Against the World

Chapter Three
“Ah, Clarissa and Penelope, iz so happy to zee you girls, again!” Giana with a French accent says when the three sisters enter the store. “and zyou brought a friend.”
“Giana, this is our little sister, Joan. We are here to find dresses for the ball at the Duke’s manor,” Clarissa says to Giana.
“Ah yes, ze news is still buzzing around town. I assume you girls want spectacular dresses, oui?” Giana says to the sisters.
“They do. I just want to leave,” Joan says but is roughly nudged by Penelope.
“Giana, I am so sorry about my sister’s rudeness. You see. She is the ‘mistake’ daughter of our family. She doesn’t like shopping or boys for that matter,” Penelope says whispering to Giana but making sure that everybody else around them could hear.
“Well, at least, my brain isn’t scattered like yours,” Joan says and walks off to another room connecting the main room.
“Joan, you have to stay with us,” Clarissa says but Joan ignores her and disappears into the room.
“Clari, just let her go. At least, she won’t bother us while we shop,” Penelope says as she begins looking at the dresses in the main room. Clarissa sighs and starts looking for a dress for herself.

-----
‘Ugh, all of these dresses are really frilly and lacy. Why me?’ Joan groans not even bothering to stay at one set of dresses for too long. The hair on the back of Joan’s neck starts to stand up while she is looking at another frilly dress. She quickly turns around to see an old woman staring at her. A little surprised, she looks around the room to make sure she isn’t the only one in there, and she is. The woman starts to walk up to her. Joan stands her ground as the woman makes her way to her.
“Can I help you?” Joan asks. The woman does not say anything and starts making circles around Joan. Joan starts to turn when the old woman starts walking behind her.
“Don’t move,” the old woman says which Joan obeyed but still wary of the woman making circles around her.
“What’s your name, child?” the old woman asks coming around to face Joan.
“Joan McBrody.”
“You’re a daughter of Seth McBrody, aren’t you?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“The third daughter, no?”
“Yes, ma’am, and who are you?”
“I am Giana’s grandmother. Tell me, dear, are you perhaps looking for a dress for ze ball, I am assuming?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Why’z that?”
“I really don’t like shopping for dresses, and I don’t want to go to the ball.”
“But zis is an event that many girls are looking forward to. If you don’t want to go, then why look for a dress? I can also tell you aren’t even the type that looks forward for other social gatherings of ze upper crust.”
“Mother’s wishes.”
“Ah, yes, I know mothers. Always looking out for ze best of zeir children.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I love my mother. It’s just when it comes to this stuff that she doesn’t really understand me.”
“Parents never do, dear.”
“Yeah, unfortunately so.”
“Well, have you found a dress to your liking?”
“No. Sorry but I’m not into frills and lace,” Joan says apologetically.
“No need for apologies. These are my grandson’s ideas. Giana said that frills and lace are what girls like, but I guess not all girls like them, no?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Well, my dear, I am the dressmaker of this store. Giana makes dresses too, but I do most of ze needlework. If you will let me, I’ll take down your measurements and make a dress especially-made for you.”
“(Sigh) I guess I really have no choice. My mother will skin me if I don’t get a dress. (Sigh) Okay, but no frills or lace, right?”
“Right, my dear. Come, let me take down your measurements.”

-----
“Where’s Miss Joan, Miss Clarissa?” Nathan asks as Giana, Clarissa, and Penelope approach the carriage. Giana is holding the purchases that the sisters had made and gives them over to Nathan. Nathan stores them securely in the carriage.
“Last, I saw her was when she went into the other room of Giana’s store,” Clarissa says.
“None of you waited for her?” Nathan asks.
“She can have a few more minutes to look, but I’ll go back in a minute if she doesn’t come out,” Clarissa says. As Clarissa finishes saying that, the door of the dress shop opens, and Joan and Giana’s grandmother step out of the store towards the carriage.
“Ms. Lynn, did you find our sister wandering around in the store?” Penelope asks
“No, she was with me for sometime. I am sorry to have kept you girls waiting,” Ms. Lynn says.
“Joan, you didn’t get a dress. Mother requested that you come not empty-handed,” Clarissa says.
“That’s my fault, too. I needed her help with something, and she was happy to help me. Now, remember what I told you.”
“Yes, ma’am, I won’t forget,” Joan says.
“Come on, Joan, we better go. Thank you, Giana and Ms. Lynn,” Nathan says waving
“Bye,” all three girls says as the carriage rides back home.

