章節 28: And it was a very, very good disguise.
As Mid afternoon rolled by and despite the cold weather, the streets were packed with people as James walked among them.
He was in disguise, in these parts no one knows he's a lord, he's just a commoner, that's what they know him to be.
He has been doing this for years now and for many reasons, And In a populated slum area of London, he knew better than to dress as fancy as he usually does, he had swapped his finer attire with a cheaper, dirtier one.
James carried whatever he needed in an old leather bag thrown around his shoulder and wore a messenger hat to cloud his features a little, but that didn't stop a certain curly brown haired younger man from recognizing the redhead man he hadn't seen in a long while.
"Big brother Jimmy! Long time no see! I thought you was dead!" Said the younger man.
"Joey boy!" James smiled at his friend and hurried to trap him in a head lock where he proceeded to ruffle the younger man's hair, "Stop! Stop! You're going to ruin my look! I'm trying to see my girl later!" The boy cried out, he was just skinnier and shorter than James so he was easily kept locked around James's arm.
Laughing, "Haha! You have a girl now?" James said releasing the boy, he genuinely though his friend was joking.
Annoyed, Joey started fixing his hair and clothes that James disheveled, "Unlike you some of us have to put real effort to look good in front of ladies! And yes I got me a pretty and sweet girl!" He complained.
"Aww c'mon! You aren't that bad looking, I'm sure if she's sweet she wouldn't care much." James said sniggering.
"I didn't say I was ugly! And she doesn't care but I still want to impress her." Joey replied.
"Fine, I'm sorry, I hope your girl is really going to be impressed with her prince charming." James joked.
Sighing, "You're just an idiot!" Joey replied.
"Oi! Carefully now! I'm older than you! Seriously what's with younger people disrespecting me all the time?!" James questioned.
"Because you act like a fool all the time." Joey replied.
Scoffing, "Whatever you say...blah blah blah." James said.
"You're proving my point." Joey replied with a mischievous grin.
Rolling his eyes, "Anyways, since you're done humiliating me, I'm here to work so don't bother me, unless you're going to be helpful." James said.
Immediately interested, "You have a new order from your Mistress?" Joey asked, "Yes, M'Lady wants to gift a friend of hers some face cream, and she want a suitable packaging or something like that...you get it, right? Rich people's shenanigans.
Anyways, she says If her friend ends up loving this gift, my mistress could start selling the stuff to people and make money although I don't understand why she wants more money, she's particularly drowning in it." James replied.
"Rich folks don't stay rich unless they make more money, anyways What's a cream? I never heard that word before?" Joey asked genuinely confused, "It's some odd sticky liquid, it's kind of thick and solid, rich girls like to put it on their bodies so they can look and smell better, heard it keeps them younger." James explained.
Astonished, "Oh! That sounds like something girls would really be into! Do you think If I can help you this time too, you can get me some of that cream to give to my girl? I don't really have a lot of money to get her something expensive...but something unique like that cream would probably make her happy!
That stupid cousin of hers from Wales came few days ago and gifted her some expensive perfume, she told me about it and she was so happy with that perfume, it pisses me off." Joey said.
"Aww you're jealous?" James said smirking, "Bloody hell I am! He's trying to steal my girl with money! Good thing she's loyal!" Joey replied.
Sniggering, "Did she say she's your girl or you're just talking out of your bum?" James asked.
"She...well..." Joey started blushing, "When i told her I was jealous because of that perfume...She laughed and kissed me...on the lips.
That means she likes me better, right?"
Surprised, James smiled happily, "Atta boy! I'm so proud of you!" he said patting the boy's back.
"SO! I really want to give her something, she chose me over her cousin I should show her how much I love her! but I have no money...please let me help you this time too! It's been a while since you came around here I thought you would never come again, and my job isn't paying me much to spend on gifts!" Joey said adamantly.
"Hmm, I'm in a bit if a rush so I can use an extra head to help." James replied.
Joey smiled big, "Then tell me what you need already!"
"I'm not sure...I mean it's a cream so a glass container would probably not fit, M'Lady actually uses glass jars and bottles to keep the cream, she says it's rather difficult to use or put such thick liquid in glass container, and the Glass does become too dirty once you fill it with cream, not to mention glass is easy to break and she broke few almost injuring herself.
Wood won't work either because it gets wet and smelly...
Basically what I need is a box rather than a bottle, and it has to be made of a durable material that's easy to clean and refill.
Also it has to look presentable enough to be gifted at the same time." James explained, "I tried looking somewhere fancier but all they have is these elaborate and useless boxes that aren't fit to store something half liquid half solid...they look fit to be gifted even for a Queen but I know my mistress wouldn't like them, she prefers quality over beauty anyways." He added sighing.
"OH MY GOD!" Joey gasped, "I know what you need and where you can get it!" He said enthusiastically.
