Chapter 22:
The Villainess Takes a Walk Around Town
AT HELEN’S SUGGESTION that she renew her spirits, Claudia went out into town. She could sense Helen’s mood taking a nosedive, which was unusual.
Her carriage drew attention for bearing the Lindsay colors and crest, but the people on the street quickly made way. It was past noon by the time they visited the shopping district, which was utterly peaceful.
And this is exactly what we need to protect. This tranquility was what her people feared losing.
“I wonder if the people’s attitudes toward the refugees will change once they start mingling,” Claudia wondered aloud.
“Good question. The unknown creates so much fear,” said Helen.
Accepting refugees was such a unique event that people were picturing the worst to prepare themselves. That sometimes led to baseless speculation, which further stoked the fear of the unknown. If there were already problems present, that was more fuel for the fire. Virgil had dealt with the logistical issues the extra supplies presented, but it would take time for their transportation to fully catch up.
When Claudia emerged from her carriage, a cold wind nipped at her cheeks. People who recognized her on the street squealed in delight. She flashed them a smile. Ahead of her, Helen opened the door to a ladies’ clothing boutique. A bell echoed to announce their entrance as they stepped inside, and the fuss from outside grew faint as soon as the door was shut behind them.
“Welcome, welcome!” said the proprietress, a graceful woman with deep wrinkles around her mouth. Usually Claudia summoned her to the Lindsay estate, but she soon caught on to the reason for Claudia’s visit. Shortly thereafter, she was introducing them to the most colorful pieces in her collection.
The boutique primarily supplied ordinary dresses for everyday wear. The majority were rather simple in design. Upon seeing the new spring collection lined up, however, Claudia recognized its vibrance and variety.
“Is the fabric for your dresses arriving on time?” she asked.
“I was warned to order them well in advance, so our shop hasn’t suffered from delays,” answered the proprietress.
Rumors had abounded about Harland’s acceptance of refugees well before the decision was made, and the people had known the Lindsays’ region would be among the first to meet the tide. They had expansive lands and ample wealth, so it was a given. Their people knew how well-off their region was over others.
Many farmers were continuing generations of the same work. Even if a natural disaster hit and damaged their crops, they still had the mines up north to provide for them and keep them from starvation. The people trusted Duke Lindsay and his family’s reign.
No one is feeling optimistic about the influx of refugees, though.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have surrounded her and her brother’s carriages when they first arrived, nor would the subsequent meeting with the leadership have been so tense. The skies ahead looked dense with gray clouds, the exact opposite of the pristine aqua dress in front of her. It was good for the leadership to be vigilant, but their misgivings could spread among the people, which concerned her.
The saint has great influence. Or rather, the church did. The saint’s plea for the refugees had a ripple effect, which thrust them into their current situation. And now, not only do we need to calm the refugees, but we need to reassure our citizens as well.
At least until the two groups could safely mingle and respect one another.
Helen’s face popped into view, jerking Claudia out of her thoughts. “Are you going to try this on, my lady?” The maid hadn’t said as much, but she was trying to distract Claudia from thinking about work.
Claudia forced a smile and nodded. The dress in question was a soft, creamy yellow. The shade reminded her of custard cream, in fact, which brought on a sweet tooth. “Why don’t we pick up dessert before we head back?”
“I think that’s a splendid idea!” Helen was eager to indulge Claudia, especially after their talk yesterday.
Once Claudia had the new dress on, she twirled in place. The skirt danced through the air. “This is adorable!”
“It suits you perfectly. I think it would go well with a wide-brimmed hat.”
Fortunately, the shop next door was a millinery.
The proprietress chimed in, “Oh, you should definitely stop by! The owner will be delighted. Anyone who gets to see you in person, my lady, will have a new lease on life!”
“You exaggerate,” Claudia told her.
“Nonsense!” the older woman insisted. “You were our goddess long before the Evans Company began worshipping you!” She sniffed irritably, as if annoyed that the Evans Company had some nerve to claim Claudia when she belonged to the territory first.
Claudia itched to smack herself on the forehead upon hearing that Brian’s reverent words had reached all the way to the Lindsays’ region.
“Come to think of it, the Evans Company set up a branch store here, didn’t they?”
“I think it’s a bit odd to be running a shop featuring fan merchandise with the Lindsays’ colors,” Helen said disapprovingly. Lowering her voice, she added, “Though I did purchase a few things.”
Claudia gave her a look. “You did, did you?”
“Naturally. Those colors represent both you and Lord Virgil. Everyone’s been buying goods in pairs from that shop.”
