Emily home. But after Juliana and Amanda were alone, it turned out Amanda didn’t want to undress in front of her , either.
“Turn around,” the older girl instructed.
“It’s just me.”
“Turn around.”
Sighing, Juliana did so.
Much rustling followed as Amanda grappled with her garments. Finally it seemed she’d successfully clothed herself when she exclaimed, “I cannot wear this!”
Juliana spun around. “Of course you can. You look beautiful.” She could hardly wait to see society’s reaction to the new Amanda. “Turn around and let me button you up. Once you see the dress properly fastened, you’ll love it.”
But turning around brought Amanda face-to-face with the looking glass. Her hands flew up to cover her collarbone. “The neckline is too low! I must change into something else.”
“You have nothing else suitable. Besides this gown, Mrs. Huntley sent only day dresses. The rest won’t be ready until next week.”
Amanda yanked up on the bodice. “I’m certain the example Mrs. Huntley showed me had a much higher neckline.”
Of course it had, else Amanda would never have approved the order. But that was before Juliana gave Mrs. Huntley her instructions, which, thankfully, the seamstress had followed to the letter.
Amanda had always appeared rather round, but clothing of the proper size showed a surprisingly charming figure—which Juliana intended to use to her friend’s advantage. If Amanda hoped to secure a husband on a tight schedule, she’d need to create a bit of a stir. Anyhow, the gown was cut quite modestly compared to some of the latest fashions.
”It’s not too low,” Juliana said, reaching around to tug the bodice back into place.
“It is so.” Amanda jerked it higher.
Watching her friend in the mirror, Juliana had to laugh. “Look at yourself!”
Amanda’s neckline was indeed at her neck—which meant the ribbon sash that was supposed to circle the empire waistline was perched above her bosom. Her mouth quirked, then spread into a reluctant smile, followed by a nervous titter.
“Tinkling bells,” Juliana reminded her, and Amanda responded with her new, polished laugh.
“Much better.” Juliana reached once more to adjust the bodice, but she mistakenly pulled it too low and revealed a birthmark near Amanda’s breastbone. It was shaped like a fleur-de-lis. “How pretty!”
Amanda quickly tugged the lace-trimmed bodice up to cover it. “You weren’t supposed to see that!”
“Whyever not? It’s quite lovely.”
“Lovely?” Amanda blushed. “It’s private .”
As she tied the sash, Juliana hoped that her improvements would be enough to compensate for Amanda’s shy and standoffish manner. At least her blushing brought out the roses in her cheeks.
She gave her more trifle, just in case. And brushed on a little extra rouge. As she completed the finishing touches, she drilled Amanda over and over again. “Let me see your smiles one more time. And you must practice the look again before we leave.”
All of this preparation was not going to be for nothing.
NINE
“THERE HE IS,” Amanda said grimly as they stepped into Lady Hammersmithe’s ballroom.
“There’s who?” Juliana asked.
“Lord Malmsey.” A frown marred Amanda’s perfectly done-up face. She turned to her surrogate chaperone. “Should I dance with him, Lady Frances?”
It seemed she was already losing heart. Juliana wouldn’t stand for it.
Unaware of Amanda’s engagement, Aunt Frances patted her hand. “I expect someone younger would suit you better, my dear. But if you’ve already been introduced, of course you should dance with him if he asks.”
Juliana doubted he would ask, although if she could judge by his pained expression, he was attempting to screw up his courage. Excellent—here was a perfect opportunity to strengthen Amanda’s resolve. “You definitely should dance with him,” Juliana declared, laying a gentle hand on her friend’s back to steer her toward
“Turn around,” the older girl instructed.
“It’s just me.”
“Turn around.”
Sighing, Juliana did so.
Much rustling followed as Amanda grappled with her garments. Finally it seemed she’d successfully clothed herself when she exclaimed, “I cannot wear this!”
Juliana spun around. “Of course you can. You look beautiful.” She could hardly wait to see society’s reaction to the new Amanda. “Turn around and let me button you up. Once you see the dress properly fastened, you’ll love it.”
But turning around brought Amanda face-to-face with the looking glass. Her hands flew up to cover her collarbone. “The neckline is too low! I must change into something else.”
“You have nothing else suitable. Besides this gown, Mrs. Huntley sent only day dresses. The rest won’t be ready until next week.”
Amanda yanked up on the bodice. “I’m certain the example Mrs. Huntley showed me had a much higher neckline.”
Of course it had, else Amanda would never have approved the order. But that was before Juliana gave Mrs. Huntley her instructions, which, thankfully, the seamstress had followed to the letter.
Amanda had always appeared rather round, but clothing of the proper size showed a surprisingly charming figure—which Juliana intended to use to her friend’s advantage. If Amanda hoped to secure a husband on a tight schedule, she’d need to create a bit of a stir. Anyhow, the gown was cut quite modestly compared to some of the latest fashions.
”It’s not too low,” Juliana said, reaching around to tug the bodice back into place.
“It is so.” Amanda jerked it higher.
Watching her friend in the mirror, Juliana had to laugh. “Look at yourself!”
Amanda’s neckline was indeed at her neck—which meant the ribbon sash that was supposed to circle the empire waistline was perched above her bosom. Her mouth quirked, then spread into a reluctant smile, followed by a nervous titter.
“Tinkling bells,” Juliana reminded her, and Amanda responded with her new, polished laugh.
“Much better.” Juliana reached once more to adjust the bodice, but she mistakenly pulled it too low and revealed a birthmark near Amanda’s breastbone. It was shaped like a fleur-de-lis. “How pretty!”
Amanda quickly tugged the lace-trimmed bodice up to cover it. “You weren’t supposed to see that!”
“Whyever not? It’s quite lovely.”
“Lovely?” Amanda blushed. “It’s private .”
As she tied the sash, Juliana hoped that her improvements would be enough to compensate for Amanda’s shy and standoffish manner. At least her blushing brought out the roses in her cheeks.
She gave her more trifle, just in case. And brushed on a little extra rouge. As she completed the finishing touches, she drilled Amanda over and over again. “Let me see your smiles one more time. And you must practice the look again before we leave.”
All of this preparation was not going to be for nothing.
NINE
“THERE HE IS,” Amanda said grimly as they stepped into Lady Hammersmithe’s ballroom.
“There’s who?” Juliana asked.
“Lord Malmsey.” A frown marred Amanda’s perfectly done-up face. She turned to her surrogate chaperone. “Should I dance with him, Lady Frances?”
It seemed she was already losing heart. Juliana wouldn’t stand for it.
Unaware of Amanda’s engagement, Aunt Frances patted her hand. “I expect someone younger would suit you better, my dear. But if you’ve already been introduced, of course you should dance with him if he asks.”
Juliana doubted he would ask, although if she could judge by his pained expression, he was attempting to screw up his courage. Excellent—here was a perfect opportunity to strengthen Amanda’s resolve. “You definitely should dance with him,” Juliana declared, laying a gentle hand on her friend’s back to steer her toward
Similar Books
