such considerations sway her. Being able to tell her friends that she’s been invited to dine at the Hall will outweigh any crisis of conscience she might temporarily experience.”
“Yes.” Beth nodded. “If she’s considered her friend’s feeling at all, she’s probably told herself that she’ll be in a position to report back on the sorry state of affairs at the Hall.”
“There has to be more to this family rift than we know.” Leah mangled her lower lip between her teeth as she thought it through. “I wish I could find out what it is.”
“Leah, promise me that you won’t try to.”
“Why would I do such a thing?” Leah asked, feigning incomprehension.
“You don’t deceive me with that innocent expression.” Beth shook a finger at her. “I saw how you reacted to Aunt Augusta’s narration. You think it will be of interest to Mr. Morris.”
“Well, I—”
“Don’t! Don’t do it.” Beth became quite agitated. “I know you think we need the funds but are you really prepared to betray our new friend’s trust simply to place food on the table?”
Leah sighed. “You’re right, of course.”
Beth was right. It would be the height of bad manners to abuse Felicity’s hospitality, but Leah was forced by circumstances to be practical. She must harden her heart and do whatever it took to keep their heads above water.
Chapter Five
Leah examined her reflection and barely recognized herself. The gown slithered over her curves, fitting her like a second skin, shimmering in varying shades of silver as the light caught it at different angles. Long resigned to being the plain sister, she felt a rush of excitement as she twirled in front of the mirror, understanding now why Beth took so much pleasure from her wardrobe. She felt feminine to her fingertips and even her punctilious aunt wouldn’t be able to find fault with her.
“You’re a miracle worker,” she told her sister, kissing the top of her head.
“The corset makes all the difference. I did tell you that it would.”
“Yes, for once I don’t mind the discomfort.” Leah screwed up her nose. “Besides, my aunt would probably disown me if I appeared at the Hall not wearing one.”
Beth giggled. “Now that’s good enough reason not to wear one.”
“What about you, darling? Let me look at you.”
Beth wore a muslin gown in a shade of blue that exactly matched her eyes. Leah had always liked that particular dress but was unsure how it fitted her sister so well when she’d lost so much weight. Presumably she had adjusted it, so why couldn’t she have adjusted the silver?
“You look lovely.” Leah embraced her carefully to avoid crushing their gowns. “Although I rather feel as if I’ve been manipulated.”
Beth smiled radiantly. “I haven’t even started on you yet, sister dear. Now sit down and let me attend to your hair.”
“Oh, there’s nothing to be done with that,” Leah said with a rueful smile. “You know very well that it has a mind of its own. I shall simply pin it up and hope for the best.”
“Not tonight you won’t.”
Beth looked so determined, so much like her old self, that Leah didn’t have the heart to argue.
“Oh very well, do your worst.”
Beth picked up a brush and set to work. Half an hour later Leah could hardly believe the results. Her unruly corkscrew curls were piled neatly on top of her head, not a single strand daring to make a bid for freedom. Beth had somehow threaded silver beads through the resulting arrangement, leaving a few curls to obediently frame her face.
“What in the world have you done to me?” Leah asked, cautiously shaking her head.
Beth grinned, looking incredibly pleased with herself. “Just proving a point.”
“Your talent is wasted on me, sweetheart.”
“That’s where we disagree.” Beth linked her arm through her sister’s as they descended the stairs. “You have much to recommend you physically, as well as a quick mind and a sharp wit. I look
“Yes.” Beth nodded. “If she’s considered her friend’s feeling at all, she’s probably told herself that she’ll be in a position to report back on the sorry state of affairs at the Hall.”
“There has to be more to this family rift than we know.” Leah mangled her lower lip between her teeth as she thought it through. “I wish I could find out what it is.”
“Leah, promise me that you won’t try to.”
“Why would I do such a thing?” Leah asked, feigning incomprehension.
“You don’t deceive me with that innocent expression.” Beth shook a finger at her. “I saw how you reacted to Aunt Augusta’s narration. You think it will be of interest to Mr. Morris.”
“Well, I—”
“Don’t! Don’t do it.” Beth became quite agitated. “I know you think we need the funds but are you really prepared to betray our new friend’s trust simply to place food on the table?”
Leah sighed. “You’re right, of course.”
Beth was right. It would be the height of bad manners to abuse Felicity’s hospitality, but Leah was forced by circumstances to be practical. She must harden her heart and do whatever it took to keep their heads above water.
Chapter Five
Leah examined her reflection and barely recognized herself. The gown slithered over her curves, fitting her like a second skin, shimmering in varying shades of silver as the light caught it at different angles. Long resigned to being the plain sister, she felt a rush of excitement as she twirled in front of the mirror, understanding now why Beth took so much pleasure from her wardrobe. She felt feminine to her fingertips and even her punctilious aunt wouldn’t be able to find fault with her.
“You’re a miracle worker,” she told her sister, kissing the top of her head.
“The corset makes all the difference. I did tell you that it would.”
“Yes, for once I don’t mind the discomfort.” Leah screwed up her nose. “Besides, my aunt would probably disown me if I appeared at the Hall not wearing one.”
Beth giggled. “Now that’s good enough reason not to wear one.”
“What about you, darling? Let me look at you.”
Beth wore a muslin gown in a shade of blue that exactly matched her eyes. Leah had always liked that particular dress but was unsure how it fitted her sister so well when she’d lost so much weight. Presumably she had adjusted it, so why couldn’t she have adjusted the silver?
“You look lovely.” Leah embraced her carefully to avoid crushing their gowns. “Although I rather feel as if I’ve been manipulated.”
Beth smiled radiantly. “I haven’t even started on you yet, sister dear. Now sit down and let me attend to your hair.”
“Oh, there’s nothing to be done with that,” Leah said with a rueful smile. “You know very well that it has a mind of its own. I shall simply pin it up and hope for the best.”
“Not tonight you won’t.”
Beth looked so determined, so much like her old self, that Leah didn’t have the heart to argue.
“Oh very well, do your worst.”
Beth picked up a brush and set to work. Half an hour later Leah could hardly believe the results. Her unruly corkscrew curls were piled neatly on top of her head, not a single strand daring to make a bid for freedom. Beth had somehow threaded silver beads through the resulting arrangement, leaving a few curls to obediently frame her face.
“What in the world have you done to me?” Leah asked, cautiously shaking her head.
Beth grinned, looking incredibly pleased with herself. “Just proving a point.”
“Your talent is wasted on me, sweetheart.”
“That’s where we disagree.” Beth linked her arm through her sister’s as they descended the stairs. “You have much to recommend you physically, as well as a quick mind and a sharp wit. I look
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