Miss Eugenie Grandet

"Also, Mrs. Xiangli has been waiting for you all morning."

When Eugenie looked at the invitation card in her hand, she heard the receptionist say this again.

She raised her eyes slightly puzzled, "Ms. Xiangli?"

"It's Mrs. Xiangli from the Xiangli boutique. The most advanced fashion customization shop in Paris. Mrs. Xiangli often goes to various noble houses and makes friends with many noble ladies. The late Queen Josephine is a frequent visitor of Mrs. Xiangli .”

"But I didn't ask the lady out. Are you sure she's not mistaken?"

"It can't be wrong!" said the front desk in a positive tone. "She is waiting for you. If you want, we will inform her to find you in your room."

"All right……"

Eugenie nodded, still a little confused.

After returning to his room, within a short while, he heard a knock on the door.

Mrs. Shanli is here.

This woman is not good-looking, but she dresses stylishly and looks quite elegant.If instead of the amiable smile on her face at this moment, she imitated the aloofness that aristocratic wives usually have, it would be easy for people to believe that the lady in front of her was someone from the social world. A noble lady.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, my dear Mademoiselle Grandet, you are younger and more beautiful than I imagined."

"Thank you for your compliment, but ma'am, I don't seem to know you before, and I haven't made an appointment with you."

"Yes," Madame Shanli laughed, "but don't you know? Your name has now spread in Parisian society. Everyone is talking about you, because you will be the only one in this celebration to be honored." A female noble conferred by His Majesty. If my information is correct, you should also be the guest of Duchess Guastalla's party tonight? It is very presumptuous of me to disturb you like this, but you also know that we are in this business, ear It’s inevitable that you should always be smarter and run faster than others. I guess you need someone like me to serve you now, so I’m here, waiting for your orders.”

Eugenie laughed dumbfoundedly.

She had also heard about how well-mannered those who served the upper class were.Now I finally see it.

"Okay, Mrs. Xiangli, thank you very much for your high opinion. You are right, I really need your help now." Eugenie shrugged, "To tell you the truth, I really have no idea about this .”

"Great." Mrs. Xiangli smiled, "I came here to give you advice on this."

"As a naive dame, you need at least six outfits for the day. These include your bathing suit for your early shower, your morning suit for your comfort at breakfast, your casual attire for going out during the day, and your afternoon visits. Guests' clothing, dinner clothes, and dresses for various dances and parties at night. In addition to these clothes, you also need to prepare matching gloves, coats, shoes, capes, and of course, the most important hat must not be forgotten-if you don't want to If you go out, you will be mistaken for a commoner. Although you are already very beautiful, but in addition to these, you must not ignore the small accessories that can add to your femininity. Fans that exude the fragrance of oriental sandalwood, accentuate the luster of your skin Jewelry, a corset to enhance your curves..."

"and many more--"

Eugenie, in a daze, at last interrupted her eloquence.

"The corset is free. I don't need it."

From 1810, the late period of the First Reign, the Greek-style high-waisted clothing popular during the Governor-General period was abandoned, and the upper class began to respect the female aesthetic concept of "breast enlargement, thin waist, and hips" as the core.In order to make themselves "beauties" in line with this aesthetic, women do not hesitate to torture their bodies.I forgot where I saw it, but Eugenie was very impressed.It is said that according to the statistics of a doctor, among those women who have been wearing corsets for a long time since their teenage years, 20.00% suffer from lung disease, 15.00% die in the first childbirth, 15.00% are weak and sick after childbirth, and 20.00% cause physical deformities , only 30.00% of women are lucky enough to survive, but they also have to bear all kinds of discomfort caused by wearing a corset.

Mrs. Shanli looked a little surprised by her words.After asking Eugenie to stand up, she walked up to her, stretched out her hand and pinched her waist, and finally said reluctantly: "Well...fortunately, you have a good figure. But to be honest, most women, if they don't have Helping with corsets, wearing clothes made in my shop, it's a waste..."

Eugenie interrupted her.

"So Mrs. Shanli, let's put aside the fact that we have to change five or six clothes a day. I promise I can't wear so many. Now let's solve another problem. As you know, I received a call from Guas today. An invitation from the Duchess of Tara. If I accept, what should I wear tonight?"

She really had no reason to refuse such an ordinary-looking invitation.For the upper class who regard socializing as a job, since she has been pushed to this point now, even if she can't help herself, even if she is no longer interested, she can't put on a gesture of resolutely drawing a line from the entire upper class.

Mrs. Shanli said: "This is a serious question, miss! You asked very well! To be honest, no boutique or tailor shop in Paris offers ready-made couture. Everything you need, after measuring today , it will take three days at the earliest before it can be delivered to you. Only the poor can buy clothes that suit them at any time. But..."

She showed a mysterious smile, "Fortunately! I have a ready-made custom set including shawls here! It's a coincidence. It originally belonged to a countess, but before she had time to pick it up, she fled to England...You too If you know the reason... then, let me measure your bust, waist and feet now. If you are about the same size as the countess, you can wear it entirely..."

Mrs. Xiangli took a measuring tape and measured Eugenie's bust, waist and feet one by one, and exclaimed in a slightly ambiguous exaggerated tone, "It's a perfect match! What a coincidence! "

Eugenie did not notice the strange expression on Mrs. Xiangli's expression when she said this.Hearing her say the exact same size, that is, solved a big problem of her own.relieved.

