at the end of the long
under-sleeves.
When Molly finished her mistress’s toilette early that
evening Elisabeth felt she looked acceptable and pleasing if not out of the
ordinary. “Do you think this carnelian pendant is better than the pearls?”
Elisabeth asked her maid, holding the warm-colored necklace across her breast.
“I think the pearl, miss. I’ve heard tell that is more
acceptable for young ladies during their come-out.”
“I am not precisely in my first youth,” Elisabeth said with
a sigh, laying the carnelian aside and allowing Molly to fasten the pearl
necklace around her throat.
“No one will know, I’m sure, miss,” Molly reassured her
mistress. “You look that fine. Almack’s, miss! Did you ever think?”
“No, I did not,” Elisabeth admitted. Taking courage from her
maid’s honest admiration, Elisabeth descended to the drawing room to wait for
Lady Parker and Lord Sherbourne.
As their carriage clattered down the streets toward the
assembly rooms that evening, Lady Parker revealed that she also was
apprehensive about the evening by the slight frown marring her wide brow. “I
wish I could recall all the rules of conduct for the rooms,” she said worriedly.
“I do recall now that there is a rule that a young woman making her come-out at
Almack’s will have her partners chosen by the patronesses—but that would not
apply to you, Miss Ashwood, since it is not your come-out ball.”
“Sister, I believe you are in more consternation about
appearing at Almack’s than is Miss Ashwood,” Lord Sherbourne teased. “You are
both in excellent looks and need not fear a thing,” he added, glancing at the
women with approbation. Elisabeth looked young, fresh and singularly charming in
the requisite white and Lady Parker was elegant in a deep wine-colored
underdress overlaid with a cream lace overdress.
Elisabeth saw the admiration in Lord Sherbourne’s eyes and
relaxed slightly. She was rather overawed by Sherbourne’s appearance. Almack’s
had requirements for the gentlemen as well and he looked remarkably fine in the
requisite black knee breeches, white shirt and cravat, waistcoat, chapeau
bras and evening coat. Elisabeth frequently found her gaze straying to the
muscular calf outlined by the tight-fitting white silk stockings. Although
before her ideal had been her friend’s husband, the vicar, Elisabeth now found
she had a decided tendency to find the rugged appearance of Lord Sherbourne
more attractive.
“One does not think how many changes may take place when one
is gone thirteen years,” Lady Parker mused. “I confess I fear putting a foot
wrong—for Miss Ashwood’s sake more than my own.”
Elisabeth looked up at Lord Sherbourne, wishing suddenly
that it were generally known she and Lord Sherbourne were to marry. Then
she would not have to fear Miss Thibeau, she reflected, or other young women
and their matchmaking mamas who might hope to marry their daughter off to a
nabob. And why wasn’t their betrothal announced now that they had established a
rapport? Why wait?
The carriage rolled to a stop before the building that
housed the assembly rooms, interrupting Elisabeth’s musings. Lady Parker and
Elisabeth were handed down by Lord Sherbourne and joined the others gathering
for the night’s assembly. They displayed their tickets to the attendants at the
door and soon after they entered the rooms a tall, hawk-nosed woman approached
their party.
“Lord Sherbourne, Lady Parker, I am pleased to see you here
tonight. I am happy to see you returned to England.”
“Lady Sefton.” Sherbourne and Lady Parker greeted one of the
foremost patronesses of Almack’s. “You remember Miss Ashwood?”
Elisabeth gave her best curtsey, aware of the eagle eyes
missing nothing of her appearance and deportment.
“Miss Ashwood, we are pleased to see you at the assembly
rooms,” Lady Sefton replied, apparently approving what she saw. “Young women of
modest appearance and demeanor
under-sleeves.
When Molly finished her mistress’s toilette early that
evening Elisabeth felt she looked acceptable and pleasing if not out of the
ordinary. “Do you think this carnelian pendant is better than the pearls?”
Elisabeth asked her maid, holding the warm-colored necklace across her breast.
“I think the pearl, miss. I’ve heard tell that is more
acceptable for young ladies during their come-out.”
“I am not precisely in my first youth,” Elisabeth said with
a sigh, laying the carnelian aside and allowing Molly to fasten the pearl
necklace around her throat.
“No one will know, I’m sure, miss,” Molly reassured her
mistress. “You look that fine. Almack’s, miss! Did you ever think?”
“No, I did not,” Elisabeth admitted. Taking courage from her
maid’s honest admiration, Elisabeth descended to the drawing room to wait for
Lady Parker and Lord Sherbourne.
As their carriage clattered down the streets toward the
assembly rooms that evening, Lady Parker revealed that she also was
apprehensive about the evening by the slight frown marring her wide brow. “I
wish I could recall all the rules of conduct for the rooms,” she said worriedly.
“I do recall now that there is a rule that a young woman making her come-out at
Almack’s will have her partners chosen by the patronesses—but that would not
apply to you, Miss Ashwood, since it is not your come-out ball.”
“Sister, I believe you are in more consternation about
appearing at Almack’s than is Miss Ashwood,” Lord Sherbourne teased. “You are
both in excellent looks and need not fear a thing,” he added, glancing at the
women with approbation. Elisabeth looked young, fresh and singularly charming in
the requisite white and Lady Parker was elegant in a deep wine-colored
underdress overlaid with a cream lace overdress.
Elisabeth saw the admiration in Lord Sherbourne’s eyes and
relaxed slightly. She was rather overawed by Sherbourne’s appearance. Almack’s
had requirements for the gentlemen as well and he looked remarkably fine in the
requisite black knee breeches, white shirt and cravat, waistcoat, chapeau
bras and evening coat. Elisabeth frequently found her gaze straying to the
muscular calf outlined by the tight-fitting white silk stockings. Although
before her ideal had been her friend’s husband, the vicar, Elisabeth now found
she had a decided tendency to find the rugged appearance of Lord Sherbourne
more attractive.
“One does not think how many changes may take place when one
is gone thirteen years,” Lady Parker mused. “I confess I fear putting a foot
wrong—for Miss Ashwood’s sake more than my own.”
Elisabeth looked up at Lord Sherbourne, wishing suddenly
that it were generally known she and Lord Sherbourne were to marry. Then
she would not have to fear Miss Thibeau, she reflected, or other young women
and their matchmaking mamas who might hope to marry their daughter off to a
nabob. And why wasn’t their betrothal announced now that they had established a
rapport? Why wait?
The carriage rolled to a stop before the building that
housed the assembly rooms, interrupting Elisabeth’s musings. Lady Parker and
Elisabeth were handed down by Lord Sherbourne and joined the others gathering
for the night’s assembly. They displayed their tickets to the attendants at the
door and soon after they entered the rooms a tall, hawk-nosed woman approached
their party.
“Lord Sherbourne, Lady Parker, I am pleased to see you here
tonight. I am happy to see you returned to England.”
“Lady Sefton.” Sherbourne and Lady Parker greeted one of the
foremost patronesses of Almack’s. “You remember Miss Ashwood?”
Elisabeth gave her best curtsey, aware of the eagle eyes
missing nothing of her appearance and deportment.
“Miss Ashwood, we are pleased to see you at the assembly
rooms,” Lady Sefton replied, apparently approving what she saw. “Young women of
modest appearance and demeanor
Similar Books
