Matching
silver velvet and silk ribbons were slotted through the curls and pulled into a
pleasant style that displayed Lily's face superbly. It was tousled yet as with
her dress, artfully and deceptively difficultly fashioned.
Her jewels were naught but wired ear rings and an arm ring, both cast in
silver with pearls adorning them. They augmented her appearance and had
she not had the threat of the night before cast over her, then there would
have been some sense of anticipation for the evening ahead.
As had been the natural course of the recent weeks past, she'd felt
excitement during her toilette but almost moments after arriving at
whatever jaunt her aunt was taking her to, it had instantly diminished into
that apathetic boredom. For wherever they seemed to go, there were always
the same tedious people, similar music, warm lemonade and the overlong
dances that seemed to go on for a decade!
Now, she wished for that! Wished that it could be so simple. For even
tediousness was a vast improvement on what she was feeling at this
moment in time!
Fear, dread, horror - the melange of emotions had a sick feeling settling in
her stomach and it added a greyish tinge to her skin, which thankfully wasn't
all that noticeable. Except to herself!
“There we are, miss. You look beautiful!”
“Thank you, Janie.”
“Those gents don't know what they're missing. Why you've not been offered
for yet, is beyond me. That silly girl, Lady Derst's daughter . . . . Well, I
know her maid and she says that she's never met a sillier and more
ridiculous chit! Yet she's had offers aplenty! It's not fair,” Janie complained
gruffly.
“Ah, but you're forgetting, Janie. I'm not silly enough to fall for the ploys of
the rake hells or those after my fortune. They know that and so, they steer
clear of me. And for that, I'm most grateful! Regardless of their unsuitability,
aunt would be pestering me to accept each offer! She's set on having me
married off, regardless of the gentleman. Well . . . I say that, but she has
different ideas on what is suitable. A man may be the veriest beast, but if he
has fifteen thousand a year, then he is Hercules come to life!” she finished
mockingly.
“Mayhap you're right, miss. Well, I've done my best and grand you're
looking too. Your aunt will probably be waiting for you, so I'd best be on my
way. I hope you have a lovely evening, Miss Lily.”
Smiling, Lily walked towards Janie and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She was
pleased to see the gruff maid blush at the gesture of affection and bob an
unnecessary curtsy. “Thank you, Janie and thank you for allowing me to rest
longer than my aunt wanted.”
She moved away and to her bedside table and then sought her penny purse.
Lily fingered through the few coins in there and retrieved a shilling, which
she then passed on to Janie.
“Buy yourself something pretty, Janie,” she murmured as she curled Janie's
fingers about the coin.
“Miss Lily! That's far too much!” the maid protested.
“You deserve it! I've been difficult these last few months, and the situation
must have tried you, yet you've had the patience of a saint and if mama
were here, she would have given you this herself!” she said, easily waving
away Janie's remonstrations.
With a smile, she exited before Janie could find the words to reply and left
the cream and gilt bedroom that had been her home for the last months of
her Season.
She alighted into the hallway and swiftly moved along the plushly carpeted
floor and down the grand oak stairs to the front entrance, where her uncle
stood waiting with his hat and cane in his hands.
“Ah, niece, you look delightful! Your aunt will be most pleased, I'm sure,” he
remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
“Yes, I'm sure, uncle. I believe dear Aunt Millie has decided that tonight I
shall find the gentleman for me, yet I fear she shall be disappointed!”
“I have long since discovered that one of your
silver velvet and silk ribbons were slotted through the curls and pulled into a
pleasant style that displayed Lily's face superbly. It was tousled yet as with
her dress, artfully and deceptively difficultly fashioned.
Her jewels were naught but wired ear rings and an arm ring, both cast in
silver with pearls adorning them. They augmented her appearance and had
she not had the threat of the night before cast over her, then there would
have been some sense of anticipation for the evening ahead.
As had been the natural course of the recent weeks past, she'd felt
excitement during her toilette but almost moments after arriving at
whatever jaunt her aunt was taking her to, it had instantly diminished into
that apathetic boredom. For wherever they seemed to go, there were always
the same tedious people, similar music, warm lemonade and the overlong
dances that seemed to go on for a decade!
Now, she wished for that! Wished that it could be so simple. For even
tediousness was a vast improvement on what she was feeling at this
moment in time!
Fear, dread, horror - the melange of emotions had a sick feeling settling in
her stomach and it added a greyish tinge to her skin, which thankfully wasn't
all that noticeable. Except to herself!
“There we are, miss. You look beautiful!”
“Thank you, Janie.”
“Those gents don't know what they're missing. Why you've not been offered
for yet, is beyond me. That silly girl, Lady Derst's daughter . . . . Well, I
know her maid and she says that she's never met a sillier and more
ridiculous chit! Yet she's had offers aplenty! It's not fair,” Janie complained
gruffly.
“Ah, but you're forgetting, Janie. I'm not silly enough to fall for the ploys of
the rake hells or those after my fortune. They know that and so, they steer
clear of me. And for that, I'm most grateful! Regardless of their unsuitability,
aunt would be pestering me to accept each offer! She's set on having me
married off, regardless of the gentleman. Well . . . I say that, but she has
different ideas on what is suitable. A man may be the veriest beast, but if he
has fifteen thousand a year, then he is Hercules come to life!” she finished
mockingly.
“Mayhap you're right, miss. Well, I've done my best and grand you're
looking too. Your aunt will probably be waiting for you, so I'd best be on my
way. I hope you have a lovely evening, Miss Lily.”
Smiling, Lily walked towards Janie and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She was
pleased to see the gruff maid blush at the gesture of affection and bob an
unnecessary curtsy. “Thank you, Janie and thank you for allowing me to rest
longer than my aunt wanted.”
She moved away and to her bedside table and then sought her penny purse.
Lily fingered through the few coins in there and retrieved a shilling, which
she then passed on to Janie.
“Buy yourself something pretty, Janie,” she murmured as she curled Janie's
fingers about the coin.
“Miss Lily! That's far too much!” the maid protested.
“You deserve it! I've been difficult these last few months, and the situation
must have tried you, yet you've had the patience of a saint and if mama
were here, she would have given you this herself!” she said, easily waving
away Janie's remonstrations.
With a smile, she exited before Janie could find the words to reply and left
the cream and gilt bedroom that had been her home for the last months of
her Season.
She alighted into the hallway and swiftly moved along the plushly carpeted
floor and down the grand oak stairs to the front entrance, where her uncle
stood waiting with his hat and cane in his hands.
“Ah, niece, you look delightful! Your aunt will be most pleased, I'm sure,” he
remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
“Yes, I'm sure, uncle. I believe dear Aunt Millie has decided that tonight I
shall find the gentleman for me, yet I fear she shall be disappointed!”
“I have long since discovered that one of your
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