Page 17 of Charmless

“Who wants to know?” I demanded.

Ardelia’s eyebrows rose haughtily. “I am the Honorable Miss Ardelia Vanderwix. And this foolish creature is my sister, Priscilla.” She waved a languid hand toward the bubbly blonde.

“Halloo.” Priscilla waggled her fingers and beamed at me. “I have seen you about town before, haven’t I? We have never formally been introduced.”

“Happily, no. I mean unfortunately not.”

“But you are Miss Ella Upton, aren’t you? The girl Prince Florian is going to marry?”

I admitted reluctantly, “Well, yes, my name is Ella Upton, but?—”

I got no further because Priscilla launched herself at me with an ear-splitting shriek.

“Congratulations!” She enveloped me in a constricting hug. “I am so happy for you, Miss Upton. Or should I say, Princess Ella?”

“No, please don’t say that.” I gasped for air. For such a little thing, she had an astonishing grip.

I had no sooner managed to pry her away when I was swarmed by the other young women. I had never been subjected to so much hugging and giggling in my life, not even by my own stepsisters. The Honorable Miss Ardelia Vanderwix deigned to offer me a few air-kisses.

All the girls pasted on fake smiles as though they were delighted to congratulate me on my good fortune. All except for one chit with strawberry-colored hair who sobbed on my shoulder.

“I sh-shall try to be happy for you, P-princess Ella. Even though my own heart is breaking.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Lucy,” Ardelia snapped. “As if you would have ever had a chance of winning the prince.”

The younger Miss Vanderwix was kinder. Priscilla said soothingly, “Indeed you must not take it so hard, Lucy. Remember the prince still has four younger brothers that are unattached.”

“That is right,” the other girls seconded in eager agreement except for Ardelia who said, “None of them can compare to Florian. He is the handsomest and the heir to the throne.”

Lucy emitted another mighty sob. I patted her back awkwardly. “There, there. No need for all this fuss. I don’t want the prince. You may have him.”

Lucy drew away from me, leaving a damp patch on my shoulder. She regarded me through shocked, tear-drenched eyes. The other girls gaped at me until Priscilla tittered.

“Not want the prince? Oh, what a jokester! How amusing!”

The rest burst into laughter as though I just made the best jest they had ever heard. Lucy even managed a weak smile.

“I was being quite serious,” I said, but none of them paid the least attention.

“Is that how you charmed the prince?” Lucy asked. “By being witty and clever?”

One of the other girls chimed in, “Oh, yes Miss Upton, please, you must tell us your secret. We are dying to know how you won the heart of the prince.”

“Yes, we would all dearly love to knowthat,” Ardelia said. Her gaze swept over my old frock and disheveled hair, and she sniffed. She had the haughtiest nose I have ever seen. I wondered if she had to sleep with a clothespin on her nose at night to achieve that snobbish tilt.

Before I could come up with any sort of an answer, Priscilla gushed, “Miss Upton’s secret is obvious. She is the most beautiful creature. At least, she was last night when she was wearing that fabulous gown.”

“Indeed! That gorgeous river silk, all silvery and gold.”

“Those darling puffed sleeves.”

“And the perfect way it tapered at the waistline.”

I could only stare at these young women in amazement as they went into raptures over my gown. I could not have told you what any of them had worn to the ball. I would have been hard pressed to have described my own gown in such detail.

“Where didyouget such a gown?” Ardelia demanded.

I hesitated. I could hardly tell them that my gown had been a gift from Malcolm Hawkridge, the same man who had sold them the fake elixir. The incredible gown had been designed by a woman who adored Mal as much as she despised me.