chairs had
been placed facing a gleaming pianoforte. An arch of peach-colored camellias
framed the stage.
"Lady
Yardley! Dearest Baroness de Gagney! So delighted to see you!"
Helena
flushed with embarrassment as the Countess continued to call out greetings to
the occupants of the room. Despite the polite murmured replies, she saw the
raised brows and secret smirks behind the champagne flutes. She could
practically hear what they were thinking. The Countess of Northgate, fit for
Bedlam . She managed to secure her mother's arm.
"Mama,
we were to visit the garden," she said.
"Oh,
yes, let's," the countess enthused, her brown eyes wide and child-like.
Helena
began to steer the way, but was stopped by a silky voice.
"Is
that you, Aunt Amelia? And Cousin Helena?"
Resplendent
in peacock-blue satin, Caroline was standing but a few feet away, surrounded by
a ring of suitors. The gentlemen parted as Caroline glided forward.
"My
dear Caroline, but you do look stunning this evening!" Countess Northgate
exclaimed.
Helena
had to agree. Cut in the latest classical fashion, Caroline's gown gathered
under the bosom and fell in a soft, graceful column. The delicate puff sleeves
bared most of her shoulders, and the neckline was trimmed with tiny golden
tassels which shimmered with each movement. Indeed, Caroline looked like a princess,
with her hair in a coronet and a strand of diamonds woven into her auburn
locks.
"Wh-what
a lovely gown," Helena stammered, as her cousin kissed the air near her
cheek. "I have never seen anything so beautiful."
"This
old thing?" Caroline laughed, showing her perfectly white, even teeth. "I
thought I would give it a final whirl before bestowing it upon my maid. If you
admire it so, I would be happy to give it to you instead, dearest cousin."
Helena
felt her ears burn. Had her compliment been too gauche? Awkwardly she added, "Oh,
that is not what I meant—"
"But,
then again, you do not need my advice when it comes to fashion. You do
set a style all your own. How very original to wear velvet this Season,"
Caroline said, with another light laugh.
Helena
felt the heat spread to her face. How she wished her new wardrobe from Madame
Rousseau's had arrived in time for this evening. But it had not, so she had
resigned herself to wearing one of her old dresses. The rose-colored velvet was heavy and rather shapeless. She had chosen it only because she thought it
showed her bosom to an advantage. Compared to the other ladies in the room, however,
she could see that her neckline appeared practically prudish.
The countess
plunged into the awkward silence. "Are those sapphires in your necklace,
Caroline? How very brilliantly they shine!"
"Why,
thank you, Aunt." Caroline's gloved fingers lovingly caressed the large,
sparkling stones at her bosom. "A gift from Papa. It is a lucky daughter
to have so generous a father, don't you agree, Helena?"
"Yes."
Her own father, as Caroline must know, had been sunk in debt these past years.
"Where
is Uncle tonight? I do so long to say hello," Caroline continued.
"Northgate
is here somewhere. The card room, likely," the countess responded
cheerfully. "The man loves his whist."
Helena
looked at her mother with incredulous eyes. Was she mad ? Father was at
the cards again, and she was smiling about it? Did her mother not realize the
danger he was in? That they were all in? Something had to be done. Immediately .
"Excuse
me," Helena said quickly, "but I have been reminded of something I
need to speak with Father about."
"Of
course." Caroline's smile edged into a smirk. "Such a pleasure to see
you, Helena. We really should visit more often now that you are in Town, and we
are moving in similar circles."
Similar , but not the same circles. Helena registered the
barb, but at this point she had more pressing concerns. Like preventing her
father from gambling away the family estate.
"Helena,
I think I will stay and chat with Caroline," her mother was saying.
"I
will take
been placed facing a gleaming pianoforte. An arch of peach-colored camellias
framed the stage.
"Lady
Yardley! Dearest Baroness de Gagney! So delighted to see you!"
Helena
flushed with embarrassment as the Countess continued to call out greetings to
the occupants of the room. Despite the polite murmured replies, she saw the
raised brows and secret smirks behind the champagne flutes. She could
practically hear what they were thinking. The Countess of Northgate, fit for
Bedlam . She managed to secure her mother's arm.
"Mama,
we were to visit the garden," she said.
"Oh,
yes, let's," the countess enthused, her brown eyes wide and child-like.
Helena
began to steer the way, but was stopped by a silky voice.
"Is
that you, Aunt Amelia? And Cousin Helena?"
Resplendent
in peacock-blue satin, Caroline was standing but a few feet away, surrounded by
a ring of suitors. The gentlemen parted as Caroline glided forward.
"My
dear Caroline, but you do look stunning this evening!" Countess Northgate
exclaimed.
Helena
had to agree. Cut in the latest classical fashion, Caroline's gown gathered
under the bosom and fell in a soft, graceful column. The delicate puff sleeves
bared most of her shoulders, and the neckline was trimmed with tiny golden
tassels which shimmered with each movement. Indeed, Caroline looked like a princess,
with her hair in a coronet and a strand of diamonds woven into her auburn
locks.
"Wh-what
a lovely gown," Helena stammered, as her cousin kissed the air near her
cheek. "I have never seen anything so beautiful."
"This
old thing?" Caroline laughed, showing her perfectly white, even teeth. "I
thought I would give it a final whirl before bestowing it upon my maid. If you
admire it so, I would be happy to give it to you instead, dearest cousin."
Helena
felt her ears burn. Had her compliment been too gauche? Awkwardly she added, "Oh,
that is not what I meant—"
"But,
then again, you do not need my advice when it comes to fashion. You do
set a style all your own. How very original to wear velvet this Season,"
Caroline said, with another light laugh.
Helena
felt the heat spread to her face. How she wished her new wardrobe from Madame
Rousseau's had arrived in time for this evening. But it had not, so she had
resigned herself to wearing one of her old dresses. The rose-colored velvet was heavy and rather shapeless. She had chosen it only because she thought it
showed her bosom to an advantage. Compared to the other ladies in the room, however,
she could see that her neckline appeared practically prudish.
The countess
plunged into the awkward silence. "Are those sapphires in your necklace,
Caroline? How very brilliantly they shine!"
"Why,
thank you, Aunt." Caroline's gloved fingers lovingly caressed the large,
sparkling stones at her bosom. "A gift from Papa. It is a lucky daughter
to have so generous a father, don't you agree, Helena?"
"Yes."
Her own father, as Caroline must know, had been sunk in debt these past years.
"Where
is Uncle tonight? I do so long to say hello," Caroline continued.
"Northgate
is here somewhere. The card room, likely," the countess responded
cheerfully. "The man loves his whist."
Helena
looked at her mother with incredulous eyes. Was she mad ? Father was at
the cards again, and she was smiling about it? Did her mother not realize the
danger he was in? That they were all in? Something had to be done. Immediately .
"Excuse
me," Helena said quickly, "but I have been reminded of something I
need to speak with Father about."
"Of
course." Caroline's smile edged into a smirk. "Such a pleasure to see
you, Helena. We really should visit more often now that you are in Town, and we
are moving in similar circles."
Similar , but not the same circles. Helena registered the
barb, but at this point she had more pressing concerns. Like preventing her
father from gambling away the family estate.
"Helena,
I think I will stay and chat with Caroline," her mother was saying.
"I
will take
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