C8 Chapter 7

Richard and Ann sat in comfortable silence as they watched the twins argue about yet another thing.

“ Have you finished reading your book?” Richard asked.

“ Yes your grace” Ann answered.

“ Your grace?” Richard asked raising a brow.

“ Yes, your grace” Ann answered again.

“ I suppose you never promised to call me by my given name” Richard sighed.

“ I believe my calling you by your name is very improper” Ann announced.

“ And I should also believe you find it not improper to say Daphne's name” Richard scoffed.

“ I was given proper permission to do so” Ann replied.

“ So I am to believe that I have granted you improper permission to say my given name” Richard jumped in sarcasm dripping from every word.

“ Are you being envious of her grace?” Ann asked raising a brow.

“You are very accurate about that, but that is not all, I am also disappointed to say that I have judged wrongly how much you have underestimated our friendship, and I tell you it is way lower than I expected” Richard answered.

“ But I have never underestimated you your grace” Ann replied defensively.

“Well you choosing to be friends with my sister over me, even though, I still don't understand why you do not want to befriend me says quite a lot,” Richard said.

“ Even though everyone knows it is not proper to befriend my employer, I never even said I am not friends with you your grace” Ann replied.

“ Richard” he corrected.

“Your Gr..... Richard” she said eyeing him.

“ Even my name managed to sound better on your lips,” Richard said smiling.

“ I am quite positive you just did that on purpose,” Ann said scowling.

“ For one as stubborn as you are, extreme situations call for extreme actions” she replied

“ Nevertheless I still plan on calling you by your given name, ... Ann...” Richard added grinning.

“Soothe yourself RICHARD” Ann replied.

“ I suppose that is permission,” Richard said smiling infectiously.

“ Whatever you say RICHARD,” Ann said trying hard to fight the smile that was already spreading through her lips from his smile.

“ Seeing how you are answering my questions I should assume we are friends already” he concluded.

“ Which book do you plan to read next,” Richard asked.

“ Romeo and Juliet,” Ann said.

“ Well since you are my dear friend I will lend you my precious volume,” Richard said.

“ Thank you, but Daphne has already promised to let me read hers” Ann replied.

“ I became your friend before she became your acquaintance, so you should take mine too,” Richard said.

“Although you bullied me into becoming friends with you, I guess I could take yours too” Ann smirked.

“ Wow, I hope you haven't forgotten who you are speaking to,” Richard said.

“ How can I forget a friend?” Ann said with sarcasm.

“ Why do I get this scary feeling that I just walked into a sinking sand?” Richard said faking a shiver.

“ You can still save yourself since you have not gone deep though” Ann jumped in with a drawl.

“ Calm down tigress, I'm going nowhere” Richard smirking boyishly.

“ I was just trying my luck, after all, there is no harm in trying” Ann shrugged.

“ My apologies but, luck is not by your side today” Richard smirked.

“I am sure it is going to pour heavily soon,” Ann said as a chilly wind blew past her, causing her to shiver slightly.

“ The weather changed quite quickly, I should better go and prepare the carriage,” Richard said standing up.

“ We would meet you there in a few minutes,” Ann said before calling the twins over so that they could prepare to leave.

The carriage rolled to a stop at the entrance of the shop. There was a big signboard hanging just above the door that read MADAME LAMBERT'S DRESSMAKERS, behind the big glass windows were four beautiful ball gowns hanging as a showcase.

Richard helped the twins and Ann down, then he waved them away before climbing his horse.

“ I hope to see you at tonight dinner,” he said smiling at Ann, before taking the reins and galloping off.

“He is coming over for dinner tonight,” Anna said to her sister with an 'I told you to smile' lining her lips.

“ I'm sure he needs to be present at Daphne's announcement dinner,” Ara said.

“ Nevertheless you just realized that,” Anna said smiling.

“Bonjour Mezz Arnold” Madame Lambert boomed as she came out of her office.

“Good afternoon Madame Lambert” the twins chorused.

“I adore the bonnet you got for me the last time” Anna grinned.

“ Yes, can I please get another shade of the design?” Ara asked.

“ Of course, et a pleajure” she replied her French accent creeping through her English.

“Vhat vould jyou like me to do for jyou?” she asked bowing slightly as she got to where the trio was standing.

“ We were informed that the measurements of the twins' last fittings were missing” Ann replied.

“ Oh right, ve are sorry for the dezcomfort” she apologized.

“ Marie” she called out, as one of the seamstresses came out.

“ Vould jyou pleaze take the measurements of the twinz and make sure to vrite their names by their measurements,” she said to the girl.

Marie quickly took a tape and signaled to the girls to follow her to a table, that had a piece of paper, pen, and a bottle of writing ink.

The girls chatted with Marie as she took their measurements one after the other, Ann was even quite sure she heard them argue about something, it was obvious by the look on Marie's face, it seemed Marie was caught in between their argument since both of them wanted her to take their sides, at that point she realized how she looked whenever they argued.

After the measurements, the girls made sure to remind Madame Lambert about their bonnets, and she promised to send them with their gowns once the fittings were completed in a few days.