The day of making the marriage proposal was approaching.
Phoebe also felt a bit anxious.
Earnest would go to the Fraser Mansion for the marriage proposal, which meant she would also go there with Florence.
Although it wasn’t the first time she would go there, this visit was different. She was going to be the daughter-in-law of the Fraser family. She could chat and laugh with Victoria in the video call, but meeting in person? Phoebe felt more and more nervous when the day was getting closer.
It would be pretty official.
One morning, Phoebe rushed into Florence’s room. “Flory! Flory!”
Florence was still sleeping. Suddenly, Phoebe’s voice woke her up, and she sat up directly.
She worriedly asked, “What’s up? What happened?”
Phoebe directly walked to her bed and grabbed her arm.
She said anxiously, “Flory, you must help me this time. You must.”
“What on earth happened?”
Florence was confused by her, feeling quite uneasy.
So many significant events and bad things had happened recently, so Florence had become oversensitive, like a cat on hot bricks.
Phoebe gripped her hand tightly. “I… I… Well, what kind of girl does your mother like? What kind of dress does she like the girl to wear? Please help me choose my outfits.”
Florence was speechless. Suddenly, she didn’t want to talk to Phoebe.
She barged in the room to startle her in such an early morning just because of this?
She shook Phoebe’s hand off, turned around, and lay down on the bed. “I’m still sleepy. Not now.”
Phoebe dragged her out of the quilt.
“Flory, you are the best. Please… You will help me, won’t you?”
Florence closed her eyes and ignored her.
Phoebe continued to beg her. “Flory! Flory! I can’t do it without you. Please save me.”
She kept buzzing in Florence’s ears and shaking her. Florence’s sleepiness was utterly shaken off.
Florence said helplessly, “All right. All right. I’ll help you choose them.”
“You are the best, Flory. I love you.”
Phoebe pecked on her cheek.
Florence opened her eyes suddenly. Rubbing her cheek, she said, “I haven’t washed my face yet.”
“Eww!”
Phoebe instantly retched while covering her throat. She complained, “No wonder it’s so greasy. Eww! So disgusting.”
“Phoebe Jenkins! Choose your outfit yourself.”
“Wait! I’m not sickened. Flory, your skin is tender and clean even if you don’t wash your face. May I kiss you again?”
“Get out!”
After tidying herself up, Florence was dragged by Phoebe out of her room.
The Turner’s Mansion was different from the Fraser’s. It was located downtown, so it didn’t take Florence and Phoebe much time to arrive at a mall.
Florence followed Phoebe to a women’s clothing store.
Phoebe, who always had a unique taste in her outfits, lacked self-confidence. She was at a loss.
From time to time, she asked, “Flory, will Mrs. Fraser like this one?”
As if she wasn’t choosing for herself, but for Victoria.
Florence rubbed her forehead.
Looking at Phoebe’s nervous face, she smiled playfully and said, “I suddenly recalled my mother seems to like a gentlewoman. She always wants to find Stanford a lady.”
Phoebe’s expression changed. “A gentlewoman?”
She was basically the opposite of that.
Although she was also from an affluent family, she was quite worry-free and never was a gentlewoman.
Florence felt more delighted when looking at her face.
She dragged Phoebe to the rack and browsed some girlish clothes for her. Then she picked up a white dress.
Showing it to Phoebe, Florence said, “My mother will like this.”
Phoebe looked at it, and her face stiffened.
“Are you sure Mrs. Fraser likes this one?”
It was a simple white flattering dress which would go well with her curves, but it could also restrain her from moving around. The thigh part was too tight for a woman to stride.
If the person wearing it needed to sit down, she must sit upright with legs closed tightly. Otherwise, it wouldn’t look decent.
That was a typical dress for the gentlewoman.
Phoebe had never dressed in such a style before.
“I’m a hundred percent sure. Come on. Go try it on.”
Phoebe hesitated. It was too challenging for her.
She wondered if she should put it on and fake being a gentlewoman.
She was embarrassed somehow.
After hesitating for a while, Phoebe walked out of the dressing room awkwardly.
In a white dress and a pair of high-heels, she felt so uneasy. She guessed she was way too ugly.
“Whoa! Phoebe, you look gorgeous. I didn’t expect you would look so beautiful in such a style,” Florence praised in amazement, smiling brightly.
Phoebe looked terrific in this white dress, which complemented her perfect curves. She looked elegant and graceful, a pure gentlewoman.
“Flory, you’ve become cheeky after being with Ernest. You spoke with your tongue in your cheek.” Phoebe complained.
She walked to the mirror in high heels.
Florence watched her movement, and the amazement in her eyes was shattered.
She regretted her remark on Phoebe just now.
Phoebe only looked like a gentlewoman when standing still; but when she spoke or walked, she was still herself.
Standing in front of the mirror, Phoebe looked at herself up and down. The longer she stared, the more awkward she felt.
She asked, “Flory, does it really work? I felt so awkward and uneasy.”
Florence answered without hesitation, “Of course, you look gorgeous in it. It’s just because it was something new to you so you’re not used to it. I’m sure my mother will like it.”
Holding back her gloating laughter, Florence said to the saleswoman, “We’ll take this one.”
Phoebe still wanted to say something, but when she saw Florence seem quite satisfied, she suppressed the awkwardness in her heart forcibly.
She guessed that it might look good on her.
Anyway, as long as her future mother-in-law would like it, it would be fine.
Seeing that Phoebe was trying her best to convince herself, Florence covered her mouth and snickered.
It was said that a woman in love would have a lower IQ. Even Phoebe the smart girl had been fooled by Florence easily.
Florence couldn’t wait to see how Phoebe would pretend to be a gentlewoman next time.
She wondered if Phoebe or Stanford would feel more awkward.