Claudia blinked. “Everyone, you say?”
“One is not a Lindsay citizen if they don’t have something in the Lindsay colors,” Helen argued with her nose in the air.
From the way Helen spoke, the Evans Company was making a good profit.
The proprietress offered a toothy grin. “We’re lucky, really we are! We get to see you face-to-face after all, Lady Claudia.” Only citizens were granted that opportunity. “Your visit the other day washed away all our fears. As long as you and Lord Virgil are hale and healthy, our region will be peaceful.”
“Precisely!” Helen said with a sharp nod. “Yet Lady Claudia feels so sorry for the refugees that she doesn’t think she deserves any luxuries.”
“Oh goodness, no! That won’t do!” cried the proprietress. “Lady Claudia, if your hair were to lose its luster or your skin its suppleness, why, that would be a loss for all your people. A devastating one. Please, you must look after yourself!” Before Claudia could say anything, the proprietress added, “The refugees, too, I think would prefer the support of someone proud and wealthy over someone poor and unfortunate.”
The former offered a more substantial and reliable form of support as well, one recognizable at a glance.
“And the people will be able to tell how wealthy our region is simply by visiting the town. You’d be doing me a favor by indulging yourself and making purchases from my shop. Think of it as a contribution to our town’s economy!”
When Claudia looked down, she noticed the proprietress already had another dress in her hands. She couldn’t help but smile at the old woman’s tenacity. Ultimately, she bought three dresses, two hats, and some dessert before they finally set off for home.
Claudia sank into the cushioned backrest in the carriage. “Phew,” she breathed out, “that was fulfilling.”
Helen smiled proudly. “I’m glad to hear it.”
Every shop Claudia visited was eager for her to pamper herself. Not surprising, since they all wanted to make a sale, but their duke’s daughter purchasing luxuries was a given.
“The Evans Company made an incredible business decision with that general store,” Helen remarked.
“Yes. You were quite right about everyone buying from their store.”
When Claudia inquired with the other store owners if they’d bought their goods from the Evans Company’s store, they insisted—much like Helen—that everyone did. A nearby customer overheard her inquiry at one point and showed off a charm from that store. Wherever she went, the people referred to her as the region’s goddess, not the Evans Company’s. Their stubborn claim over her warmed her heart.
Claudia spent more time in the capital than she did in her region. Her visit had been delayed and would therefore be shorter than she’d planned. Despite her absence, the people insisted that this was her and Virgil’s home. She could feel their love.
“Once the refugees begin mingling with the citizens, I hope they take an interest in the Evans Company’s store. Though I doubt they need anyone’s encouragement. People might offer some of those goods to them as gifts, even,” Helen mused aloud.
That was possible. If they were going to stay in the Lindsays’ region, they might as well own the Lindsays’ colors—that was how the people would rationalize it. From what Claudia had heard, even the Arakanerians had purchased some of those goods before departing for their island.
“It’s good to have a sense of unity, in my opinion,” the maid tacked on.
“I agree.”
The carriage rattled around them. The roads were well maintained, which made for a smooth ride. Great care and attention went into infrastructure in the Lindsays’ territory. If there were any issues with the roads, traveling merchants and transporters would alert the proper authorities. If the condition of the roads was too poor, then craftsmen would be dispatched for repairs without delay.
This might be a good opportunity, actually. Helen would be annoyed with her for thinking about work again, but Claudia was plenty refreshed; she wouldn’t have been able to come up with new ideas if she weren’t. A tired brain was a nonfunctional brain, after all.
At present, the citizens and refugees were being kept apart, with temporary relief measures in place for the latter. But the increased flow of goods and dispersal of supplies was temporary, as often happened during emergencies. All the leadership could do at this point was watch how things played out.
Claudia had already discussed more long-term support for the refugees with her brother. Every option had its pros and cons, but Claudia wanted something more promising.
Something we could offer our people as well as the refugees. Something that was less a means of support and more a policy paving the way to a better future. Something that could only be done here, in the Lindsays’ region.
The measures they had been testing in the capital’s slums with Rose Garden had been a good indicator of how to accomplish this. There was a timeless source of concern for anyone, regardless of their country of residence or their financial situation. It was something she had experienced personally in her brothel days.
Claudia turned her gaze to Helen. Their eyes met, and as always, Helen smiled.
She used to pull funny faces at me sometimes when she was a courtesan. Claudia never wanted to see Helen waste away, her body mere skin and bones. Never again.
As soon as she got home, she went to Virgil with her proposal. Virgil agreed it would be a change for the better, and soon enough, they implemented her idea.