“Not at all.” She began to rise, but her maid pushed her back down.
“You’re not ready yet.”
She met her friends’ laughing eyes in the mirror. “I thought you would all be in the country. I’m sure the knocker at Stanwood House was off.”
“Grace has taken the children and the dogs to Stanwood,” Charlotte explained. “Worthington is here for some last-minute business at the Lords. There is some quibbling about paying for the coming war that must be halted. That is the reason we are here as well. We have discovered how effective ladies can be at swaying the political tone.”
“We are staying at Merton House,” Louisa said. “There was no point opening Rothwell House again for such a short time.”
“As soon as your dresser has finished”—Dotty’s eyes twinkled with joy—“we have some things we would like to give you.”
A few moments later, Elizabeth was allowed to stand.
Charlotte scrunched up her nose. “I thought you might wear pink, but you need something blue, so I brought you a pearl bracelet with aquamarines.”
“Oh, dear.” Louisa pulled a face. “I should have given this to you when you were sitting. This is old. My mother-in-law found it, and I immediately thought of you.” She handed Elizabeth a heavy silver comb decorated with pearls and diamonds.
“Thank you. It is perfect! Vickers?”
“Leave it to me. It won’t take much to replace the one I have in your hair.”
Once that was done, Dotty grinned. “And this is borrowed.” She pinned a small pink cameo broach onto Elizabeth’s bodice.
“I cannot thank you enough.” Her vision blurred as she hugged her friends.
“No crying.” Louisa handed Elizabeth a handkerchief. “You will set us all off. And I for one am not a pretty crier.”
“She said the exact same thing to us.” Dotty and Charlotte laughed.
The door opened again, and her aunt strolled in. “I was told you had company. My ladies.” Aunt inclined her head. “Your grace.” Aunt curtseyed. “Elizabeth, your mother gave these to me for you to wear on your wedding day.”
Her aunt held out a leather box. Elizabeth set it on the table and opened it. Nestled in velvet was a double strand, pale pink pearl necklace with a diamond clasp. “They are beautiful! I’ve never seen anything like them before.”
Her friends, leaning over Elizabeth’s shoulder, nodded their agreement.
“They are from the Far East, and were your great-grandfather’s wedding gift to your great-grandmother.”
“Vickers?” Elizabeth said again.
The maid removed Elizabeth’s pearl necklace, replacing it with the pink pearls. “There are earrings here as well, but I think they are better for evening wear.”
She looked at the elaborate pearl and ruby earrings, and nodded. “I’ll put them away.”
“I know it is late,” Dotty said. “But who is attending you?”
“My aunt—”
“Elizabeth, my dear,” Aunt protested, “I only agreed because all of your friends had retired to the country, or so we thought. I am perfectly happy to sit and watch the ceremony.”
“In that case, I would dearly love it if one of you could stand up with me.”
“Oh”—Charlotte’s eyes twinkled merrily—“I am sure we can do better for you than we three married ladies. Oriana Blackacre arrived in Town this morning. She and her grandmother are staying at the Pultney. I know she is not as close to you as we are, but you do know her, and it is tradition to have an unmarried lady attend you.”
“And,” Louisa said, “at some point it is inevitable you will become better acquainted with her. Harrington and Bentley, her betrothed, are best of friends. He is in Town as well, and I will wager anything that he will attend Harrington.”
“But will she agree?” Particularly at this late date.
“I am quite sure she will.” Charlotte said. “I shall write her a note.”
