home…’ Sir William’s voice changed, took on a deeper quality. ‘There is a house on the Berkshire Downs, just north of the little village of Lambourn…In the winter the wind whistles down from the chalk hills and across the wide valley below with the snow on its edge, but in the summer the countryside drowses in a verdant, green peace. There is an ancient track which cuts its way across the hills, bone dry in the sun, and butterflies drift through the poppy fields.’ His voice changed, became brisk. ‘But it is a long time since I have been there. Are you cold, Mrs St Auby?’
Annabella had shivered suddenly as a stray breath of wind touched the back of her neck and trickled down her spine. She was aware of a vague feeling of disquiet, but she knew not why. She allowed Sir William to take her arm and steer her back into the lightedroom, where the card-players had just concluded their game.
Caroline Kilgaren came across to sit by Annabella as Sir William moved away and was almost immediately pounced on by Miss Hurst, who demanded his opinion on a letter she had just received from her mother:
‘For it says, dear Sir William, that Lady Frankland has inherited an estate of fifty thousand pounds from her uncle, Mr Cobbett, and yet I positively thought that she was cousin only to the Cobbetts, and surely the Drysdales are his closer relations…’
Caroline smiled ruefully as Miss Hurst bore Sir William away to a corner of the room to continue the discussion. ‘Now my dear, there is a matter I wanted to broach with you. It is about the ball on Friday.’ She hesitated. ‘Tell me to mind my own business if you wish, but I could not help wondering…I have a dress, you see, a very pretty confection in silver and gold, which would be just the thing for you if you do not have something you prefer to wear.’ She considered Annabella thoughtfully and smiled. ‘We may have to add a flounce, for you are somewhat taller than I, but that should not be beyond the skill of Ellie, my maid. She is a most talented sempstress.’
Annabella could have hugged her for her tact and kindness. The ball had been on her mind, for although Miss Mundell had referred to it as a small gathering for friends, Annabella had the feeling that the small gathering could be both exclusive and very smart, a far cry from the Taunton assemblies. She had wanted desperately to go, but had almost cried off through alack of appropriate clothing. But now, perhaps, that problem might be solved.
‘You are very kind to me, ma’am,’ she said, gratefully. ‘I do not mind admitting that I was wondering how I might go on.’
‘Come upstairs now,’ Caroline urged her, ‘and you may try it on. I’ll call Ellie, my maid, and she can help us with any adjustments.’
Lord and Lady Kilgaren were occupying a well-appointed suite of rooms in the east wing of Mundell Hall, with charming views over the flower gardens and the deer park beyond. Caroline went across to the wardrobe, which seemed to Annabella’s dazzled eye to be absolutely packed with dresses of all styles and materials. With a cry of triumph, she pulled out something from the back.
‘Here it is! Now, what do you think?’
Annabella thought she was imagining things. The dreamy, ethereal creation draped over Caroline’s arm could surely not be intended for her! When she tried it on, its softly flowing lines seemed to caress her body in the most seductive way, and she stood back in amazement to consider her reflection in the long mirror. The low bodice was cunningly cut to cross over in a V shape rather than the less sophisticated square or round necklines she was accustomed to, and she looked impossibly slender and elegant. Behind her in the glass, she could see both Caroline and the maid smiling.
‘Perfect!’ Caroline declared. ‘It lacks length, of course, but with a ruffle of silver taffeta, Ellie…’ the maid nodded in silent agreement ‘…if the dressmakers of Taunton can run to
Annabella had shivered suddenly as a stray breath of wind touched the back of her neck and trickled down her spine. She was aware of a vague feeling of disquiet, but she knew not why. She allowed Sir William to take her arm and steer her back into the lightedroom, where the card-players had just concluded their game.
Caroline Kilgaren came across to sit by Annabella as Sir William moved away and was almost immediately pounced on by Miss Hurst, who demanded his opinion on a letter she had just received from her mother:
‘For it says, dear Sir William, that Lady Frankland has inherited an estate of fifty thousand pounds from her uncle, Mr Cobbett, and yet I positively thought that she was cousin only to the Cobbetts, and surely the Drysdales are his closer relations…’
Caroline smiled ruefully as Miss Hurst bore Sir William away to a corner of the room to continue the discussion. ‘Now my dear, there is a matter I wanted to broach with you. It is about the ball on Friday.’ She hesitated. ‘Tell me to mind my own business if you wish, but I could not help wondering…I have a dress, you see, a very pretty confection in silver and gold, which would be just the thing for you if you do not have something you prefer to wear.’ She considered Annabella thoughtfully and smiled. ‘We may have to add a flounce, for you are somewhat taller than I, but that should not be beyond the skill of Ellie, my maid. She is a most talented sempstress.’
Annabella could have hugged her for her tact and kindness. The ball had been on her mind, for although Miss Mundell had referred to it as a small gathering for friends, Annabella had the feeling that the small gathering could be both exclusive and very smart, a far cry from the Taunton assemblies. She had wanted desperately to go, but had almost cried off through alack of appropriate clothing. But now, perhaps, that problem might be solved.
‘You are very kind to me, ma’am,’ she said, gratefully. ‘I do not mind admitting that I was wondering how I might go on.’
‘Come upstairs now,’ Caroline urged her, ‘and you may try it on. I’ll call Ellie, my maid, and she can help us with any adjustments.’
Lord and Lady Kilgaren were occupying a well-appointed suite of rooms in the east wing of Mundell Hall, with charming views over the flower gardens and the deer park beyond. Caroline went across to the wardrobe, which seemed to Annabella’s dazzled eye to be absolutely packed with dresses of all styles and materials. With a cry of triumph, she pulled out something from the back.
‘Here it is! Now, what do you think?’
Annabella thought she was imagining things. The dreamy, ethereal creation draped over Caroline’s arm could surely not be intended for her! When she tried it on, its softly flowing lines seemed to caress her body in the most seductive way, and she stood back in amazement to consider her reflection in the long mirror. The low bodice was cunningly cut to cross over in a V shape rather than the less sophisticated square or round necklines she was accustomed to, and she looked impossibly slender and elegant. Behind her in the glass, she could see both Caroline and the maid smiling.
‘Perfect!’ Caroline declared. ‘It lacks length, of course, but with a ruffle of silver taffeta, Ellie…’ the maid nodded in silent agreement ‘…if the dressmakers of Taunton can run to
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