Page 15 of A Wallflower Demands Satisfaction
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Berkley Square, Mayfair
Just then, her bedchamber door opened a crack, and Alice popped her head around the corner.“How goes the preparation for battle?”
Olivia sighed and raced to her friend’s side dangling half-pinned parts, with Madame Clarot in hot pursuit.“Ladies, ladies…how will we ever be ready on time if we can’t stand still for a few moments?”She’d pasted a friendly smile firmly on her face, but somehow, Olivia wasn’t convinced.
Alice intervened smoothly.“Why don’t you and your assistant begin work on the changes you’ve already measured whilst I steal Olivia away for just a few minutes of last-minute details about the ball we have to discuss?”
“But of course, Lady Alice.”Madame Clarot was smiling with her voice, but the slight frown on her face told another story.“We have plenty to keep us busy until the two of you return.”
Alice flashed her brightest smile.“Thank you so much.”At the same time, she grasped Olivia’s hand and dragged her out of the room into a nearby empty bedchamber.Once they were safely inside, she leaned all the way out of the doorway and looked both ways up and down the hallway before shutting the door and turning back to her friend.She motioned to the bed where they both climbed up and sat cross-legged.
Even after all her precautions, Lady Alice still spoke barely above a whisper.“There are some things you need to know before we descend into the cage of tigers that your coming-out ball will be.”
Olivia gazed at her, wide-eyed.“What have you heard?”
Alice returned a puzzled look.“What should I have heard?”
Olivia cast down her gaze, unable to face her friend.“There is an ugly rumor which may or may not be true, but I can’t take any chances.”
Alice sat for long moments, staring off in the distance and chewing on her lip.For one horrible moment, Olivia feared the possibility of scandal about to fall down on her head might have pushed her friend to a place where she’d be afraid to help her for fear of scandal by association.
Finally, Alice spoke.“Here’s what we’re going to do.I’ve already spoken to Lady Camilla.She knows what happened at the opera, because CB filled her in on the striking resemblance.However, no oneknowsyou were at the opera, except for our close circle.We’ve all decided we’re going to stonewall the gossip.Whoever is spreading that horrible rumor has some ulterior motive.Otherwise, why now?It’s their word against yours.”
“But why would anyone believe me?I’m a nobody, a lowly laundry maid.”
Alice gave out a low chuckle.“You’re the niece of a duke, for heaven’s sakes.Have you forgotten already, you silly girl?Now straighten that backbone of yours and listen to me.
“I have a list of the wallflower’s do’s and don’t’s I drew up during my three dreadful Seasons: 1 - never dance with someone to whom you’ve not been introduced, and once you’re introduced to an upstanding gentleman, you cannot refuse to dance with him, unless you feign extreme illness and dance with no one else the rest of the night; 2 - never allow any man, no matter how handsome, talk you into going off somewhere alone with him during the ball without a chaperone; 3 - never, ever dance with the same gentleman more than twice; and most important, 4 - never show your anger in public, but always get even.And then there’s the hand signal.”
“What hand signal?”Olivia wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“If you’re cornered or held up on the dance floor by some lackwit or boor, use a hand signal to alert all of us you need help.”
“How about I wiggle three fingers behind my back?”
“That could work, but make sure you’re in a position where we can see your sign of distress.We’ll have plenty of gentlemen, all known to you, who will patrol the perimeter of the dancers, ready to swoop in and save you.”
“I can take care of myself.You forget I’ve been in more street fights that any duke’s niece would have a right to claim.”
“Just remember, though, you’ve probably never encountered the likes of the disgusting rakes and lechers of the ton.They rely on young women being afraid to cause a scene in the middle of a ball.Personally, I like to catch them off guard, stomp my heel on top of one of their feet, and pretend it was an accident.That usually gets their attention and encourages them to move on.”
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After Oliviaand Alice had left the modistes alone, Madame Clarot turned on her assistant Marie.“Why, in the name of all that’s holy did you pass on theon ditabout our client toThe Morning Post?I know it was you.”
Marie sniffed back a tear and bowed her head.“I’m so sorry, Madame, but I needed the money.”
“Don’t tell me you’re selling secret information about my clients behind my back now?”
The other woman began to sob.“He…he won’t leave me alone, and each week he wants more money.”
“Who?”
“The blackmailer.”
“My God, Marie.What have you done?”