Page 97 of The Vanished

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NEW YEAR’S EVE, 1923

Ravenglass

By six o’clock, the dining room glittered with silver and crystal, Cook had everything in hand, and the staff was just about to sit down to a cold supper so that they would have time to finish with the preparations before the guests began to arrive. Geneva hastened upstairs. It was time to get ready. She had never before worn anything except lipstick, but she had purchased several beauty products at the department store, and, after she had taken a quick bath and Lettie had helped her on with her frock and headed downstairs to get something to eat, Geneva took the little bag out of her vanity. She penciled in her eyebrows, tinted her lashes, then applied a little rouge to her cheeks. She was just about to put on lipstick when Honor burst into her room.

She looked excited and upset all at once. “These earrings don’t go with my dress,” she moaned.

Honor’s dress was a deep violet, and she wore black pumps with a T-strap. A gold bracelet studded with what looked like real diamonds glittered on her wrist.

“Where did you get that?” Geneva asked.

“It’s smashing, isn’t it?” Honor said, and held out her arm. “Rose lent it to me.”

“And where did she get it?”

Honor shrugged. “I think she might have borrowed it from Aunt Clarissa.”

“Borrowed it?”

“Look, what does it matter?” Honor said with a huff. “It’s gorgeous, she let me wear it, end of story. Now, can you lend me your earrings?”

“But—” Geneva began, but Honor didn’t allow her to finish.

“They don’t go with your dress anyway. I’ll trade you for these.” She held out a pair of dangly crystal earrings that sparkled in the light from the lamps.

“Are these Rose’s as well?”

“So what if they are? She gets an allowance. She can spend it on what she likes.”

Geneva reached for the earrings and held one against her ear. She loved her amethyst earrings, but Honor was right. They didn’t really go with her dress, and the glittering crystals made her feel stylish and glamorous.

“All right,” she said and removed her earrings. “But I want these back tomorrow.”

“And you’ll get them,” Honor replied. She put them on and turned her head this way and that, admiring her reflection in the mirror. “They look fabulous. And I love my new hair,” she gushed. “It feels so…” She searched for the right word. “Liberating,” she said at last. “I’m going to wear it like this all the time from now on. Maybe I’ll go even shorter,” she mused as she patted the ends of her curling locks.

“I love it too,” Geneva admitted. “I was craving a change.”

Honor scoffed. “Haven’t you had enough changes with everything else that’s going on?”

“I meant a positive change, one of my own making.”

Geneva opened her jewelry case and took out the bangle she’d bought. Honor’s eyes widened at the sight of the elegant snake.

“That’s stunning,” she exclaimed.

“Want to borrow this too?” Geneva teased.

“Can I? Oh, please, Genny. I’ll give you this one.”

“I’m wearing it. I already lent you my earrings.”

“All right. Fine. But I’m borrowing it next time there’s a party.”

Geneva glanced at her sister in the mirror. Honor carried on as if nothing were about to change, and it both annoyed and saddened her. Honor still didn’t seem to grasp that in a few short weeks—a month or two at most—their father would be gone, and their lives would never be the same again. Geneva would be married to Jesse, and Honor would be on her way to Switzerland. When she returned, Aunt Clarissa would take over as her guardian. Perhaps there would be parties and pretty frocks and excuses to wear her jewelry, but the life they had known would be gone forever.

Unhappy to be denied the bracelet, Honor obviously decided to make her sister cross in turn. Her eyes narrowed as she met Geneva’s gaze in the mirror. “What happened with Rory? He told me he’s leaving, and he seems to be avoiding you like the plague.”