evening dress and a miracle of a cravat. His fair hair gleamed in the candlelight and his strange black eyes had a brooding look. Maria was wearing a pale-pink silk gown decorated with pearl embroidery. Pearls were wound through the thick tresses of her hair and a single row of pearls lay on her bosom.
Effy was wearing a girlish pale-blue muslin gown with a turban made out of swathed blue chiffon. Amy startled them all by appearing in a splendid scarlet velvet gown with long sleeves. It was her evening hat that almost made Effy groan with envy. It was of white satin with a high crown and narrow brim and lined with red satin. The red satin band round the crown was decorated with a crescent-shaped diamond brooch. That brooch sparkled and glittered like Effy’s jealous eyes. ‘Where did you get that expensive bauble, Amy?’ she demanded.
‘Mr Haddon sent it to me,’ said Amy with a radiant smile. Maria thought with surprise that Amy looked really handsome. The fact was that that glorious present had made Amy feel attractive and fascinating, and when a good-hearted woman feels attractive and fascinating, she quite often is.
‘Really,’ said Effy crossly, ‘I do not know what Mr Haddon is about. It is not at all the thing to send expensive presents to an unmarried lady, and so I shall tell him.’
‘Do that,’ said Amy with a sweet smile, ‘and I shall hang you by your garters.’
The duke looked pointedly at the clock. ‘We are already late. It is time to leave.’
‘I hear Mr Randolph and Mr Haddon arriving,’ said Effy. ‘
Now
we can go.’
Maria thought it ironic that the two elderly Tribble sisters should be setting out for the evening with their gallants, showing all the pleasure and excitement of young girls going to their first ball, while she simply wished the evening were over. Then she remembered Beau would be there and began to experience some pleasurable anticipation.
The duke began to feel a little sorry for Maria. She was a beautiful girl. Such a pity she should have such terrible parents attached to her like a ball and chain. He would pay her particular attention so that society would think, when the break came, that it was Maria who had left him rather than the other way around.
Maria had been looking forward to dancing with Beau and even hoping he might take her in for supper. She had forgotten she had made him promise to entertain Amy and so she had to be content with the Duke of Berham as a supper partner.
Effy was furious when Beau invited Amy to waltz and then took her in to supper. Really, it was too bad of Yvette to make that hat for Amy and not to dream up a similar creation for her, Effy. Mr Randolph waltzed with her before supper and then both Mr Haddon and Mr Randolph took Effy into the supper room. Normally Effy would have been preening herself at having the company of these two middle-aged beaux, but jealousy of Amy was making her sour and bitter.
Supper was served at long tables in the Marriots’ dining room. When Mr Randolph was engaged in talking to the lady on his other side, Effy said to Mr Haddon, ‘I am amazed you should send such an expensive gift to poor Amy. It has quite gone to her head.’
Mr Haddon looked across the room at Amy and replied mildly, ‘Yes, she is wearing it in her hat. A good idea.’
Effy fanned herself vigorously. ‘I only hope you know what you are doing. I ’member in ninety-two – or was it ninety-three – when Amy received a diamond bauble from Colonel Withers and was quite in alt. Of course, his motives were of the worst, and the work I had to do to avert scandal! But at least there was no child.’
‘Are you trying to tell me . . . ?’
‘My wicked tongue!’ cried Effy. ‘La, Mr Haddon, it is an old scandal and best forgot. Now do not breathe a word to dear Amy about what I have said.’
Mr Haddon did not reply but pushed his food about his plate with his fork.
‘Would you say you are a good landlord?’ Maria was asking
Effy was wearing a girlish pale-blue muslin gown with a turban made out of swathed blue chiffon. Amy startled them all by appearing in a splendid scarlet velvet gown with long sleeves. It was her evening hat that almost made Effy groan with envy. It was of white satin with a high crown and narrow brim and lined with red satin. The red satin band round the crown was decorated with a crescent-shaped diamond brooch. That brooch sparkled and glittered like Effy’s jealous eyes. ‘Where did you get that expensive bauble, Amy?’ she demanded.
‘Mr Haddon sent it to me,’ said Amy with a radiant smile. Maria thought with surprise that Amy looked really handsome. The fact was that that glorious present had made Amy feel attractive and fascinating, and when a good-hearted woman feels attractive and fascinating, she quite often is.
‘Really,’ said Effy crossly, ‘I do not know what Mr Haddon is about. It is not at all the thing to send expensive presents to an unmarried lady, and so I shall tell him.’
‘Do that,’ said Amy with a sweet smile, ‘and I shall hang you by your garters.’
The duke looked pointedly at the clock. ‘We are already late. It is time to leave.’
‘I hear Mr Randolph and Mr Haddon arriving,’ said Effy. ‘
Now
we can go.’
Maria thought it ironic that the two elderly Tribble sisters should be setting out for the evening with their gallants, showing all the pleasure and excitement of young girls going to their first ball, while she simply wished the evening were over. Then she remembered Beau would be there and began to experience some pleasurable anticipation.
The duke began to feel a little sorry for Maria. She was a beautiful girl. Such a pity she should have such terrible parents attached to her like a ball and chain. He would pay her particular attention so that society would think, when the break came, that it was Maria who had left him rather than the other way around.
Maria had been looking forward to dancing with Beau and even hoping he might take her in for supper. She had forgotten she had made him promise to entertain Amy and so she had to be content with the Duke of Berham as a supper partner.
Effy was furious when Beau invited Amy to waltz and then took her in to supper. Really, it was too bad of Yvette to make that hat for Amy and not to dream up a similar creation for her, Effy. Mr Randolph waltzed with her before supper and then both Mr Haddon and Mr Randolph took Effy into the supper room. Normally Effy would have been preening herself at having the company of these two middle-aged beaux, but jealousy of Amy was making her sour and bitter.
Supper was served at long tables in the Marriots’ dining room. When Mr Randolph was engaged in talking to the lady on his other side, Effy said to Mr Haddon, ‘I am amazed you should send such an expensive gift to poor Amy. It has quite gone to her head.’
Mr Haddon looked across the room at Amy and replied mildly, ‘Yes, she is wearing it in her hat. A good idea.’
Effy fanned herself vigorously. ‘I only hope you know what you are doing. I ’member in ninety-two – or was it ninety-three – when Amy received a diamond bauble from Colonel Withers and was quite in alt. Of course, his motives were of the worst, and the work I had to do to avert scandal! But at least there was no child.’
‘Are you trying to tell me . . . ?’
‘My wicked tongue!’ cried Effy. ‘La, Mr Haddon, it is an old scandal and best forgot. Now do not breathe a word to dear Amy about what I have said.’
Mr Haddon did not reply but pushed his food about his plate with his fork.
‘Would you say you are a good landlord?’ Maria was asking
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