CHAPTER 3
Frances
That evening, Frances stood in front of the mirror, looking at a whole different woman. Her reflection bore no resemblance to her former self.
Her hair had been arranged in an updo, not the way she usually wore it, but far more intricate. There were pins and gems and all manner of accessories in her hair, a white bandeau with silver gemstones that sparkled as she moved.
Her dress was off-white, with small puffy sleeves that made her feel like a doll. Long satin gloves that went past her elbows felt smooth against her skin. The gown flowed down her frame in a way she could only describe as enticing. One could see hints of her curves.
A layer of crushed white pearl powder had been fixed on her face, giving her an unusual pale appearance, as wasfashionable among the ton. According to her aunt, her sun-kissed complexion, which she had acquired walking in the sun in Bedfordshire, was not considered attractive in high society.
Rouge had been applied to her lips and a charcoal stain to her eyes. Her shoes, however, already pinched her feet. They were new and, while beautiful, were so uncomfortable. They were dancing slippers made for a gently bred lady, which had been explained to her, even though she had no intention of dancing.
What if her parents could see her now? Her mother would be happy. She would smile down on her.
Her father? She wasn’t sure what he would think. He would like the idea of her marrying rich; that was for sure. Would he be proud? Probably not. He had never been.
A knock sounded, and then the door flew open. Aunt Eugenia entered with a bright smile.
“Don’t you look splendid!” she gushed. “You turned out very fine, indeed. A revelation, I dare say. Now, come, come. Your cousins are here.”
Frances swallowed hard. She hadn’t seen her cousins since she was a small child and could barely even remember their names. She followed her aunt, unsure what to expect.
Most of the highborn ladies she knew were quite haughty, considering themselves better than her. These girls were hercousins, of course, and therefore her relations, but that didn’t mean they were not going to be unkind or arrogant.
After all, they were all titled ladies, none below a countess, and ladies such as this usually did not spend their time entertaining their commoner cousin.
She wasn’t even really their cousin. They were distantly related. What if they thought her hopelessly provincial and underbred?
What if they disliked her?
What if they were cold toward her?
Her nerves were quite shot, but before she could be consumed by anxiety, they reached the bottom of the steps, and she was instantly embraced from three directions with great enthusiasm.
A cacophony of voices and smells overwhelmed her. Vanilla, orange, lavender, and lemon mingled in her nose as she was embraced tightly by her cousins.
“Now, now, do not crush her to death.” Aunt Eugenia came to her rescue.
Frances stepped back and looked from one sister to the other. She had seen portraits of them hanging in the house, and they looked very much like them.
The girl to her right placed a hand on her arm. “It is so good to see you. I know we barely remember each other, but I already feel like we will be great friends. I am Marianne.”
The girl in the middle nodded. “I’m Charlotte.”
“And I’m Evelyn. I do remember you, but I am a little bit older than you, so I have more of a memory than the others do. You look so pretty.”
“Thank you,” Frances said.
All three of them looked refined, like princesses.
“Now, girls, you’d better leave now so you do not arrive late. Tardiness is not attractive,” Aunt Eugenia urged, before turning to Evelyn. “Now, remember what I said. She does not know how to dance, so only show her the dances that are easy to follow. Practice a few steps with her if you can, but do it where nobody can see you. I don’t want the whole ton to know that Frances doesn’t know how to dance. I cannot have her making a cake of herself. Introduce her to a few gentlemen, the ones who are kind and tender-hearted.”
“Do not fret, Aunt Eugenia.” Evelyn placed her hand on the old woman’s arm. “All will be well.”
Aunt Eugenia gave Frances a kiss. “You will do so well. I’m so proud of you.”
Frances nodded and followed her cousins out to the fine carriage waiting outside. The carriage had a coat of arms on the side that she didn’t recognize.
