Chapter Text
“It appears that the Duke of Highgate, Loid Forger is out of mourning.” Sharon says over a glass of lemonade, who is also playing chaperone like Yor. Sharon points in the man’s direction for the people around her.
Yor at the age of twenty-seven has accepted her position of spinster in life, happily. Much to her uncle’s chagrin. Yor is grateful for viscount for taking both her and her little brother in after their parents' death. So Yor does keep her eye open while out in society to find an available man that would please her uncle. But none have seemed to meet the viscount's standards. The duke, who is certainly handsome and probably would meet all the standards. It's just the duke was defiantly out of her range.
Yukiko, Yor’s adoptive sister slides in beside her. She is winded from dancing with the previous gentleman.
“May we leave after my dance with Mr. Brighton?” Yukiko asks. Her cheeks red as he chiffon dress. Small hairs were falling out of Yukiko’s up do. Yor will have to talk to Yukiko’s ladies-in-waiting about proper hairdressing. Again.
“We shall.” Yor responds happily, taking in one last look at the duke’s silhouette. This action does not go unnoticed by the other women around her. Sadly.
“I believe that you’re a bit too old for His Grace, Miss Briar.” Camilla says with a laugh to Sharon. Camilla is one of Yor’s peers in age and married five years ago to a lowly mister even though she pretends like he isn’t. Just because her husband could possibly be a baron someday doesn’t mean he is now. And it is a strong if he would get the title, because Dominic’s elderly uncle should be able to produce an heir with his new and very young wife.
Yor’s face still turns bright red in embarrassment but Yukiko eyes flash angrily. So Yor grips Yukiko’s upper arm and pulls the girl close to her before the Yukiko does something unflattering like making a scene. Yor loves Yukiko but the girl’s protective streak is a bit much and it’s just as bad as her younger brother Yuri’s.
“Actually,” Yukiko says instead, “I would like to take my leave right now, Yor. The current company has certainly soured my mood. I wonder why they are even here at all? Camilla is only a daughter of and married to a mister after all. It’s a pity that finishing school she went to never taught her any manners.”
Sharon laughs nearly dropping the glass she was holding on the floor. Camilla full of anger, fumes by Sharon's side. Yukiko smiles as she takes Yor’s hand drags her to the doorway.
“From my understanding my brother had planned to send you to finishing school is that correct?” the viscount asks.
It has been three hours since Yor and her brother’s arrival at their uncle's estate. A week since her parent’s death. It had been an ordeal to get Yuri, her five-year-old brother to bed in the nursery. She is exhausted. But at thirteen Yor knows that manners dictate that she defers to the head of the household. The Viscount’s needs are above her own.
Yor nods as she says, “That is correct, my lord.”
“You are now the eldest daughter of a viscount and will be treated as such.” her uncle says. Yor tries not to let her surprise show on her face. But it must have since her uncle continues in an authoritative tone, “You will be given your own governess and will not be sleeping in the nursery with the children.”
“But...”
“If you were a boy, I would be sending you off to Eden right now. So instead, I will be giving you that same education here in this home like a proper woman of your station. When you are not with your governess, I expect you to be working with my wife Lady Briar and to learn how you will run your own household. Do you understand me?”
Yor nods again.
“As you know Lady Briar has been in fickle health since giving birth to my daughter Yukiko. I promised I would not risk my love’s life by trying to produce a male heir. This is the reason why you and your brother Yuri have been adopted into my family and will be treated as my children. Yuri is now my heir.”
Yor nods for the last time, “My younger brother always boasted in his letters that you are an excellent example of what a woman should be, Yor. Do not let me down.”
Yor and Yukiko head to the dressmaker the next morning after breakfast. The reason being is because of a rather interesting conversation that the family had during the meal...
“Yor has been put on the shelf far too long.” Yukiko says between a bite of muffin at the breakfast table. “There are men, widowers, in our social circles that need her skills.”
Yukiko then gives an obvious wink at Yor and Yor certainly doesn’t know what brought this on, but she doesn't want any part of it.
