military revue with none but your maid and three half-pay officers!”
“But no one likes those dull girls. Even Papa used to say those colorless females were no fun.”
“My dear Nadine, are you being guided by your father’s conception of how a female should act? The whole county knew his preferences ran to blowzy women with painted faces and easy manners. You cannot be trying to live up, or down, to his values, girl. No one marries those women, not even your papa.”
“I shan’t take anyway, I know it.”
“Not if you proceed the way you’ve been going,” Emilyann agreed. “But there is no reason you can’t be one of the season’s Incomparables. You know your dark looks are quite the fashion this year, pity us poor blondes, and your figure is everything pleasing if you just refrain from so many desserts. Smoky has set aside a comfortable dowry for you, and your breeding is unexceptionable. We can turn the lady patronesses up sweet with one or two demure morning calls, and the rest of the ton will forget the park incident as soon as Lady Bainbridge takes a new cisisbeo or Prinny insults another German graf.”
“You really think I can become a Toast?”
“Definitely. If you will be led by those who love you and truly have your best interests at heart, then there is no doubt.”
* * * *
Aunt Adelaide had plenty of doubts. She’s just not strong enough for the rigors of the season, Smoky had written.
“My heart, you know, dear. No, I don’t feel at all well in this foul air. I fear for my health, I truly do.”
Emilyann feared she might have to accompany her sister-in-law to every debutante do and young peoples’ outing herself if she could not talk Aunt Adelaide into staying.
“I thought you enjoyed the opera, and I know you were delighted to encounter that old friend of yours.”
“Yes, but all the hustle and bustle can cause palpitations, quinsies, dyspepsia. I could succumb to any number of them, you know, if I don’t return to the country.”
“What a hum, Auntie. I saw you having a comfortable coze with Mrs. Richfield and tapping your toes. You didn’t feel the least bit weak until Nadine went behind the draperies with that Austrian.”
Aunt Adelaide reached for her vinaigrette.
“See? You needn’t worry anymore. I have decided to take Nadine in hand myself, and she agrees to try to moderate her behavior. That is, Smoky insists. Since I am a married woman, I’m considered enough of a chaperone for her, so you needn’t come with us to all the big squeezes if you think they might be too wearing. It’s just that we need you for some of those times when I may have other plans. You know, those quiet afternoon teas you find so pleasant, or the afternoon dance parties the young people like so much when their mamas sit and gossip. I wish you could see your way to staying with us, but you mustn’t jeopardize your health, of course.”
“Oh, dear, so kind of you to concern yourself. And you’ve been so generous, I keep asking Nadine what would we have done without you. And to disappoint dear Everett. No, no. The family must come first. You did say she wouldn’t wear those awful feathers anymore, didn’t you?”
“I burned them myself, ma’am.”
“I do miss my garden though....”
So Emilyann had three rosebushes planted in the grassy patch behind the house, and a bench installed. It was a fair trade if she got out of another harp musicale.
Nanny was even easier to deal with. It was her opinion that Miss Emmy should be in the country, where Master Stokely ordered, waiting for her man like a good wife. Instead, she was gallivanting around town in a flimsy rig, wearing her hems too high and her necklines too low, making too much of a stir for a respectable matron. Her little lamb was trotting too hard altogether, so there.
Emilyann couldn’t get Nanny a baby to mother, not comfortably, anyway, so she did the next best thing: she bought her a puppy.
Geoffrey, at least, was no
“But no one likes those dull girls. Even Papa used to say those colorless females were no fun.”
“My dear Nadine, are you being guided by your father’s conception of how a female should act? The whole county knew his preferences ran to blowzy women with painted faces and easy manners. You cannot be trying to live up, or down, to his values, girl. No one marries those women, not even your papa.”
“I shan’t take anyway, I know it.”
“Not if you proceed the way you’ve been going,” Emilyann agreed. “But there is no reason you can’t be one of the season’s Incomparables. You know your dark looks are quite the fashion this year, pity us poor blondes, and your figure is everything pleasing if you just refrain from so many desserts. Smoky has set aside a comfortable dowry for you, and your breeding is unexceptionable. We can turn the lady patronesses up sweet with one or two demure morning calls, and the rest of the ton will forget the park incident as soon as Lady Bainbridge takes a new cisisbeo or Prinny insults another German graf.”
“You really think I can become a Toast?”
“Definitely. If you will be led by those who love you and truly have your best interests at heart, then there is no doubt.”
* * * *
Aunt Adelaide had plenty of doubts. She’s just not strong enough for the rigors of the season, Smoky had written.
“My heart, you know, dear. No, I don’t feel at all well in this foul air. I fear for my health, I truly do.”
Emilyann feared she might have to accompany her sister-in-law to every debutante do and young peoples’ outing herself if she could not talk Aunt Adelaide into staying.
“I thought you enjoyed the opera, and I know you were delighted to encounter that old friend of yours.”
“Yes, but all the hustle and bustle can cause palpitations, quinsies, dyspepsia. I could succumb to any number of them, you know, if I don’t return to the country.”
“What a hum, Auntie. I saw you having a comfortable coze with Mrs. Richfield and tapping your toes. You didn’t feel the least bit weak until Nadine went behind the draperies with that Austrian.”
Aunt Adelaide reached for her vinaigrette.
“See? You needn’t worry anymore. I have decided to take Nadine in hand myself, and she agrees to try to moderate her behavior. That is, Smoky insists. Since I am a married woman, I’m considered enough of a chaperone for her, so you needn’t come with us to all the big squeezes if you think they might be too wearing. It’s just that we need you for some of those times when I may have other plans. You know, those quiet afternoon teas you find so pleasant, or the afternoon dance parties the young people like so much when their mamas sit and gossip. I wish you could see your way to staying with us, but you mustn’t jeopardize your health, of course.”
“Oh, dear, so kind of you to concern yourself. And you’ve been so generous, I keep asking Nadine what would we have done without you. And to disappoint dear Everett. No, no. The family must come first. You did say she wouldn’t wear those awful feathers anymore, didn’t you?”
“I burned them myself, ma’am.”
“I do miss my garden though....”
So Emilyann had three rosebushes planted in the grassy patch behind the house, and a bench installed. It was a fair trade if she got out of another harp musicale.
Nanny was even easier to deal with. It was her opinion that Miss Emmy should be in the country, where Master Stokely ordered, waiting for her man like a good wife. Instead, she was gallivanting around town in a flimsy rig, wearing her hems too high and her necklines too low, making too much of a stir for a respectable matron. Her little lamb was trotting too hard altogether, so there.
Emilyann couldn’t get Nanny a baby to mother, not comfortably, anyway, so she did the next best thing: she bought her a puppy.
Geoffrey, at least, was no
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