The auction of Ravensmuir’s relics promised to be the event of the decade. Madeline and her sisters had spent the short interval between the announcement and the event ensuring that they would look their best. Uncle Tynan had declared it imperative that they appear to not need the coin, and his nieces did their best to comply.
It was beyond convenient that they could pass kirtles from one to the next, though inevitably there were alterations to be made. They might be sisters, but they were scarcely of the same shape! Hems had to be taken up or let down, seams to be gathered tighter or let out, and bits of embroidery were required to make each garment ‘new’ for its latest recipient.
There were disagreements invariably between each one and her younger sibling, for their taste in ornamentat
