of reproach.
Mrs Sanders waved her comment away. “Well he is very much looking forward to rectifying that.”
The rest of the afternoon passed in a similar fashion and Damaris had never shown such interest in maypole nor Morris dancing in her life, but since it would be rude to interrupt someone enjoying the displays, these were her only few moments of respite.
At four o’clock she’d had her fill of socialising and finding Lilly, they headed h ome. Once safely in the confines of the carriage, Damaris leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“It will get easier,” Lilly tried to console her.
“If anything, it is worse than ever,” she lamented. “Not only am I out of practice, everyone seems to have a son who is just dying to see me again, or meet me, or dance with me. I am honestly not sure for how much longer I can hold my tongue.”
“From what I was hearing, you didn’t do much holding this afternoon.” Though she was sympathetic, her tone was slightly disapproving.
Damaris opened her eyes and sighed. “Then it is a good thing that people are willing to forgive a rich widow an awful lot.”
Lilly shook her head . “Did you at least learn anything about your father?”
“Nothing of consequence,” she confessed, her gaze drawn to the carriage window. “I think it is probably the men that I shall learn the most from, they are less inclined to spread idle gossip and rather more likely to have had dealings with him.”
“Well, I think you did very well today, my dear.”
Damaris looked at her, surprised.
“I know it can’t be easy for you, and I’m sorry if I sounded a little harsh earlier.”
Damaris smiled; the praise meant a lot coming from Lilly.
***
Damaris’ evening gown was a deep blue, which flattered her eyes but she was not best pleased with it. The empire line silk dress was cut very low and her short corset had to be tied so tightly, that she almost felt as if her bosoms were under her arms.
The sleeveless robe worn over the dress was a darker shade of blue, had an empire line bodice which fastened under the bust with a bejewelled clasp, was gathered at the rear with a slight train, and was embroidered with glass beads and metallic spangles, which would catch the candle light.
“You look… stunning,” Lilly said as Damaris examined herself in the mirror.
“I look like a courtesan,” Damaris argued, trying to pull the dress higher over her bust.
“Hush.” Lilly slapped her hand away. “It is the fashion and it suits you well.”
“Can I not wear a chemisette to fill in the neck?”
“Nonsense, you look lovely.”
“But I feel so… exposed.”
“You haven’t kept up with fashion for a very long time, Damaris, in fact I can hardly remember the last time when you weren’t in mourning dress, or your husband’s clothing. Society will not hold with such things, my girl, no matter how practical gentlemens’ dress may be and you have to shape up your ideas if you want to be a part of it once again.”
“But I don’t want to be a part of it!” she complained. “As soon as this is settled, I intend to go home and keep to myself.”
“Well that’s as may be, but you have your reasons for joining Society again right now and you have to look the part.”
“Very well,” Damaris sighed. “Now, let me help you into your gown.”
As Lilly turned away, Damaris surreptitiously tried once again to haul her collar higher, but to little avail.
Chapter Five
Nathaniel hadn’t been looking forward to the May Ball this evening and in fact, had been intending to make his excuses, if he could but upon hearing his mother and sister gossiping that Lady Wellesley was to attend, he found the idea rather more appealing.
He had disco vered relatively little in the way of suspects for her father’s death, but he believed that he had discovered a great deal about her character, although he still found her to be a puzzle.
Just two days ago she had been exceptionally rude
Mrs Sanders waved her comment away. “Well he is very much looking forward to rectifying that.”
The rest of the afternoon passed in a similar fashion and Damaris had never shown such interest in maypole nor Morris dancing in her life, but since it would be rude to interrupt someone enjoying the displays, these were her only few moments of respite.
At four o’clock she’d had her fill of socialising and finding Lilly, they headed h ome. Once safely in the confines of the carriage, Damaris leaned her head back and closed her eyes.
“It will get easier,” Lilly tried to console her.
“If anything, it is worse than ever,” she lamented. “Not only am I out of practice, everyone seems to have a son who is just dying to see me again, or meet me, or dance with me. I am honestly not sure for how much longer I can hold my tongue.”
“From what I was hearing, you didn’t do much holding this afternoon.” Though she was sympathetic, her tone was slightly disapproving.
Damaris opened her eyes and sighed. “Then it is a good thing that people are willing to forgive a rich widow an awful lot.”
Lilly shook her head . “Did you at least learn anything about your father?”
“Nothing of consequence,” she confessed, her gaze drawn to the carriage window. “I think it is probably the men that I shall learn the most from, they are less inclined to spread idle gossip and rather more likely to have had dealings with him.”
“Well, I think you did very well today, my dear.”
Damaris looked at her, surprised.
“I know it can’t be easy for you, and I’m sorry if I sounded a little harsh earlier.”
Damaris smiled; the praise meant a lot coming from Lilly.
***
Damaris’ evening gown was a deep blue, which flattered her eyes but she was not best pleased with it. The empire line silk dress was cut very low and her short corset had to be tied so tightly, that she almost felt as if her bosoms were under her arms.
The sleeveless robe worn over the dress was a darker shade of blue, had an empire line bodice which fastened under the bust with a bejewelled clasp, was gathered at the rear with a slight train, and was embroidered with glass beads and metallic spangles, which would catch the candle light.
“You look… stunning,” Lilly said as Damaris examined herself in the mirror.
“I look like a courtesan,” Damaris argued, trying to pull the dress higher over her bust.
“Hush.” Lilly slapped her hand away. “It is the fashion and it suits you well.”
“Can I not wear a chemisette to fill in the neck?”
“Nonsense, you look lovely.”
“But I feel so… exposed.”
“You haven’t kept up with fashion for a very long time, Damaris, in fact I can hardly remember the last time when you weren’t in mourning dress, or your husband’s clothing. Society will not hold with such things, my girl, no matter how practical gentlemens’ dress may be and you have to shape up your ideas if you want to be a part of it once again.”
“But I don’t want to be a part of it!” she complained. “As soon as this is settled, I intend to go home and keep to myself.”
“Well that’s as may be, but you have your reasons for joining Society again right now and you have to look the part.”
“Very well,” Damaris sighed. “Now, let me help you into your gown.”
As Lilly turned away, Damaris surreptitiously tried once again to haul her collar higher, but to little avail.
Chapter Five
Nathaniel hadn’t been looking forward to the May Ball this evening and in fact, had been intending to make his excuses, if he could but upon hearing his mother and sister gossiping that Lady Wellesley was to attend, he found the idea rather more appealing.
He had disco vered relatively little in the way of suspects for her father’s death, but he believed that he had discovered a great deal about her character, although he still found her to be a puzzle.
Just two days ago she had been exceptionally rude
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