Free What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown Page A

Eleanor's room. "I want to see the rest of your wardrobe."
       Deirdre and Eleanor followed. They spent the next hour happily trying on one another's clothes, matching accessories, and sharing fashion tips.
       "Are you wearing this to the ball? I have a lovely string of amber beads that would go perfectly with this gold-washed silk," Mina said.
       Eleanor touched her talisman. "I designed the dress specifically to wear with my favorite necklace. The trim echoes the filigree on the sides of the cross."
       The sisters admired the amber cross. "I think I've seen something similar," Deirdre said, frowning. "But I can't remember where."
       Mina looked closely at the embroidered hem. "Look at this. Have you ever seen stitches so even?" She held out the dress to show her sister.
       "Ah…" Eleanor didn't know when the first sewing machine had been invented, but she was sure the kind with cams to embroider designs was very modern. "I had help. Singer did most of the actual work." Time to divert their attention. She grabbed the leather case that held her Regency jewelry, flipped it open, and pulled out a necklace. "These dark blue glass beads would complement the dress you're wearing," she said to Deirdre.
       "You're right. I hadn't thought to wear dark blue with this pale yellow muslin. You have a good eye for color."
       Mina arched her neck to see what else was in the box. Hiding a grin, Eleanor set it out on the table and invited the girls to look at her jewelry. She admitted that most of the stones were worthless imitations.
       "All our jewels are paste, too," Mina said as she held up a peacock-shaped brooch.
       "Mina!" Deirdre said in a low warning tone.
       "Well, they are."
       "Teddy told us never to discuss our jewels."
       "She's family." Mina turned to face Eleanor. "Come. I'll show you mine, even if Deirdre wants to be secretive with hers." As she led the way into the other bedroom, she continued, "Teddy had replicas made of all the jewelry we inherited from mother so we wouldn't have to worry about having it stolen. He keeps the real jewels locked up somewhere safe."
       Mina used a small key to unlock the wide top drawer of a massive dresser. Inside was an amazing collection of nearly every gem and type of jewelry imaginable, so many pieces that the velvet lining was hardly visible. "Of course, most of these we won't wear until we go to London and are presented at court. Can you see me decked out in these to play croquet?" She held up a fabulous necklace of diamonds linked together by star sapphires. The pendent on the end was as large as a quarter. A matching bracelet, ring, and tiara completed the set.
       "This parure is my favorite," Mina said, displaying a comparable set made with large square-cut emeralds. "Family legend says Queen Elizabeth gave them to our ancestor, the first Lord Digby, for unspecified services." Mina wiggled her eyebrows and giggled.
       "I hope all this is insured," Eleanor said.
       Mina shrugged. "Teddy handles those matters."
       "You really should take an interest in your business affairs."
       "I don't understand why. We don't know anything about investments. Teddy does a fine job managing our funds, and when we marry our husbands will control everything."
       "You could have control of your own money built into the marriage contract. Then, if a husband turned to drink and gambling, he wouldn't leave you destitute."
       "Oh, poor Eleanor. Is that what happened to you? Is that why you're so poor that you have to make your own clothes?"
       "Absolutely not. I… I'm not poor. I just think a woman should have control of her own destiny, that's all."
       Mina and Deirdre looked at each other. "Bluestocking," they said together.
       "If that's what you call an independent woman, I'll wear the sobriquet proudly."
       "Well, don't embroider it on your bodice," Deirdre said. "It won't secure you any dances at the