[Primrose Bolger]

Ginger took the little blue dress from Wren and looked at it with a practiced eye. There was a tear where the lace about the collar had come loose, and a small jagged rip near the back hem where it had probably been caught on something and yanked loose hurriedly. Neither of which problems could not easily be fixed, she told Wren. They’d also need to heat the irons and give it a good pressing to smooth away the wrinkles.

The girl took back the dress and holding it against herself was dancing about the room. It was then that Ginger noticed the state of her shoes. Now, were she a Hobbit girl, there would not need to be any consideration for this part of the dressing up. But the Big Folk liked to have something on their feet at all times . . . except in bed, she supposed, but then she had not the opportunity to have checked on that bit of information. And oh yes, the girl would need some tights of some sort; that seemed the Big Folk standard for wearing a pretty dress and nice shoes.

‘See that wardrobe over there,’ she said, drawing Wren’s attention to a tall sort of cupboard that stood in the corner. ‘That’s where we keep shoes and boots and such that the Big Folk have left behind. Why don’t you see if you can find a pair of party shoes to go with your dress?’

She watched as the girl climbed on a stool and opened the tall doors. ‘I think I’ve got a ribbon that will just match this blue color, down in my room. Open those drawers there at the bottom and see if there’s a pair of tights that can go along with everything. Or do you have a pair in your pack?’

Ginger started toward the door. ‘Come down to the kitchen when you’ve found what you need. I’ll just mend the dress real quick and get it pressed. After we serve lunch and clean up, then I’ll help you polish up the shoes you’ve found.’ She nodded at Rose, motioning for her to continue the search. Then down the stairs she went to ask Cook for the loan of her sewing basket.