Harriet tried on
outfit after outfit as her mother looked on critically.
“That’s a gorgeous dress but the wrong colour for your skin
tone. That’s pretty but it doesn’t show off your tiny waist enough. That dress
is just plain horrible, don’t even bother trying it on.”
Harriet began to feel exhausted. All of the dresses were
lovely as far as she was concerned. In the end they settled on an emerald
coloured dress with a bandage style top half and a short billowing skirt.
“The colour brings out your eyes perfectly and the cut
really shows off your delicate figure without making you look like a tart,”
said Adelaide, pleased. “Do you like it? I was thinking you could wear that one
to the summer party, assuming they invite you back.”
Harriet nodded. As it happened she loved it, but by this
stage she’d have been ready to say yes to anything.
The second dress was even better. It was almost ethereal,
made of different shades of gold and bronze silk that overlaid each other. Tiny
crystals subtly covered the bust area. She’d never seen a dress quite as
beautiful.
“We’ll take a few of the daytime dresses and the ballet
pumps as well,” Adelaide told the sales assistant. “It’s not just about a few
parties; my daughter needs to start looking her best at all times.”
“Thanks mum,” Harriet said grinning.
After the remaining clothes had been taken away, they had
some drinks in her room, then Adelaide glanced at her watch and announced she
had to meet Gus and head back to London.
“One more thing though. You shouldn’t be dragging yourself
through Oxford. You need to be wearing the right things, going to the right
parties. I wish I could help you at every step, but that’s just not viable. So
instead, from now on, I’m going to pay a couple of grand into your bank account
each month. It’s not much in the scheme of things - I don’t want to make you
too spoilt - but it should be enough to live like a Queen amongst everyone’s
student budgets.”
“Mum, the clothes are fab, but you don’t need to give me
that sort of money,” Harriet said hesitantly. The money could revolutionise her
lifestyle, but she wasn’t sure she could accept it.
“Don’t be ridiculous darling. I’m paying it in whatever you
say, and I suppose it’s up to you whether you use it or not. I’m your mother;
I’m supposed to support you. It’s not the same as accepting money from some
patronising do-gooder. Gus and I tried years ago to give your aunt and uncle a
large income to ensure you were brought up properly, and they refused. Please
don’t be as proud and stubborn as they were.”
Harriet hugged her. She’d just confirmed something she’d
long suspected. She couldn’t help but wish that her aunt and uncle had taken
the money offered. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake.
“I love you Mum,” she said, as she led her out to the
porter’s lodge. “Thanks for a marvellous evening.”
It struck her with a flash just how much her mother loved
her and how wonderful she was. If her mother thought that going to the
Cavaliers’ party with George was a good idea, she would take her advice.
Chapter Seven
H arriet
spent ages getting ready, though she was unsure whether she was trying to
impress George, Tom, or simply the crowd of glamorous and exciting people that
would inevitably be at the dinner. She hadn’t spoken to George since the night
of Halloween. Too nervous to call the number he’d given she’d simply had a
brief note of acceptance sent to his college pigeonhole.
She’d splashed out on having her hair professionally styled
– tearing herself away from the temptation to have it completely straightened,
she’d gone to the other extreme and it was now set into a pile of loose curls.
She glanced in the mirror and was amazed at how different it made her look.
She’d done her make-up carefully, smudging gold liner and
bronze powder over her eyelids, which made
outfit after outfit as her mother looked on critically.
“That’s a gorgeous dress but the wrong colour for your skin
tone. That’s pretty but it doesn’t show off your tiny waist enough. That dress
is just plain horrible, don’t even bother trying it on.”
Harriet began to feel exhausted. All of the dresses were
lovely as far as she was concerned. In the end they settled on an emerald
coloured dress with a bandage style top half and a short billowing skirt.
“The colour brings out your eyes perfectly and the cut
really shows off your delicate figure without making you look like a tart,”
said Adelaide, pleased. “Do you like it? I was thinking you could wear that one
to the summer party, assuming they invite you back.”
Harriet nodded. As it happened she loved it, but by this
stage she’d have been ready to say yes to anything.
The second dress was even better. It was almost ethereal,
made of different shades of gold and bronze silk that overlaid each other. Tiny
crystals subtly covered the bust area. She’d never seen a dress quite as
beautiful.
“We’ll take a few of the daytime dresses and the ballet
pumps as well,” Adelaide told the sales assistant. “It’s not just about a few
parties; my daughter needs to start looking her best at all times.”
“Thanks mum,” Harriet said grinning.
After the remaining clothes had been taken away, they had
some drinks in her room, then Adelaide glanced at her watch and announced she
had to meet Gus and head back to London.
“One more thing though. You shouldn’t be dragging yourself
through Oxford. You need to be wearing the right things, going to the right
parties. I wish I could help you at every step, but that’s just not viable. So
instead, from now on, I’m going to pay a couple of grand into your bank account
each month. It’s not much in the scheme of things - I don’t want to make you
too spoilt - but it should be enough to live like a Queen amongst everyone’s
student budgets.”
“Mum, the clothes are fab, but you don’t need to give me
that sort of money,” Harriet said hesitantly. The money could revolutionise her
lifestyle, but she wasn’t sure she could accept it.
“Don’t be ridiculous darling. I’m paying it in whatever you
say, and I suppose it’s up to you whether you use it or not. I’m your mother;
I’m supposed to support you. It’s not the same as accepting money from some
patronising do-gooder. Gus and I tried years ago to give your aunt and uncle a
large income to ensure you were brought up properly, and they refused. Please
don’t be as proud and stubborn as they were.”
Harriet hugged her. She’d just confirmed something she’d
long suspected. She couldn’t help but wish that her aunt and uncle had taken
the money offered. She wasn’t going to make the same mistake.
“I love you Mum,” she said, as she led her out to the
porter’s lodge. “Thanks for a marvellous evening.”
It struck her with a flash just how much her mother loved
her and how wonderful she was. If her mother thought that going to the
Cavaliers’ party with George was a good idea, she would take her advice.
Chapter Seven
H arriet
spent ages getting ready, though she was unsure whether she was trying to
impress George, Tom, or simply the crowd of glamorous and exciting people that
would inevitably be at the dinner. She hadn’t spoken to George since the night
of Halloween. Too nervous to call the number he’d given she’d simply had a
brief note of acceptance sent to his college pigeonhole.
She’d splashed out on having her hair professionally styled
– tearing herself away from the temptation to have it completely straightened,
she’d gone to the other extreme and it was now set into a pile of loose curls.
She glanced in the mirror and was amazed at how different it made her look.
She’d done her make-up carefully, smudging gold liner and
bronze powder over her eyelids, which made
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