Chapter 43
Week 16, Instructor Calendar, May 1896
“There now, miss,” Ruby said, giving the gown a final shake and fluffing the folds, “the dress is all cleaned, and the creases came right out.”
“What about the tear in the train?” Concordia asked, picking up the bottom of the skirt. She had been dismayed to discover a tear in the lace edging, but Ruby’s repair was barely discernable.
“Whatever would I do without you, Ruby?”
The matron huffed in embarrassment and carefully folded the dress into its box. “I can have Sam deliver it this afternoon for you,” she offered.
Concordia shuddered at the thought of the grubby 12-yr-old boy, amiable as he was, carrying around Miss Bellini’s dress.
“No, no; I’ll take it to her myself. I won’t be long.”
Concordia realized as soon as Miss Bellini
