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***
“Ma-Madam!”
Finley, sensing he might have made a mistake, exclaimed with a cold sweat running down his face.
“There’s a new upscale boutique that’s been getting rave reviews among the ladies. Why don’t we stop by? It’s just around the corner!”
“Thank you, but I think I’ll go to my usual place.”
The regular boutique knew Regina’s taste well, so shopping would be quick. Regina was eager to return to the mansion quickly. She didn’t want to collapse again and end up being a bother to Gray.
“I respect Madam’s preference, but I strongly recommend you visit this boutique. I assure you, you won’t regret it.”
Finley was desperate in his way. To prevent the divorce of the now highly esteemed Count Cavill, it was crucial to keep Regina in good spirits. Regina hesitated, but she couldn’t refuse after all Finley had done to accompany her.
“Alright, then. I’ll take a quick look.”
“Yes, haha! I’ll go ahead and give them a heads-up!”
Finley hurriedly ran off, worried she might change her mind.
“You might trip, Finley!”
Regina laughed as she followed him out of the carriage. Just as she began to step toward the boutique Finley had darted into, an unexpected voice stopped her in her tracks.
“Regina Cavill?”
Turning around, she saw Dan McCallum standing there. The second son of Marquis McCallum, he was a successful lawyer who had once proposed to her but been rejected.
“It really is you. My goodness.”
“How have you been, Mr. McCallum?”
Taking a step back, Regina drew a clear line with a polite greeting.
“What an unexpected surprise. I never thought I’d run into you here.”
“…It seems my presence is unwelcome.”
A hint of irritation flickered in Dan’s green eyes. Being on the shorter side for a man, he tended to overcompensate with overly macho behavior. She’d had her fair share of difficulty convincing him during their encounters in the past.
I even had a quarrel with him once because I refused his proposal.
It probably wasn’t a pleasant memory for the proud Dan, so why he had approached her was beyond her understanding.
“Don’t be so cold. My client lives nearby, so I stopped by for a moment. I’ll be heading back to Riddenborough soon.”
Dan softened his tone as he spoke, giving her a once-over.
“I heard you were very ill. Are you better now?”
“I’m much better.”
“At least you’re well enough to take a stroll.”
As the shorter man lowered his head, his overly bright blonde hair revealed patches of a reddish scalp, evoking the discomfort of glimpsing an injured wound.
Dan seemed to sense a similar unease in her.
“I almost didn’t recognize you… Just how ill were you?”
The low murmur in his tone made Regina feel something akin to shame for the first time. The sunlight was so bright that it revealed every trace of her pallor, and the freshly paved, spotless white stones of the harbor glared with pristine clarity.
She felt as though she stood out like an unnatural stain against the backdrop.
“And your husband? Isn’t he with you?”
“He’s busy…”
“Sending his wife out alone when she’s unwell?”
Dan looked incredulous.
“I would never do that.”
So, you rejected my proposal just to live like this? His inner thoughts were louder in his eyes than in his words. The unspoken reproach felt like an invisible fist pounding her head, prompting Regina to defensively speak up.
“I didn’t come out alone…”
“Dan, darling!”
The words were abruptly cut off by the arrival of a woman.
“There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
The woman, who naturally linked arms with Dan, was likely his wife, whom he had married two years ago.
“And who might this lady be?”
Her curious gaze turned to Regina. Her candy-colored outfit looked rather childish but matched her bright, youthful face reasonably well. Standing next to her, Regina felt as though her own dreariness was even more pronounced, as if the other woman were a reflector amplifying her shortcomings.
Regina clenched her hands tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she struggled to maintain a composed expression. Dan glanced at her indifferently before replying curtly.
“Just someone I used to know.”
“Oh my.”
His wife appeared to expect a proper introduction, but Dan simply wrapped an arm around her and turned away.
“Let’s go. I’ve reserved a special seat at a restaurant overlooking the harbor.”
“Really?”
“You love fresh oysters, don’t you?”
“Oh, how wonderful! Seafood is best enjoyed at a port, after all.”
Regina let out a sigh as the McCallum couple’s voices faded into the distance. For all his arrogance, Dan was right about one thing.
He wasn’t the type to leave his wife alone.
***
Despite the unpleasant encounter, visiting the dressmaker’s shop was an excellent decision. Regina was awestruck the moment she entered.
The atelier, with its towering ceilings, seemed to need no additional decor. It was filled to the brim with an uncountable array of exotic fabrics, jewels, and feathered embellishments, dazzling the entire space. It felt as though she had stepped into another world, yet the thought of leaving didn’t cross her mind.
“Quite a sight, isn’t it, Madam?”
Behind Finley stood a row of designers and the shop’s owner. Within the Cavill estate, no merchant failed to recognize Finley Brixton’s red hair. Each wore a polite smile, their gaze fixed solely on him, causing Regina to break out in a slight cold sweat.
“It’s an honor to serve you today, Countess Cavill,”
The woman who appeared to be the head designer addressed her gently.
“May I ask what kind of dresses you’re looking for?”
“I believe I’ll need one for every occasion. I’ve been unwell for so long that none of my old clothes fit anymore.”
“In that case…”
The designer pondered briefly, counting on her fingers.
“First, a dress for indoor wear, a day dress, an evening gown… Do you happen to enjoy sports or horseback riding?”
“Those won’t be necessary for the time being.”
“Understood. Then we’ll start with one of each of the three types…”
“Three dresses.”
All eyes turned to Finley, who had quietly interjected. He cleared his throat awkwardly but didn’t retract the fingers he had raised.
“At least three dresses for each occasion, Madam.”
“But—”
“How can you settle for just one? The term ‘one-dress lady’ doesn’t even exist in Waylin!”
Finley insisted passionately. The best way to make an annoying husband appear endearing was to spend his money liberally.
“Please, Madam, help maintain our Count’s dignity. As it is, people already think he’s obsessed with money. If word spreads that he’s stingy even with his wife… Oh, I can’t even imagine it! And then, the stress he’d vent on me—I shudder to think of it. I can already feel the tears welling up in my eyes.”
Knowing Regina’s soft heart well, Finley played his hand skillfully, feigning distress.
“More importantly, the Count needs to invest generously in the local economy for circulation, and that’s how the Cavill estate will continue to prosper. All of this is for the future of the estate, you see?”
“Oh my, how wonderful.”
Sensing an opportunity, the shop owner clasped her hands together and exclaimed.
“That many dresses! The Count must truly cherish his wife.”
“A man who loves doesn’t spare money on his woman. I wish my husband would learn a thing or two from the Count.”
The designer chimed in slyly. Regina found their comments amusing but, unexpectedly, felt her resolve waver.
“…Alright. Three dresses for each occasion, then.”
She rationalized it as compensation, and suddenly, it didn’t seem so bad.
***
Selecting the dresses required more decisions than she had anticipated. First came choosing the fabric and embroidery, followed by deciding the neckline, sleeves, and skirt style. Then there were the matching gloves, shoes, fans, and hats. By the time it was all done, her head was spinning.
Though dizzying, it was an excellent change of pace. The designer, thrilled with the sizable sale, beamed as she bid them farewell.
“Thank you! Please visit us again. Next time, I look forward to serving you alongside the Count.”
That will never happen, Regina thought but chose to smile instead of saying it aloud.
***
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