Kate had slept badly. All night she had been tossing and turning, thinking about what Peter Chips had said, but she was adamant that Emily would never find out the truth about her past. She pulled herself out of bed and made her way over to the door, slipping herself into a shawl as she went and pushing the thoughts of the night firmly to the back of her mind. It was five o'clock and she proceeded to set and light the coal fire. When it was burning nicely, she placed the kettle over the flames to heat up, once boiled, she brewed the tea and used the remaining water to wash.
For the next two hours she made herself busy and had just finished watering her beloved garden when Emily popped her head around the door.
"There you are! How long have you been up and about?"
"Not long," lied Kate, "I want to see Madame Duponte this morning about your dress for Saturday, she said she would make a few alterations to it, bring it more up to date for you. I'll pop over to the library afterwards and let you know what she says."
"That's very kind of her," said Emily, "I'm surprised she has the time. Did you know she's making Lizzie a new dress? It's going to be spectacular according to Lizzie - the very latest fashion."
"Well it would have to be for Lizzie, we all know how her father spoils her," and with this she went inside and started breakfast for them both. "Set the table please, Emily."
Breakfast passed pleasantly and at 8.30 Emily left the cottage for the library and Kate watched her head off towards the Village Green and out of sight. She heaved a big sigh and went to get the dress from the wooden chest in her bedroom. From the chest Kate lifted out a large tissue wrapped bundle and placed it on her bed, gently opening it to reveal the white dress. There was no doubt about it, this was a beautiful dress. "It should be the amount of money it cost", reminisced Kate and her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she thought about the first time she had worn it all those years ago.
She turned back to the chest and from one of the corners she retrieved another package, this time a jewellery box. Inside was something which hadn't seen daylight for twenty-five years. She lifted the lid and read the handwritten inscription on the small card which was "To my beloved Kathleen with my undying love. Edward." She looked lovingly at the emerald necklace and earrings, and then, as if to put a stop on her thoughts, she snapped the box shut and put it in her dresser drawer. She wrapped up the dress carefully, and when she was ready, she went to visit Madame Duponte who had a shop overlooking the Green.
"Good morning Kate," welcomed Madame Duponte, "I see you have it with you, bring it in here," and she made her way to the workroom at the back of the shop. Kate followed and placed the bundle on the table.
Madam Duponte opened it up and stared in amazement. She knew a good dress when she saw one and this was magnificent. "Why Kate," what a beautiful dress this is, let us put it on the mannequin to get the full picture of it."
"Oh yes, it is certainly exquisite. Just look at the embroidery around the neckline, and those are diamonds glittering on the bodice if I'm not mistaken. It would be a sin to alter any of it. I will leave the bodice as it is and remodel the skirt - too many layers - make it more in keeping with today's fashion. Leave it with me Kate and ask Emily to call this evening when she closes the library."
"Thank you Gabrielle, now how much is all this going to cost me?"
"Not one ha'penny", she replied, "It is an honour to be able to work on such a fine dress."
"Oh but ........!" "Not another word," said Madame Duponte, "now I must ask you to leave, I am very busy." And with that she ushered Kate out of the shop.
Kate made her way over to the library and told Emily what had been said.
"Are you sure she doesn't want any payment?" whispered Emily.
"Quite sure", said Kate, "don't forget to go over after you close up, will you?"
Back in her workshop Madame Duponte was carefully unpicking the stitches around the waist to release the very full skirt and all of it's petticoats from the bodice. Then she cast her expert eye over them and knew exactly what she needed to do.
Several hours later, Emily looked up at the clock and started to put things away ready for the following morning. The library was now empty of visitors and she made to close up and to go across the Green to Madame Duponte's. When she arrived there was a "CLOSED" sign on the door, but she could see a chink of light coming from the back room. She knocked and waited.
Madame Duponte came to the door. "Come in Emily, come in. Come through to the workroom."
Obediently Emily followed. On the mannequin was the bodice of a beautiful white dress and on the table was obviously the skirt in an unfinished state.
"I would like you to put on the bodice and then I can fit the skirt", she said indicating the white mass on the table."
"There must be some mistake," said Emily, "my dress is yellow."
"Mistake? Gabrielle Duponte does not make mistakes. This is the dress your mother brought in this morning to be altered for you."
Emily thought she must be dreaming as she went behind the screen and removed her day dress. Madame Duponte handed her the bodice and she put it on; it fitted like a glove, almost as though it was made for her. Then Madame Duponte helped her into the petticoat and then the top skirt, all of the time Madame Duponte was sticking pins here and there to hold everything together. Finally, she stood back examining Emily.
"Ahh! It will be absolutely perfect", she exclaimed, "I will bring over the mirror so that you can take a look."
As the mirror stopped in front of her Emily stared, she couldn't believe she was looking at herself, no surely this must be a dream.
"Well?" cried Madame Duponte impatiently, "what do you think?"
"It's beautiful", said Emily, "I can't believe it's me."
"Oh it's you all right Emily, you will be the Belle of the Ball on Saturday, mark my words."
"I don't think so Madame, that honour will undoubtedly belong to Lizzie."
But Madame Duponte shook her head and looking straight at Emily through the mirror she said, "I don't think you realise just how beautiful you look Emily, you'll see I'm right. I, Gabrielle Duponte, have an eye for such things. You will come back tomorrow evening for your final fitting and on Saturday I will take both your's and Lizzie's dresses up to the Hall and help you both dress. Now come, we will get you out of this and you can get yourself home, I think you've had enough surprises for one day."
Back home Emily confronted Kate about the dress. "Mother, that dress, where did it come from? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Don't you like it?" asked Kate.
"I love it, but you still haven't answered my question."
"It's my wedding dress," Kate said quietly, "I wanted you to have it, please wear it on Saturday Emily, please," she begged.
"Of course, I will. It's the most beautiful dress I've ever seen, thank you, and I promise I'll always look after it."
Kate smiled and as she went to her room she thought to herself, "I hope it brings you more happiness than it brought me."
Emily pondered on the dress and began to wonder why they never talked about her father, it was obvious Kate had been very much in love with him, so why didn't they talk about him to each other? There was so much she wanted to know but was afraid of causing any hurt to Kate by asking, so as usual, she decided to say nothing.