"Okay then. Please bring me my clothes and shoes."

"I brought them here when I came. Please wait a moment."

Madame Chanli went out, and after a while she and a maid came in, opened the lid, hung up the dress, and showed Eugenie.

It was a rose-colored tiered gown of brocade, silk, taffeta and lace.In order to ensure that the figure of the woman wearing it can be displayed to the greatest extent when she spins in the ballroom, there are as many as a dozen layers of petticoats in the skirt alone, and the hem of each layer has British embroidery and lace.It is matched with a top handmade cashmere shawl with intricate patterns.Needless to say, such a dress is exquisite, and it also has the function of keeping warm.

"There are still shoes, you can try them on."

After Eugenie put on the overshoes and unexpectedly found that they really fit her feet, Mrs. Xiangli's smile looked even more ambiguous.

"What are you laughing at?"

Eugenie finally realized that something was wrong with her, and asked her a question.

"Oh, it's nothing." Mrs. Xiangli hurriedly restored her original expression, "Miss, do you like the style of these shoes?"

These were luxuriously crafted shoes to match an evening dress, and luckily the countess had not succumbed to fashion, and the heels were of ordinary height.

"good."

Eugenie was wearing it, and after walking a few steps in the room, she expressed her approval.

"Okay. Now let me measure for you, and then discuss the clothes you need to customize..."

After a difficult tug-of-war that seemed to be a negotiation with the lady who was trying her best to make Eugenie the No. quantity.In the end, when Eugenie endured the pain in her heart and asked the price of all the outfits including the suit, Mrs. Xiangli said that she needed to go back and calculate carefully, and when the calculation was clear and the things were finished, she would Send her the bill.

"We have full confidence in a guest like you and very much look forward to continuing to serve you in the future."

Eugenie thanked her and said she would pay the bill as soon as she received it.

"You need someone to help you put on your skirt, and you also need someone to comb your hair—" She stared at Eugenie's simple braids with a disgusted look, "You can't just show up in the At the Duchess' party."

Eugenie was slightly annoyed when she reminded her - to be honest, she hadn't been prepared enough for how to go to a high society party.

"But don't worry, I've taken care of all this for you. I have a girl named Jane who is very clever and capable, and she will not only help you with these services during your stay in Paris, but also tell you a lot about high society. Secret. With her, you'll be on your toes in no time."

Eugenie understood.

Just like those aristocratic girls who have just been taken home from the monastery at the age of marriage, before entering the society, their parents will definitely find a woman similar to "teaching" for her to accompany her.Now, according to Mrs. Xiangli, this girl named "Jane" can not only serve as her maid, but also provide her with a guide for her next social activities in Paris.

Eugenie immediately agreed - since it was inevitable to attend some social activities, it was necessary to be familiar with the customs of the so-called upper-class circles.

"Jane, come in!" Mrs. Xiangli looked very serious after calling the girl in.

"Next, you have to provide services for Miss Grandet's schedule in Paris. Remember, you must be wholehearted. Don't smash my brand."

"Please rest assured, ma'am."

Jane is a girl who looks no more than sixteen or seventeen years old, with a delicate appearance.If it were in the countryside, a girl of her age would still be an ignorant girl who would help her parents with work.But in her eyes, there is already a capability and intelligence that is not suitable for her age.After dealing with her female boss, she turned to Eugenie and saluted respectfully. "Miss, from now on, I am your maid. You can order me to do anything."

----

After Mrs. Xiangli left, Eugenie, with Jane's help, tried to put on the gown—this kind of skirt with hidden buttons at the back could not be put on by herself without help from others.

After putting on the skirt and shoes, Eugenie stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling mirror, looking at herself reflected in the mirror, her eyes lit up, as if she couldn't recognize herself...

"Miss, when I finish brushing your hair, you will definitely be more beautiful. Even the Duchess of Guastalla, I can guarantee that when you stand beside her, she will never overwhelm your demeanor... ..."

Women naturally love all things beautiful.A flower with morning dew, a beautiful and unique dress, or even a plate of exquisite food can easily awaken their admiration and emotion for beauty.

Eugenie was not immune either.But after the newly appointed personal maid finished her overly flattering words, her brain, stimulated by the fancy dress, immediately woke up.smiled.

"But there is still a pair of jewelry missing. If there is another pair of jewelry, it will be more perfect..."

Just as Jane finished speaking, there was a knock on the door.

The visitor this time turned out to be the well-known Queen Madeleine jewelry store in Paris-the three secret gemstone bracelets that Napoleon gave to his newlywed wife Queen Marie Louise to express his love came from this jewelry store.

"Miss Grandet, this is a set of jewelry you ordered, and it will be delivered to you as promised. I hope you like it."

The jeweler opened the box and showed it to Eugenie.

This is a set of diamond jewelry set with rubies.It was very pretty, and the color matched Eugenie's rose dress very well.

"But I didn't make a reservation, did you make a mistake?" Eugenie was surprised again.

"There is no mistake. Mademoiselle Grandet from Anjou," said the clerk with certainty, "and you have already paid."

After the people from the jewelry store left, Eugenie stared at the necklace and two bracelets in the jewelry box, frowned slightly, and fell into deep thought.