The Actress and the Aristocrat by Katie Ashley
Chapter Ten: Randall
I’d asked Mrs. Homiller to put on quite a feast in honor of Teri’s arrival. We also ate in the dining room with the fine china and crystal. I wanted Charlie to be as familiar as she could with all the possibilities when it came to fine dining over the season. Of course, she was already a pro after her time on the film set, but that was with a full script and a producer telling her when and how to act. I needed her to be genuine, able to think on her feet.
After we’d sat down, I turned to Teri with a smile. “I assume Charlie has informed you of the true reason you’re here.”
Teri laughed while Charlie said, “She wouldn’t get into the car until she was sure I wasn’t some high-class hooker.”
At the mention of a prostitute, I choked on my Scotch. “A p-prostitute?”
Waving her hand absently, Teri replied, “Trust me, I’ve seen it all.”
Rob leaned forward in his chair. “Do tell,” he mused.
After glaring at him, I turned my attention back to Teri. “Now that you’ve had time to process, what do you think of our madcap plan?”
“I think it’s brilliant. I can’t wait to transform Charlie into this Eliza character.”
“You don’t see any potential issues?”
“The only real disadvantage I see is when it comes to clothing.”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?” Charlie asked.
“Everything.”
With a huff, Charlie took a gulp of her champagne. Trying to ease her worries, I said, “I’m sure she means your clothes aren’t necessarily suitable for Eliza’s clothes.”
“Exactly,” Teri replied.
“I want Charlie to have the very best. Perhaps the two of you should take a day trip to Paris?” I suggested.
While Charlie’s eyes bulged, Teri shook her head. “It’s not about labels, and I would imagine you’re selling Eliza as an English Rose—one who wouldn’t be very chic.”
Charlie once again huffed. “I can be chic.”
Teri rolled her eyes. “Once again, this is about Eliza, not you.”
“Then what is it?” Charlie demanded.
“Most of the society women will have a wardrobe designed for them. If you wear something off the rack, you run the risk of showing up with the same dress or suit as another woman. But it’s too late for that now.”
She was right. How quickly I’d forgotten both my mother and Lydia meeting with different designers to ensure they had a one-of-a-kind season ensemble. At the thoughts of my mother, an idea popped into my head. “What about vintage pieces?”
Teri leaned forward and cocked her brows. “I’m listening.”
“I was just thinking you might be able to piece together enough of a wardrobe from my mother’s clothes. I would imagine they were close to the same size.”
Charlie sucked in a breath. “You would do that?”
With a shrug, I replied, “Why not?”
Her gaze bounced between Rob and me. “You wouldn’t mind me wearing your mother’s clothes?”
Rob grinned. “They’re just pieces of fabric, Charlie. It’s not like you’re disgracing her memory or defacing her tomb.”
I nodded. “Not to mention the fact Mum was a hoarder who kept every article a designer sent her. There’s probably hundreds of items in the closet she never wore.”
Teri practically bounced in her chair. “As someone who lives for vintage clothing, I don’t care if Charlie wears them or not. I’ve just got to have a peek at her closet.”
I laughed. “Since it’s just upstairs, your wish is my command.”
Squealing, she hopped up and made a beeline out the dining room. Charlie looked slightly horrified as she laid her napkin on the table and hurried after her errant friend. With a chuckle, Rob and I followed behind them. When we exited the dining room, Teri was already on the landing. “Okay, which way is it?”
Charlie turned back to me with an apologetic expression. “You’ll have to excuse her.”
“There’s no need to apologize. My mother would’ve found her enthusiasm amusing.”
“But you’re not your mother. You’re much more—”
“Uptight? Yes, I’m aware of that.”
With a wince, Charlie replied, “That wasn’t the word I was going to use.”
“Then what was it?”
“Demure?”
Grinning, I replied, “I’m not sure that’s any better.”
“I’m just going to shut up now.”
“Now that’s a first,” I teased.
We reached the landing and a still enthusiastic Teri. I led them down to my mother’s suite at the end of the hallway. Very little had been changed since her passing. After Lydia and I had married, she had often broached the subject of redecorating it, but I could never bring myself to let her do it.
When we stepped inside the bedroom, both Charlie and Teri let out a gasp. “How beautiful,” Charlie murmured.
“Ah, but you haven’t even seen the wardrobe yet,” I replied with a smile.
Teri ran her hand over one of the peach high-back chairs. “Your mother had impeccable taste in décor. I can only imagine how gorgeous her taste in fashion was.”
“Thank you.”
After opening the closet door, I turned on the light. “Holy shit!” Charlie exclaimed. Embarrassment replaced her astonishment as she clapped her hand over her mouth. “Sorry. It’s just this closet is massive!”
“Would you stop apologizing for everything?”
“I’m sorry.” She winced. “I mean, it’s just I’m used to you being an entirely different person at Sutherlin House.”
“You could say I’m far more relaxed in the city.”
“Remind me to get you out of the country more often,” she teased.
“Very funny.”
“This is the motherlode of fashion!” Teri exclaimed before diving into the racks.
With a squeal, Charlie joined her. She pulled out a flowy, emerald green dress. “Ooh, what about this for the garden show?”
Teri poked her head out to eye the dress. “I like it. Put it to the side.”
Charlie handled the dress precariously as she laid it across one of the chairs. She then hurried to look at more. Rob and I held back and watched them with amusement. After a few moments, Charlie paused in flipping through the racks. Her hands dropped to her sides before she slowly turned around. “Are you sure this is okay?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“I don’t know. Somehow it seems disrespectful.”
I shook my head. “I gave you my blessing, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but—”
“Then don’t worry about it.”
“You don’t think it’s going to be a little weird with us pretending to be in love while I’m wearing your late mother’s clothes?”
I barked out a laugh. “You’re afraid I’m harboring an Oedipus Complex?”
With a scowl, she replied, “Of course, I don’t think you had the hots for your mother. Just that it might be odd.”
Motioning around me, I said, “I was a kid when my mother wore most of these. I have no memory of her in them.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
From the respect she was showing my mother’s memory—my mother’s dignity—I truly had no issue with Charlie wearing my mother’s clothes. She was happy to revive her in some respects. And Lydia had wanted to remove her from my world. So yes, I was okay. “It’s fine.”
“Thanks,” Charlie replied before going back to the racks. It wasn’t long before she and Teri made quite a pile. As Teri eyed the clothes, she said, “This is a start.”
“A start?” both Charlie and I replied in unison.
She nodded. “Of course, I’ll need an event list so I can cross-check to make sure they are etiquette appropriate. It’s good that most of them are already in garment bags. Then we can just pin the title of the event on the bag.”
Glancing at Charlie, I replied, “She’s good.”
With a laugh, Charlie replied, “I told you.”
“I actually got my start in the wardrobe department,” Teri said, with a smile. “But my true test will come tomorrow when the makeover commences.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I said.
Charlie swept her hands to her hips. “Is my appearance so offensive to you?”
My eyes bulged. “N-No, of course not. I just meant I’m interested to see Teri in action.”
With a grin, Charlie replied, “I was just teasing you.”
“Right. I knew that.” I didn’t. I had no idea. And I wondered if I would actually realize when Charlie was serious and when she was joking soon. Life wasn’t going to be dull, that’s for sure.
Teri clapped her hands together. “Why don’t we have Charlie try on the outfits to see what works and doesn’t work?”
Rob grunted. “Okay, I think I’m going to duck out of here before the fashion show begins.”
Giggling, Charlie replied, “I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t want to stay.”
“I can’t say I blame him,” I replied.
Charlie wagged a finger at me. “Oh no, you’re staying.”
“Lucky me,” I mused.