Reiko had been excited when the sales had started in the shops on boxing day, this would be the first year when she would be allowed to attend them. In the past her father had said she was too young but she knew that the truth of the matter was that he did not want to go with her to the shops since boxing day and that the 27th had been her governesses days. It meant that if she wanted to go into town he would have to have gone with her. He never wanted to.
She had reconciled with her fathers apathy a long ago and now he was dead there was no point in getting overly upset by it. What this meant however, was that this year, because she was older and because her father was no longer with her she would be going into Hogsmeade on the 27th, to peruse the shops like a proper lady. Her governess, having been dismissed when she started school had recommended a chaperon to serve as Reiko's companion when she was home, to allow her mother a little free time of her own. It was this woman who would be accompanying her into town. Reiko felt incredibly grown up having a chaperon, even if there was little difference between the purpose she served and the purpose of her Governess - still the title made all the difference to Reiko.
By lunch time she was walking the wide avenue of Hogsmeade her Chaperon in tow and her moderate allowance burning a hole in her pocket. She had gotten a doll for christmas and her intention ahd been to outfit it in something lovely, but then she was a young lady now (at least in her mind) and she had puzzeled over exactly what age young ladies set aside dolls for other games. This train of thought and her feet took her to the clothing shop, perhaps she would find an answer to her quandry here.
She stood before the beautiful displays of hats and fine things her small mind at work what her next move should be.
Hermia's life was starting to wear on her. Since her husband's demise, other than moneys from selling the Irvingly house and Rosa Lee Teabag, there had been no income for herself and her children. Certainly there was a tidy pole of savings from the two sales, especially since one was of a prosperous business, but supporting herself and eight children was starting to wear on the Gringott's account even with Rose's help — and she was starting to think Rose wanted to take Hetty and move on with her life.
Unfortunately, Hermia had come to one conclusion. She needed to marry again. At this rate even if she found a way to keep her children out of the poor house she would have nothing for a dowry for any of the girls or for Mercy's inheritance. She might even have to sell their home, a large house in Bartonburg that still barely managed to contain her expansive family. She did not even know if she would be able to send any of her other children to Hogwarts, or if Milly would be able to finish.
That, however, was a problem for another day; right now Mia needed to buy fabric to clothe her children. All the girls needed new dresses since they grew so fast, and there were suspiciously worn spots developing in the bottoms of the boys breeches. So intent was she on her mission that she almost missed a small girl with a chaperon in her path. She managed to stop just in time. "Oh, excuse me miss!"
- Reiko had been engaged in examining a number of fabrics which had been put on display on the counter top, having still not decided if she was going to purchase a dress for herself or for her doll. She had been so taken with her perusal of the fabrics that she had not heard another soul enter. That is until someone almost bumped into her. The woman gave her apology and Reiko bobbed her acceptance of it in a curtsey, while insisting that 'Please Mam there is no call for that really.' The clipped English accent clashing with the obvious foreignness of her appearance.
The chaperon that had been given temporary charge of Reiko was new to the profession, she was a rather excitable young woman who was so pleased to have been hired to care for the child of a wealthy family that she has dressed Reiko this morning much as one would dress an overly large doll. Her jet black locks were set in heavy curls arranged over each ear like bunches of grapes, red carnations had been added to the array to set off the deep red velvet dress that had been chosen for her to wear that morning. The result was a petite little girl who looked for all the world like an exotic doll, all red velvet and overly preened appearance.
Reiko cast a glance at her chaperon, but the young woman was not paying her any attention, instead she was holding up a length of white material to her head like a veil. Reiko's long lashed eyes turned back to the lady who had addressed her. 'Reiko Mountbatten Mam at your service' she said by way of introduction, in her best respectful tone.
The girl was very polite, which brought a small smile to Hermia's face. This girl could be a very nice play-mate for her own children. "My name is Mrs. Hermia Page," she supplied. "It is pleasant to meet you, Miss Mountbatten."
The girl, who obviously had Asian heritage, was done up like a human-sized doll. She was quite pretty, but Mia knew that there was no chance of getting her own girls to look the same. She would make them practical dresses, and she would not be purchasing any more pretty hair ornaments. She would sell her own jewelry before her girls were subjected to that, but she was already feeling the pinch created by Alex's death.
"I have a daughter around your age, I think," Mia continued. "Milly — Emilia — is in her second year in Hufflepuff." She did not know if Miss Mountbatton would know her daughter or not, but at the very least she though that the girl (by her estimation age ten to twelve) might have some insight into the colors and patterns that young girls were currently fond of.
She gave a small curtsey when the lady gave her own name, she had had a rather strict governess when she was growing up, a woman who had been as unyielding as the birch rod she had used to discipline Reiko. The woman had high standards and demands of Reiko when it came to politness that her manners were higher than most children, it was probably to do with her own lack of exposure to children her own age when she was growing up. Her first exposure to children her own age had been when she went to Hogwarts.
