eminently respectable chaperone. She had returned all of the polite morning calls that she had received, and she had reestablished old ties. Lucinda could foresee no reason why she should not shortly, be able to enjoy every amusement that was offered by the ton. Her supper and ball was the first step in launching her into the desired waters.
For the hundredth time she mentally reviewed her preparations. The orchestra had been engaged. The florists had agreed to transform the ballroom at Mays House into a blooming hothouse wonderland. The parlor adjoining the ballroom would make a very suitable cardroom with the addition of several game tables, which had already been acquired. The menu had been reviewed and revised countless times before she, the cook, and Mrs. Beeseley had been satisfied. Lucinda’s gown and Miss Blythe’s had been delivered.
Lucinda had pored over her guest list, adjusting and adding as she thought best. At last she had been satisfied. The gilt-edged invitations had been addressed in Miss Blythe’s elegant hand and had been sent out just the day before. Already they had received acceptances.
Lucinda was shrewd enough to know that the function would be well attended simply out of curiosity. After all, she had left society under humiliating and rather mysterious circumstances. She had not been granted the opportunity to graciously cancel her engagements nor to say her good-byes. It was therefore inevitable that she should come under close scrutiny. It would be unpleasant, of course, but it had to be borne. The gossip mill would tire quickly enough of her when she was no longer a novelty.
Lucinda wanted her party to be remembered for more than her own notoriety, and she had been painstaking in providing all that was necessary for the enjoyment of her guests. There would be nothing to complain of in either the entertainment that was offered or in the refreshments, she thought.
She only hoped that Miss Blythe would be completely recovered from the unexpected chill that she had taken. Otherwise there would indeed be something for the tattle-mongers to whisper about. A beautiful young woman could not readily hostess a social function without a relative or companion to lend her countenance.
Miss Blythe was perhaps even more cognizant of that fact than Lucinda was herself.
Lucinda knew that even if her former governess did not feel up to it, Miss Blythe would insist upon carrying out her responsibilities as chaperone and companion. For the lady’s benefit even more than her own, Lucinda hoped that Miss Blythe would indeed be fully recovered. She did not want her dear Tibby to overextend herself.
However, the date of the supper and ball was yet a week away. In all likelihood there would not be the least occasion for anxiety, thought Lucinda. Miss Blythe would be standing at her side when she greeted her guests that evening.
Chapter Ten
Lucinda’s confidence was not misplaced. Miss Blythe was back to her former self fully two days before the momentous date. On the evening of the supper and ball, Miss Blythe took her place beside Lucinda at the top of the stairs and offered civil greetings to all who entered the august portals of Mays House.
Mays House had been shut up for a twelvemonth since Lord Mays’s scandalous death, and so several that came to the supper and ball were as interested in what Lady Mays might have done to the interior furnishings as they were in the lady and her companion.
Apparently Lady Mays exercised some influence over her cousin-in-law to have persuaded Lord Wilfred Mays to allow her the use of the town house for the entire Season. It would be wonderful indeed if Lady Mays had not also managed to have things changed according to her tastes, for it was widely known that Lord Mays did not enter into his predecessor’s predilection for collections. In fact, Lord Mays had been heard to express the shocking opinion that his cousin’s collections would make a fine
For the hundredth time she mentally reviewed her preparations. The orchestra had been engaged. The florists had agreed to transform the ballroom at Mays House into a blooming hothouse wonderland. The parlor adjoining the ballroom would make a very suitable cardroom with the addition of several game tables, which had already been acquired. The menu had been reviewed and revised countless times before she, the cook, and Mrs. Beeseley had been satisfied. Lucinda’s gown and Miss Blythe’s had been delivered.
Lucinda had pored over her guest list, adjusting and adding as she thought best. At last she had been satisfied. The gilt-edged invitations had been addressed in Miss Blythe’s elegant hand and had been sent out just the day before. Already they had received acceptances.
Lucinda was shrewd enough to know that the function would be well attended simply out of curiosity. After all, she had left society under humiliating and rather mysterious circumstances. She had not been granted the opportunity to graciously cancel her engagements nor to say her good-byes. It was therefore inevitable that she should come under close scrutiny. It would be unpleasant, of course, but it had to be borne. The gossip mill would tire quickly enough of her when she was no longer a novelty.
Lucinda wanted her party to be remembered for more than her own notoriety, and she had been painstaking in providing all that was necessary for the enjoyment of her guests. There would be nothing to complain of in either the entertainment that was offered or in the refreshments, she thought.
She only hoped that Miss Blythe would be completely recovered from the unexpected chill that she had taken. Otherwise there would indeed be something for the tattle-mongers to whisper about. A beautiful young woman could not readily hostess a social function without a relative or companion to lend her countenance.
Miss Blythe was perhaps even more cognizant of that fact than Lucinda was herself.
Lucinda knew that even if her former governess did not feel up to it, Miss Blythe would insist upon carrying out her responsibilities as chaperone and companion. For the lady’s benefit even more than her own, Lucinda hoped that Miss Blythe would indeed be fully recovered. She did not want her dear Tibby to overextend herself.
However, the date of the supper and ball was yet a week away. In all likelihood there would not be the least occasion for anxiety, thought Lucinda. Miss Blythe would be standing at her side when she greeted her guests that evening.
Chapter Ten
Lucinda’s confidence was not misplaced. Miss Blythe was back to her former self fully two days before the momentous date. On the evening of the supper and ball, Miss Blythe took her place beside Lucinda at the top of the stairs and offered civil greetings to all who entered the august portals of Mays House.
Mays House had been shut up for a twelvemonth since Lord Mays’s scandalous death, and so several that came to the supper and ball were as interested in what Lady Mays might have done to the interior furnishings as they were in the lady and her companion.
Apparently Lady Mays exercised some influence over her cousin-in-law to have persuaded Lord Wilfred Mays to allow her the use of the town house for the entire Season. It would be wonderful indeed if Lady Mays had not also managed to have things changed according to her tastes, for it was widely known that Lord Mays did not enter into his predecessor’s predilection for collections. In fact, Lord Mays had been heard to express the shocking opinion that his cousin’s collections would make a fine
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