Page 81 of The Lady and the Duke

Chapter20

Lydia had managedto adapt one of her better dresses into a ball gown. She had worked on it at the same time she was assisting Jenny with her new dress. They stood next to each other in front of Jenny’s mirror and studied themselves during their firsttry-on.

“What do you think?” Jenny asked with somehesitation.

“I think you look splendid,” Lydia said, “However, you might consider removing that sash. I think it looks betterwithoutit.”

“Hum. Perhaps,”Jennysaid.

“I am not sure,” Lydia drawled as she considered her owndress.

Jenny looked at Lydia in the mirror. “What you need to ask yourself is what would Doctor Cooke thinkaboutit.”

Lydia had not told Jenny what Ellen had told her about Edwin’s enquiry into hersociallife.

“Well I have no choice in any case. This is what I have to wear. And he can like itornot.”

“Well, I think it looksjustfine.”

“Oh, my… fine. You might as well say I look like a sack ofpotatoes.”

Jenny laughed. “Not at all. It is a simple look. But it suits you—unlike mine that looks like aChristmastree.”

“Do you have any gentlemen in line for dancing?” Lydiaasked.

“Well, let me see… There is my brother, and my father, and my brother again, and… You get thepicture.”

“I do not believe that for one moment. You shall be swamped withrequests.”

“We shall see. And how do you think I should do my hair? Flowers or not?” Jennyasked.

“If they will stay fresh for the entire evening, I would choose flowers.Otherwise,not.”

Jenny suddenly began to laugh. “Look at us, scrambling around trying to look like princesses with the resources of shopgirls.”

“Oh, well, at least there will be champagne,” Lydia said, “We can always drown our sorrows inbubbly.”

* * *

Lydia dressed by herself.Aunt and Doctor Winston were already at Honeyfield. When she was ready she left the house and went over to theLovell’s.

The house was fizzing with excitement. Jenny and her mother were running here and there. Graham was slouched on the sofa waiting, and their father was fussing about the arrival of the coach that was to take them totheball.

Finally, the group coalesced in the sitting room and, breathlessly, Father announced that the coach had arrived and they were ready toleave.

Jenny and her mother nervously talked nonstop all the way to Honeyfield. Lydia was content to be quietly with her ownthoughts.

There was a queue of carriages waiting to unload when they arrived at Honeyfield at the back of the queue. Jenny and her mother were peering out of the windows, eager to ascend the entryway stairs into the sparkling lights bathing the house in warmth andexcitement.

By the time they descended from the carriage, the queue was still as long as when they had joined the back of thequeue.

Two footmen stood on either side of the entryway as the Lovell party entered. Her Grace was seated at the head of the receiving line—Edwin standing beside her. Aunt Lavinia stood just behind the Duchess, fanning her discreetly. Ellen stood beaming next to Edwin. She looked lovely. She had not needed to make do with an altered ball gown—it was new andalamode.

The Lovell family preceded Lydia as they were welcomed. Lydia was detained briefly by Ellen andEdwin.

“How charming you look, Lydia,” Ellen said, taking both of herhands.

“The Duchess seems to be in good spirits,” Lydiaobserved.