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Lady Jane peered out of the window. ‘There’s a good-looking gentleman in a Tilbury. I think he’s waiting for Eleanora. I’m so jealous.’
‘You won’t be when Miss Maughfling hears of this latest escapade,’ Miss Sharp said angrily. ‘If Miss Smythe isn’t expelled after this, I will be most surprised. Young ladies, go to the changing room and get ready to leave.’ She stepped aside as the other girls rushed to the window to peek at Eleanora’s gentleman friend. ‘Ladies, please go to the changing room, now.’
Reluctantly they obeyed, but the chatter as Nancy followed them was of the handsome young man who had helped Eleanora into the carriage and driven off with her.
To Nancy’s surprise, Eleanora was not expelled for her latest escapade. Tamara seemed to think that Lord Smythe had more influence with Miss Maughfling than anyone realised, and whispers rippled through the prim corridors of the Academy, although no one had the courage to ask Eleanora the truth. Careless of what others might think, she continued to see Sir Jack Marshall whenever the opportunity arose.
Nancy had no particular liking for Eleanora, but she found herself in the unlikely position of being Eleanora’s confidante. Not that she wanted to know the details of the trysts between the lovers, but Eleanora seemed desperate to talk about her affair with Sir Jack. Apart from that, life at the Academy fell into a routine broken only by weekly trips to Mr Poppleton’s dance studio or walks in the park to admire the lake and the beauties of nature. There were lessons in etiquette as well as deportment, and the young ladies were encouraged to learn the pianoforte if they were not already accomplished performers. Singing tuition was optional, as was embroidery. Miss Maughfling had introduced a new series of lessons in managing a household, dealing with recalcitrant servants and the preparation of menus for special occasions, as well as feeding the family and the servants. Not that any of the students were expected to undertake such tasks, but Miss Maughfling insisted that an idle mistress makes idle servants, and the lady of the house, mansion or castle, must know at least as much as her housekeeper when it came to managing household affairs. Most of the young ladies yawned their way through these lessons, but Nancy found herself top of the class. Hester and Mrs Jackson’s attempts to educate her in domestic subjects seemed to have been very successful.
Talking to Molly was the only way to overcome the creeping feeling of homesickness that sometimes almost overwhelmed Nancy. She had no interest in studying to become a debutante and no likelihood of being presented at Court anyway. Molly was a breath of fresh air from home, and surprisingly she seemed to have adapted well to city life. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the greengrocer, who delivered the vegetables and fruit to the kitchens several times a week, happened to be a handsome young man whose father owned a market garden in Highgate. On Sunday afternoons Reuben James arrived at the servants’ entrance in a gig painted a bright yellow, which, according to Molly, aroused both amusement and jealousy amongst the other lady’s maids, none of whom had managed to attract a gentleman friend. Molly went off eagerly and returned in time for supper, filled with enthusiasm for the market garden and Reuben’s welcoming parents. It was, she said, like being back on the farm. They even kept a cow for milk, and several goats, plus a few chickens. It was home from home for Molly. Nancy could see romance blooming and she was pleased for Molly’s sake, but she knew she would lose a good friend as well as a maid.
The summer drifted into autumn and the leaves began to fall from the trees in the park. The days were getting shorter and the nights colder. Nancy had grown accustomed to life in the Academy, although that did not stop her from thinking about home and missing her surrogate family. Then, one day in early October, an announcement by Mr Poppleton threw the students into a frenzy of excitement. He declared that they had made such good progress in their dancing lessons that they were invited to attend a ball at the studio. They were allowed to bring a gentleman to partner them, otherwise they would have to dance together as they had been doing since the beginning of term.
Eleanora shrugged and said she doubted if Sir Jack would be willing to attend such an event, but a swift dig in the ribs from Tamara made her add that she would try to persuade him. During their walk back to the Academy the conversation was all about who the girls would ask to accompany them. The students who had brothers were instantly besieged by requests to be introduced to their male siblings, while others boasted that they had several gentlemen who would be only too happy to stand up with them at Mr Poppleton’s ball.
