Did Sophy wish to attend she would not hinder her.

But you do not go, Docket?

Docket gave a slight snort and said that she attended Her Ladyship to the parish church of Sundays and felt that fulfilled her Christian duty.

Sophy replied that she had such a deal of matter to write up that she had rather be about that. Docket gave her a little nod and said, providing she did not overtire her eyes in doing so. She folded her own, rather large, hands – but sure they were most exceeding delicate about their work! – in her lap, and sighed and said should be about making up some of the wash for the face.

Why, said Sophy, might you not sit, and tell me how to put it up?

Well, 'tis a thing you will need to learn, Docket agreed, as they went over to the closet where the necessary matters were kept, but first you will need to run downstairs to fill the kettle.

So matters went on, and she was able to be useful, and was learning her trade, and was exceeding well-fed and had a comfortable bed to sleep in. She was even presented with the stuff to make two – two! – dresses for herself by Dorcas, that remarked that she had just missed the distribution of boxes that the others had had, had she been in the household at that time she would have received the like.

Comments

[azurelunatic]

Sophy's crush is adorable.

[alatefeline]

<3

[cesy]

I love this! It's so great to see the things that make it all work behind the scenes.

[kore]

Sophie is so earnest! So determined to help and make herself needed! Also, DOCKET <3

[aedifica]

Oh, I am enjoying this in multiple ways! There's seeing Sophy learning, and there's seeing the things she is learning, and there's her enjoyment of her new circumstances!

[violsva]

Oh, Docket is so Docket-ly and Sophy is adorable and I love seeing all the other workings of the household.

[kathmandu]

I noticed how much of a difference Sophie felt between 'technically enough food, but just barely' and 'plenty, with extra butter'.