Ms. Page offered the name of her own daughter who was in her school but a different house. The name sounded something familiar, she had been sure that when she entered the school to make herself as sociable as possible, getting to know as many students as she could. She knew the name of the other girl but didnt think she knew her personally, perhaps they had a few mututal friends. 'Yes, I believe we have been in the same company a few times' she said in her queer old fashioned manner of speaking. 'Is she with you today to take in the pleasures of the town?'
"I'm afraid not, Miss Mountbatten," Mia said gently. "Miss Page is home helping with her siblings." After bearing her husband seven children and accepting his friend's orphan into her home, Mia had never thought that she would be left alone to raise them. Alex had always been there for her, a constant presence since her school days, and now she was completely bereft of him.
"I am glad that my daughter has made such polite acquaintances. You are more than welcome to come to call on her, but for the moment perhaps you can help me to choose some fabrics that my children will enjoy? It has been quite some time since I was young. Her own cloths were easy, all modest fabrics in black for mourning; her children need not be so burdened.
'Oh' she said, it was a curious sort of thing to her, she had never had siblings, nor had she had any sort of responsibility for the care of other people other than herself. She could not imagine a world where governesses and home helpers were not there to look after the children of a house hold, the realities of life, that sometimes people did not have the capacity to employ such staff, was lost on an eleven year olds rather black and white world view.
'I'm sure she will be disappointed to have missed so many of the pretty things that seem to be in town after the christmas sales have begun.' she mused in her fussy and old fashioned manner of speaking. Reiko was not aware of the fact that she often spoke and behaved as though as she was a much older sort of girl, or at the very least from an older period than she currently lived in.
'Although I must be honest, we do not know each other very well but I am sure I could assist you in picking fabrics' she said immediately looking around at the reams of fabrics on their thick rolls. 'I have my grandfathers permission to order a few reams for new spring dresses before I go back to school.' she explained as the shop keeper came out of the back of the store with her arms rill of rolls of material, all of which seemed to have a vaguely asian twist to them, a request she had sent via her grandfathers footman a few days before to ask if she could be accommodated for more of the sorts of prints her mother had sent her from Japan, it had only been one roll, enough for a single dress but she wanted to surprise her mother on her return with some garments of her own that were inspired by her other homeland.
The girl really was sweet. Responsible. She reminded Mia very much of her Milly, which made it rather sad that they were not close. She certainly hoped that Milly had other friends who were equally kind and responsible.
The girl scooped up as many bolts of fabric as she could carry, and Mia quickly went to help her. All of the fabrics looked somewhat exotic, and she wondered if she would be able to afford them. She needed enough fabric for eight dresses, including one for herself and one for Rose.
"These are all very pretty," she said with a smile. Miss Mountbatten had a level of taste that she would not have expected in a child. Something similar to these in cotton or wool would do quite nicely; she would, of course, need at least a full bolt ...
The bolts of fabric that had been brought out from the back for her approval had been some of the shops more expensive fabrics, the shop girl had saw fit to increase the cost of the bolts when the young ladies footman had requested the bolts of material which looked like they came from the orient. If they were prepared to ask for them then they were prepared to pay for them, Reiko nodded a polite affirmation to each as the assistant showed them and then the secondary fabrics were produced, colours which were vivid and bright and complimented the primary choice of fabrics perfectly. 'Thank you Ms. Page' she said with a small smile and inclination of her head. 'They are very similer to a fabric my mother had sent to me from Japan. I hope to have some other lovely dresses made in these sorts of colours for when she comes home, so that I might surprise her.' she told the lady of her plan.
Reiko knew little of the cost of things, money having never been an object to her grandfather nor her father. 'They are lovely fabrics, I do love how bright they are.' she said her childishness showing through in her attraction to such vivid and feminine colours. 'but I know they are not to everyones tastes' she admitted, 'Perhaps a little to bright and flourid for an everyday garment.' she mused and the shop girl, sensing the turn this sale had taken, gave the already selected bolts to another girl to begin cutting the lengths Reiko needed. 'Would your children prefer such bright colours, or would something more traditionally tasteful be their preference.'
As much as Hermia enjoyed the bright colors and exotic prints, she knew that this was not something she could afford. Still, she was having a nice time conversing with the young girl, and she could always get ideas and then find cheaper alternatives to make dresses for her girls.
"I think something somewhat more muted might be best for my girls. Some of them are still quite small." Miss Mountbatten was quite sweet, but Mia somehow doubted that the girl had ever had to know the value of a knut.
|
![[-]](https://old.charmingrp.com/images/collapse.png)