"You do?" James asked.
"Yes! What you need brother is one of them Tin boxes with the removable covers! They're like these cans made of thin Steel and they put anything in them, from food to oil and guess what?
They're quite sturdy, No leaking well unless you punch a hole in'em and no trouble cleaning! We can get you some, you can take them to your Mistress and if she likes them and wants to use them more often, I know a friend who works in this factory on Southwark park road that makes these things.
he can try talking to the gentleman who owns the factory, maybe this man becomes interested in talking with your Mistress, and they could do one of those business deals together!
I can just see how much money a deal like that would make! You must tell your lady that I came up with the idea! So you and I could become rich!
Oh my god if this all goes well, I would be able to afford marrying my girl!" Joey said, his mouth was watering just imagining how much profit his idea could bring.
James was highly impressed with Joey's idea, he grabbed the young man by his shoulder, "You my friend, is a genius...I'm going to make sure that M'lady hears of your idea and rewards you for it!
But for now let's go get some of those boxes so I can show them to M'Lady, she needs them before this Saturday, I got to hurry! I'm not trying to get fired any time soon." James replied.
Excited, "Alrighty then! Follow me big brother!" Joey said leading the way.
...Meanwhile...
A carriage sat waiting in The alleyway nearest to madam Delacroix's shop, Safa was inside with Wolfgang and Denver sitting in his lap as Clara exited the carriage and went to the shop.
Clara herself was in a disguise of her own as Safa lent her one of her old but still quite beautiful dresses, a pair of shoes and gloves with a hat that she wore to seem of higher class than what she was.
Safa had felt bad that the other modiste quitted on them, so she dressed Clara up in her things to cheer her up, she even gave her few pieces of jewelry to wear and asked Wolfgang to do the girl's hair, so he styled Clara's dark brown hair into a high ponytail and tied it with a green ribbon.
And since Safa had promised Clara a fun time with the modiste for today, she decided to take the girl and Wolfgang, even Denver too to go and meet The modiste everyone is talking about.
However, They had agreed before they left, that Safa remains inside the carriage and so does Wolfgang since he is a man, it would be a bit odd for him to barge into a modiste's shop in broad daylight when it's crawling with Ladies.
And with no other servants present since Safa has given them a day off, Clara volunteer to speak with the famous modiste, however she was still wearing the things Safa gave her which Made her decide to pretend to be a rich young Lady to avoid suspicion.
But despite looking rich, Clara didn't feel it, She was anxious, she didn't want to go inside a modiste shop when many wealthy women were there, she was afraid she would turn herself into a joke, but she gathered her courage and went inside anyways.
After all, all she needs to do is convince the modiste to come with her to the carriage so she can speak in person with Safa.
When she opened the door, there was already a small group of Mamas with their daughters, some chosing fabric while others gossiped, and one was already in front of the mirror with Genevieve Delacroix right behind her showing her how certain fabrics would look on her.
But as soon as Clara stepped inside, everyone just stopped what they were doing and stared at her, especially at her hair and jewelry.
Clara's face went red, she froze in place completely petrified from the way they looked at her.
One Mama gasped and said, "Aren't you a pretty little thing!"
Another mama asked, "What is your name! What family are you from?"
"I umm...I...well..." Clara freaked out.
Some of the daughters glared at Clara, displease that their Mamas were praising her.
Genevieve noticed how terrified and out of place Clara seemed, she smiled at the customer she was helping and said, "Give me a moment, I'll be back." Then she approached Clara.
"You are a new face, I believe we never met." Genevieve said kindly, "Oh...yes...well I'm not f-from around...here." Clara replied shaking a little.
Still smiling, Genevieve held Clara's hands in hers, "Then I hope you're feeling at home here in Mayfair.
Now, Don't he shy, tell me what you're looking for?" She asked.
"Umm...well, I was hoping you would come talk to someone for me, She's my friend but she is Even much more shy than me, she is waiting for you outside...in a carriage...nearby." Clara replied nervously.
Surprised, "Is there no chance your friend would come into my shop?" Genevieve asked.
"No...well actually... it's a difficult situation to explain, please I hope you could be understanding." Clara replied.
Nodding, "Don't worry then, I'll come with you, just give me a minute, once I finish with my current customers and I'll join you outside." Genevieve said reassuringly before she went back to the girl she left waiting by the mirror.
Clara was now back to standing alone by the door, the Mamas started asking her more questions she couldn't respond to in coherent word due to her severe anxiety, while the daughters continued to glare at her fiercely.
創作者的想法 
QW_JiHi
QW_JiHi Fun fact: Disguise is one of the most frequently used tools by writers to allow character and plot to develop with bigger freedom, to hear and learn things they are usually not able to do, to invent new identities, create mood, adventure and laughter.
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