and shook her.
“I can just hear him saying that,” she growled. “I remember once listening to him call you plain as a pump handle.”
“Yes,” replied Tally defensively. “Papa, you know, valued Truth Above All.”
Cat cast her hands skyward.
“Heaven knows your father was a fine man, with a brilliant mind, and no doubt his words were spoken out of love, but I think at this moment, if he were here in this room, I’d—I’d--well, I’d give him a piece of my mind—and all those feather-witted nannies and governesses to whom he left your upbringing, as well. As for you!” This, accompanied by another shake. “I could just strangle you. You may not have been a pretty child, but have you looked in a mirror even once during the last four years? Yes, you are plain, but now it’s because you make yourself so.”
She tumbled off the bed, and with Tally still in her grasp, she brought the bedside candle to the dressing table and thrust Tally into the seat.
“Now, look at yourself. To begin with—You’re not even thin anymore. You’ve filled out. Now—well, now, you’re slender. Do you understand? And see? You have lovely, velvety brown eyes, and long, curly lashes.”
Tally gazed at her reflection for a long moment. Yes, it was true. She had been vaguely aware that the clothes she had worn in London before were now a bit small, especially around the chest. That was one reason Gertrude had consented to talk Henry into the new wardrobe. And her eyes. Yes, in a dim light they could surely be called pretty.
“But my nose,” she said plaintively. “It turns up at the end, and you have to admit, my mouth is just huge.”
“I would rather call it generous. And there are those, you know, who consider a turned-up—that is, a slightly uptilted nose quite piquant. The thing is,” she continued before Tally could utter any more caveats, “the thing is, if you are going to be seen in the Polite World, you are going to have to get another wardrobe. That’s all there is to it,” she finished with immutable finality.
Tally simply gaped at her.
“I think you must be mad! It took every penny I could squeeze from Henry to provide me with the clothes I have now. Right this minute I couldn’t so much as purchase a reticule. Perhaps, after Mr. Mapes begins paying me for my drawings...”
“No, no, no. That’s unacceptable. Now, I have talked this over with Richard, and he has agreed that we will stand the ready for anything you require.”
Tally drew herself up in some indignation.
“Now, I really do believe you’ve gone round the bend! Do you suppose for one minute I would let you and Richard pay to dress me in finery that I neither want nor need?”
Cat laid a placating hand on her arm.
“Tally, please don’t fly into the boughs. You’d think we were suggesting you join the muslin company! We only want what’s right for you — you must know that.”
“Oh, of course I do, dearest Cat. But cannot you see that I couldn’t let you...”
“Would you consider a loan, then?”
Tally remained silent.
“Look at it this way,” continued Cat. “For a while, at least, you will be appearing at social events under our sponsorship. Your appearance will reflect on us.”
At this Tally sat up very straight.
“Cat, is that what this is all about? Are you ashamed of me?” Tears shone bright in her eyes.
“Oh, don’t be such a widgeon. Of course not. It was the only thing I could think of that might sway you.”
“But, you’re right,” murmured Tally after a few minutes’ thought. “People will wonder that the exquisite Mrs. Richard Thurston would be entertaining a perfect dowd.”
Suddenly she pictured herself, beautifully gowned and coiffed, soaring about the dance floor in the arms of Jonathan, the Viscount Chelmsford. Not that new feathers would make her anything but the brown wren she was, but—well, why shouldn’t the wren at least make the most of what she had?
She turned to face
“I can just hear him saying that,” she growled. “I remember once listening to him call you plain as a pump handle.”
“Yes,” replied Tally defensively. “Papa, you know, valued Truth Above All.”
Cat cast her hands skyward.
“Heaven knows your father was a fine man, with a brilliant mind, and no doubt his words were spoken out of love, but I think at this moment, if he were here in this room, I’d—I’d--well, I’d give him a piece of my mind—and all those feather-witted nannies and governesses to whom he left your upbringing, as well. As for you!” This, accompanied by another shake. “I could just strangle you. You may not have been a pretty child, but have you looked in a mirror even once during the last four years? Yes, you are plain, but now it’s because you make yourself so.”
She tumbled off the bed, and with Tally still in her grasp, she brought the bedside candle to the dressing table and thrust Tally into the seat.
“Now, look at yourself. To begin with—You’re not even thin anymore. You’ve filled out. Now—well, now, you’re slender. Do you understand? And see? You have lovely, velvety brown eyes, and long, curly lashes.”
Tally gazed at her reflection for a long moment. Yes, it was true. She had been vaguely aware that the clothes she had worn in London before were now a bit small, especially around the chest. That was one reason Gertrude had consented to talk Henry into the new wardrobe. And her eyes. Yes, in a dim light they could surely be called pretty.
“But my nose,” she said plaintively. “It turns up at the end, and you have to admit, my mouth is just huge.”
“I would rather call it generous. And there are those, you know, who consider a turned-up—that is, a slightly uptilted nose quite piquant. The thing is,” she continued before Tally could utter any more caveats, “the thing is, if you are going to be seen in the Polite World, you are going to have to get another wardrobe. That’s all there is to it,” she finished with immutable finality.
Tally simply gaped at her.
“I think you must be mad! It took every penny I could squeeze from Henry to provide me with the clothes I have now. Right this minute I couldn’t so much as purchase a reticule. Perhaps, after Mr. Mapes begins paying me for my drawings...”
“No, no, no. That’s unacceptable. Now, I have talked this over with Richard, and he has agreed that we will stand the ready for anything you require.”
Tally drew herself up in some indignation.
“Now, I really do believe you’ve gone round the bend! Do you suppose for one minute I would let you and Richard pay to dress me in finery that I neither want nor need?”
Cat laid a placating hand on her arm.
“Tally, please don’t fly into the boughs. You’d think we were suggesting you join the muslin company! We only want what’s right for you — you must know that.”
“Oh, of course I do, dearest Cat. But cannot you see that I couldn’t let you...”
“Would you consider a loan, then?”
Tally remained silent.
“Look at it this way,” continued Cat. “For a while, at least, you will be appearing at social events under our sponsorship. Your appearance will reflect on us.”
At this Tally sat up very straight.
“Cat, is that what this is all about? Are you ashamed of me?” Tears shone bright in her eyes.
“Oh, don’t be such a widgeon. Of course not. It was the only thing I could think of that might sway you.”
“But, you’re right,” murmured Tally after a few minutes’ thought. “People will wonder that the exquisite Mrs. Richard Thurston would be entertaining a perfect dowd.”
Suddenly she pictured herself, beautifully gowned and coiffed, soaring about the dance floor in the arms of Jonathan, the Viscount Chelmsford. Not that new feathers would make her anything but the brown wren she was, but—well, why shouldn’t the wren at least make the most of what she had?
She turned to face
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