“But this dress is the very height of fashion!” Caroline protested.
“For an evening event, yes. For an afternoon call, no. Miss Bingley, your aim must be to present yourself as an innocent; thus, you saw Miss Darcy in a simple gown today, not overly adorned, not trying to excite unwanted and improper attention. The colour of her dress was selected so as to complement her complexion and hair colour. You, as a young lady with a good deal of red in her hair, would best be seen in creams, blues and greens, but certainly not in yellows, oranges and reds. Greens in particular, as your eyes are green and should be accentuated. Pale greens, of course. Were I you, I would present the dress you now wear to your maid.”
Caroline winced, recalling Alice’s surprise at the gown she had selected for this visit.
Mrs. Annesley continued, “Wearing a colour that is in fashion but does not bring out the best in your looks is not the way to win the Marriage Game. Moreover, wearing a good deal of jewelry during the day is simply not done.”
Pulling a small book from her pocket, she continued. “I have here a book recently published calledThe Mirror of Graces. It was published anonymously, so we know not who wrote it. Allow me, please, to quote from it. ‘That a handsome woman may disfigure herself by an injudicious choice or disposition of her attire; and a plain one counteract the errors of nature, so as to render herself at least agreeable; almost every experienced observer has witnessed. We may therefore conclude that beauty with a bad taste is far less desirable than a good taste without beauty.’”
“So I am the beauty with a bad taste,” Caroline said, furiously.
“That is my opinion, yes.”
“And mine,” Elizabeth added. “Caroline, does your dressmaker not advise you?”
“She has had the temerity to raise her brows at me,” Caroline said, stubbornly. “But I believe I know what best suits me.”
“And your maid?”
“Alice? What does she know? Nothing!”
“And you do not listen to the advice of people who try to help you?” Elizabeth could not hide her exasperation.
Caroline shrugged and looked away.
The room fell silent. Finally, Mrs. Annesley said, “Miss Bingley, if you wish to succeed in the Marriage Game, you will have to change your ways.”
***
“I saw you and the Earl whispering together this afternoon,” Elizabeth said, as her husband watched her dress for dinner that night.
“He wants to take Georgiana on a drive tomorrow and he was asking my permission.”
“Have you spoken to Georgiana about it? She might be uncomfortable being seen in public.”
“There will be a maid with her, of course.”
“Nonetheless, you know how shy she is.”
“I thought to discuss it at dinner.”
As Elizabeth had feared, Georgiana’s fork clattered onto her plate when she heard this news. “Me? The Earl?” Her voice rose into a squeak.
“Yes, you,” her brother returned. “And why not? You are certainly eligible.”
“But would he not be looking for a lady with a title?”
“He may be more interested in a lady’s character than in her title,” Elizabeth observed. “And his wife will have a title, after all, as she will be a Countess! But if you do not like him, dearest, we will send a note declining.”
“I do not know him well enough to like or dislike him.”
“That is what the carriage ride is for,” Mrs. Annesley explained. “And it will do you no harm to be seen in public with him.”
Georgiana sighed. “So this is part of the Marriage Game.”
“Very much so.”
“Caroline would give her right arm to go on a drive with him,” Elizabeth chuckled.