The viscount mulls over his youngest daughter's words and looks over his morning paper at the two women, “I have had a few callers ask about you, Yor. But you have been too dedicated to this household so I have turned them down. Yukiko is right. Everyone on this side of Berlint knows that you have been running our household like a true Lady of the House for the past nine years. What man wouldn’t want that type of experience?”
Yor sinks further into her chair and Yukiko looks surprised.
“Five new dresses for the both of you.” Viscount Briar says with a sigh, “Stanley! We need to announce that Yor is back on the market, and pure I might add...”
“I am so sorry,” Yukiko says to her sister again, “I was not expecting father to react in that way. Yuri and I just want you to be happy. And with the way you looked at the duke, I felt I needed to say something.”
“It is fine,” Yor says sadly. She wasn’t popular when she was first introduced into society but who to say that she will this time? “At least I have someone with me.”
Yukiko hugs her, “You are too pure for this world Yor! Now this carriage needs to hurry before all the good seamstresses are taken.”
When the two finally enter the store Yor’s knees are grabbed by a child with pink hair. The small girl mumbling something about being used as pin cushion. It seems that the head seamstress’s shaky hands have gotten worse over the years. Yor pats the child on the head and says, “Alas we must or we will never have a new dress again.”
The child looks up and exclaims, “You are not Papa!” Yukiko attempts to hide a giggle as a man with a stern frown and blonde hair makes his presences known.
“Anya! Get back here now.” he demands. When both Yor and Yukiko get a good look at him, they instantly curtsy while saying, “Good morning Your Grace.”
“I do not believe that we have been properly introduced. I am Duke of Highgate Loid Forger and my daughter Anya,” The duke narrows his eyes at the two ladies as Anya tries to become a part of Yor’s dress. “You are Lord Briar’s daughters, am I correct?”
“That is correct Your Grace.” Yukiko replies. “I am the younger Miss Yukiko Briar and this is my elder sister Miss Yor Briar.” He gives a hum of acknowledgement.
Anya’s hands further crinkle the front of Yor’s dress. All Yor can do is smile and pat the child’s head while asking: “Maybe if one of us fine ladies of society get fitted with Lady Anya, she would know how it is properly done?”
The duke looks between the two women and then his daughter, “I will allow it.”
Yukiko takes one of Anya’s hands in hers and smiles, “Come with me Lady Anya! I do know a few tricks to deal with those funny little pins!”
Anya’s eyes widen as her other hand lets go of Yor’s dress. Anya smiles and she allows herself be taken to the fitting area by Yukiko.
Yor and the duke quietly stand side by side and watch as Anya gets fitted. Anya is young, so she squirms a bit. But Yukiko who is getting fitted herself calmly talks the young girl through it. “One must be as still as a statue...” Yukiko begins.
The duke turns to Yor and smiles, “You and your sister take after your late mother.”
“Lady Briar was my aunt by marriage.” Yor says quietly.
The duke’s cheeks redden in embarrassment, “I apologize for my mistake. That was a detail I had forgotten.”
“A proper lady must always keep her head up...” Yukiko’s voice wafts through.
“There is nothing to apologize for, your grace. Lady Briar and I loved each other fiercely. It was as if we were of the same blood.” Her smile is gentle even whimsical. The duke’s eyebrows peak in interest.
“Papa! Papa!” Anya yells while running to her father, “Look! Miss Yukiko and I match!”
The small girl twirls on the spot to show off her own satin blue dress and looks at Yukiko to do the same. Yukiko sighs as she does a small twirl on the spot. Yor giggles. The duke smiles.
“Anya how do you feel if Miss Yor Briar also has a matching dress?” the duke asks his daughter, “Both ladies have been ever so helpful today.”
Yor begins open her mouth to speak, as Anya’s eyes light up at the idea and says “You could get a matching coat too Papa? Then we’d be a family! Yukiko and I can be sisters! And Miss Yor is already like a mother.”
Yor’s cheeks pinken at that statement, the duke seems flabbergasted and Yukiko grins evilly before responding, "Yes Lady Anya I think being a family would be excellent idea!”