-----
Another carriage is in front of their house as the girls and Nathan approach the house. Seeing a familiar face, Joan leaps out of the carriage before it comes to a complete stop and runs over to give the person a big hug.
“Don’t ever jump out of a moving carriage like that, Joan,” says the person as he hugs her back.
“Well, I am just surprise and happy to see you, Derek,” Joan says smiling brightly at her big brother.
“Miss Joan, if you ever do that again, I’ll break your neck myself,” Nathan says after letting Joan’s sisters out.
“And if he doesn’t succeed, then I will,” Derek says as he hugs Clarissa and Penelope, too.
“Why are you here, Derek?” Clarissa asks
“How’s London? Did you meet anybody famous?” Penelope asks.
“I am here because I have a surprise for all of you, Clarissa. Penelope, London is great, and as for meeting someone famous, I met someone, but she’s famous in my book,” Derek replies back.
“What’s the surprise?” Joan asks.
“The surprise is inside. Follow me,” Derek says and walks up to the house. Joan looks back at Nathan.
“Go on. I can put up the horses and carriage,” Nathan says.
“Are you sure? I’ll feel guilty if I let you do it by yourself,” Joan says.
“Yes, I’m sure. Now, if you don’t go in after your brother, I’ll be extremely mad at you,” Nathan says and tries to give his angry look.
“Fine, but I owe you again,” Joan says.

-----
“Ah, here she is,” Seth says as Joan enters the room for entertaining guests. Joan enters the room to see her family and a girl with blonde hair sitting next to her brother, Derek. The girl is wearing a light blue dress and looks to be Joan’s age. Joan has an idea of what the surprise might be but does not want to think about it. Joan takes a seat on the sofa next to her little brother, Jason.
“Now that everybody is here. Derek has some wonderful news to share with us,” Uma says.
“Honey, would you stand up please?” Derek asks the blonde girl. “Everybody, I would like you to meet, Sarah, my fiancé.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you all,” Sarah says giving a warm smile.
Everybody immediately gets up to give Sarah a hug or to congratulate her and Derek all except Joan.
“It is such wonderful new. Right, Joan?” her mother says making everybody turn to stare at Joan.
Joan forces a smile and nods, “Yes, it is such great news, but could you excuse me for a second? I came back without saying hello to Terrence.” Joan immediately leaves the room and exits the kitchen to head to the stables. Before she can saddle and mount Terrence, she is abruptly stopped by a strong but gentle grip on her forearm. She turns around to see Derek with a sad look.
“Aren’t you happy for me and Sarah?”
“Yes, I am. I have already answered, didn’t I?”
“I am your big brother; I know your fake smiles.”
“Well, I am glad you know me so well. Now, if you don’t mind, I would like to go ride Terrence.”
“You know out of all my sisters, I was hoping more for your approval.”
“Why?”
“Because, I knew Clarissa and Penelope would not have cared who I marry. Why don’t you like that I have a fiancé?”
“There is not anything wrong with it. I just hoping that she is good for you. Do you really love her?”
“Yes, Joan, I love Sarah very much.”
“If you are happy, then I am happy for you, but I have to see how she is for myself.”
“That’s why I brought her home. I was hoping you would get to know her and welcome her to the family.”
“Oh, I’m sure mom has already got that planned.”
“Thank you, Joan,” Derek says giving her a hug. Their brother and sister moment is shattered when the door to the stable opened.
“Sorry, Miss Joan and Mr. Derek, your mother requests to see Joan’s dress for the ball.”
“Elizabeth, quit with the formalities you know Derek and I don’t care for them.”
“Sorry, it is habit, Joan.”
“Hah, my little Joan actually went shopping for a dress?” Derek says
“Yeah, about that…Say, you guys can keep a secret, right?”
“Sure, what? You didn’t get a dress? Joan, your mother is going to throttle you,” Elizabeth says.
“Hey, hey, let me explain first. When we were at the dress shop, I ran into Giana’s grandmother, Ms. Lynn who took down my measurements and said she would make a dress especially-made for me.”
“Ms. Lynn? THE Ms. Lynn?” Elizabeth exclaims
“Y-yes. Something wrong?”
“Joan, Ms. Lynn is almost never seen by anybody. If she does appear to anybody is when she wants to make a dress or do something spectacular for that person.”
“Yeah, that’s cool, but you two promise you won’t tell, mom?”
“Yes, we won’t,” Derek says.
“Then, let’s go face mother.”