quickly took a sip of the tepid tea as the excitement she felt at uncovering the name of Felicia’s mother threatened to overwhelm her. “Whatever became of Mr. Richards? Great Aunt always did refuse to talk about him.”
Melanie’s barely concealed yawn indicated she was getting bored with the topic. “Lord only knows,” she answered carelessly. “As I said, they both vanished. Although, perhaps I did hear something to the effect that he was consumptive. Mayhap he died.” She glanced around the room and espied another acquaintance of hers. “Aha! I see Lady Gordon has arrived. What a wretched hat she is wearing! You would think she would know better than to dress herself up in all those feathers.”
Lady Louisa glanced toward the unfortunate lady in question. “I don’t know, Melanie, dear. I think she looks quite becoming. Besides, feathers are so fashionable nowadays, even though they do make one sneeze.” Disappointment at not being able to pursue her conversation about Felicia caused her to speak unthinkingly, and it was only when Melanie sniffed loudly and moved away, her voluminous taffeta underskirts rustling like a galleon in full sail, did Lady Louisa remember that one should never disagree with the Honorable Mrs. Courtney.
She sat back in reflective silence as she pondered Felicia’s parents. Her instinctive reaction was to protect her from the truth, but she knew that was an impossibility. “Poor child,” she murmured to herself. “I do hope she will be all right.”
“Louisa!” Lady Jersey’s voice boomed. “How absolutely divine you look! Positively radiant! Whatever made you stay away for so long? I swear you are a wonderful tonic to us all.”
Lady Louisa smiled sweetly at Sally Jersey’s friendly compliments, and pushed her meditations away. “Sally dear, it is so good to see you after such a long time. Though with your looks and vigor, you are in no need of a tonic. Nay, ’tis you that remind us that health and happiness go together. You make me feel quite ashamed for staying away for so long.”
“Seriously, my dear Louisa, it is truly wonderful to have you back in our midst. I cannot tell you how much your gentle good humor has been missed. Without your restraining arm, we were turning into a bunch of savages.”
“I am thankful I have returned in time, then, Sally,” Lady Louisa laughed. “For I would hate to be thrust into the position of a missionary!”
“Who is the young lady you are chaperoning?” Lady Jersey asked abruptly. “Do I know the Richards family? A comely girl.” She stared rudely at Felicia as she gave her voice of approval. “A credit to you. I suppose you are looking for vouchers?”
Lady Louisa nodded, glad that on this occasion Felicia was not within earshot. For she had been most adamant this morning about not wanting vouchers or any other such nonsense that would end up costing more than she could ever hope to repay.
“It would put me in your debt, Sally, for I know Felicia’s sojourn in town would not be complete without a visit to Almack’s. And I do hear talk that a certain young lady is in need of a little competition.”
“Haven’t changed a bit, have you, Louisa?” Lady Jersey laughed. “Still able to twist us all around your little finger and get us to do exactly what you want. Well, this time, it will be my pleasure. As you have so shrewdly observed, we could do with another beauty on the scene. Lady Barbara is in need of a setdown. She has become far too conceited, and the attentions of your son have only raised her expectations.” Her voice was light as she teased Lady Louisa. “What is her pedigree, did you say?”
“I didn’t, Sally, for you never gave me a chance! Great Aunt Agatha. A remote connection, but a good one.” She sent up another prayer for forgiveness for the lie, and hoped that when the truth came out her standing in Society would be sufficient for her to hold onto her position.
“I will send them to
Melanie’s barely concealed yawn indicated she was getting bored with the topic. “Lord only knows,” she answered carelessly. “As I said, they both vanished. Although, perhaps I did hear something to the effect that he was consumptive. Mayhap he died.” She glanced around the room and espied another acquaintance of hers. “Aha! I see Lady Gordon has arrived. What a wretched hat she is wearing! You would think she would know better than to dress herself up in all those feathers.”
Lady Louisa glanced toward the unfortunate lady in question. “I don’t know, Melanie, dear. I think she looks quite becoming. Besides, feathers are so fashionable nowadays, even though they do make one sneeze.” Disappointment at not being able to pursue her conversation about Felicia caused her to speak unthinkingly, and it was only when Melanie sniffed loudly and moved away, her voluminous taffeta underskirts rustling like a galleon in full sail, did Lady Louisa remember that one should never disagree with the Honorable Mrs. Courtney.
She sat back in reflective silence as she pondered Felicia’s parents. Her instinctive reaction was to protect her from the truth, but she knew that was an impossibility. “Poor child,” she murmured to herself. “I do hope she will be all right.”
“Louisa!” Lady Jersey’s voice boomed. “How absolutely divine you look! Positively radiant! Whatever made you stay away for so long? I swear you are a wonderful tonic to us all.”
Lady Louisa smiled sweetly at Sally Jersey’s friendly compliments, and pushed her meditations away. “Sally dear, it is so good to see you after such a long time. Though with your looks and vigor, you are in no need of a tonic. Nay, ’tis you that remind us that health and happiness go together. You make me feel quite ashamed for staying away for so long.”
“Seriously, my dear Louisa, it is truly wonderful to have you back in our midst. I cannot tell you how much your gentle good humor has been missed. Without your restraining arm, we were turning into a bunch of savages.”
“I am thankful I have returned in time, then, Sally,” Lady Louisa laughed. “For I would hate to be thrust into the position of a missionary!”
“Who is the young lady you are chaperoning?” Lady Jersey asked abruptly. “Do I know the Richards family? A comely girl.” She stared rudely at Felicia as she gave her voice of approval. “A credit to you. I suppose you are looking for vouchers?”
Lady Louisa nodded, glad that on this occasion Felicia was not within earshot. For she had been most adamant this morning about not wanting vouchers or any other such nonsense that would end up costing more than she could ever hope to repay.
“It would put me in your debt, Sally, for I know Felicia’s sojourn in town would not be complete without a visit to Almack’s. And I do hear talk that a certain young lady is in need of a little competition.”
“Haven’t changed a bit, have you, Louisa?” Lady Jersey laughed. “Still able to twist us all around your little finger and get us to do exactly what you want. Well, this time, it will be my pleasure. As you have so shrewdly observed, we could do with another beauty on the scene. Lady Barbara is in need of a setdown. She has become far too conceited, and the attentions of your son have only raised her expectations.” Her voice was light as she teased Lady Louisa. “What is her pedigree, did you say?”
“I didn’t, Sally, for you never gave me a chance! Great Aunt Agatha. A remote connection, but a good one.” She sent up another prayer for forgiveness for the lie, and hoped that when the truth came out her standing in Society would be sufficient for her to hold onto her position.
“I will send them to
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