‘I hope Sir Jack deigns to partner you, Eleanora,’ Tamara said eagerly. ‘I’m longing to meet him.’
‘I can’t promise anything.’ Eleanora tossed her head. ‘He’s visiting a friend in the country at the moment, which is the only reason I came with you today. Jack has many wealthy and influential friends.’
‘Maybe he can spare a couple to partner us young ladies who have no one to dance with us,’ Nancy said, laughing.
Eleanora cast her a sideways glance. ‘I dare say he would oblige, if you are unable to find your own partner.’
‘I am not desperate.’ Nancy wrapped her shawl tightly around her as an east wind whipped more leaves off the trees and they floated to the damp grass.
‘My cousin Baldwin is in town, I believe,’ Tamara said cautiously. ‘He’s very nice and kind, Nancy, but he’s rather short in stature and his hair is receding although he’s only twenty-three.’
Eleanora snorted. ‘He sounds exactly right for you, Nancy. Or perhaps you’ll be playing the pianoforte because old Poppleton is too mean to hire an orchestra.’
‘I’m sure Baldwin is delightful,’ Nancy said quickly. ‘But I’m happy to sit and watch the others dance. I’m sure it will be great fun after so many evenings doing nothing apart from reading or embroidery.’
‘Will William be able to come, Tamara?’ Nancy asked in a low voice when Eleanora was out of earshot.
‘I’m sure he will. I haven’t seen him for weeks but he writes to me almost every day. Annie smuggles our letters in and out of the building and her brother Benny acts as postman.’
‘I can’t wait to meet William.’
‘Perhaps he could find you a better partner than Baldwin. I realise he doesn’t sound much of a catch.’
‘Nonsense, Tamara, I’m not so shallow that I think looks are everything. I’m quite happy to go to the ball on my own. I will enjoy watching everyone twirling round the floor to the beat of Mr Poppleton’s silver-headed cane.’
Eleanora puffed on her cigarillo. ‘I dare say Jack could find you a suitable beau, Nancy. He has many friends.’
‘Really, I will be fine on my own,’ Nancy said firmly. ‘But thank you all the same.’
The excitement in the Academy grew to fever pitch as the day of the ball drew nearer, and everything was forgotten apart from exchanging details of the gowns the young ladies would wear, and how they would style their hair. Some kept their partners a secret, while others boasted about the gentlemen who were queuing up to escort them to the ball at Poppleton’s dance studio.
Molly helped Nancy to dress in the cream satin evening gown that Hester had considered unsuitable. Nancy also had her doubts, wondering if it was indeed too elegant for such an occasion. Mr Poppleton’s studio was not the most fashionable address in London. However, the dinner gown she had brought with her was not designed for dancing, and she had no choice but to opt for Meggie Brewer’s creation. The décolletage was daring and Molly had drawn the strings of Nancy’s stays so tight that she was having difficulty in breathing, and the full skirts over a crinoline cage whittled her waist down to a handspan. Nancy had visions of being toppled over by a stiff gust of wind and rolling down the hill like a giant puffball.
‘I wish I was going,’ Molly said dreamily as she pinned a rosebud into the elaborate coils of the coiffure she had just created. ‘I’d like to dance with Reuben. It would be so romantic.’
‘I doubt if I will do anything but sit out like a wallflower,’ Nancy said, laughing. ‘I might even be asked to play the piano if poor Mrs Poppleton is indisposed.’
Molly stood back to admire her handiwork. ‘There you are, miss. You look like a princess.’
‘I do look different,’ Nancy said, gazing at her reflection in the fly-spotted mirror. ‘I don’t often have the chance to dress up.’
‘If there are any unattached young men, they will be queuing up to write on your dance card. You will be the belle of the ball, and Miss Eleanora will be mad with jealousy.’
