AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 1
Lady Mary Goldfield fanned herself with the little, white-laced fan that she’d found among her mother’s belongings after her mother passed away. It was hot in the grand, bright ballroom, but Mary was thrilled by the energy that surrounded her. There was a buzz of excitement in the air, as though everyone was there for no other reason than the thrill of the dance.
Everyone, of course, except for Charlotte and Lady Rachel.
Mary glanced at her stepmother and stepsister, who were busy as ever with their gossip. Charlotte was the absolute image of her mother, with rich, dark brown hair and striking green eyes. She had the same curved figure that drew the attention of men throughout the room with ease.
Charlotte and Mary could not have been more different. With bright, blue eyes and white-blonde curls, a figure that was often described aspetiteby those who wished a compliment andsmallby those who wished to insult, Mary resembled her mother as well—as far as she could remember.
But after Lady Rachel lost her husband and Mary’s father lost his wife, it was considered a beneficial union for the two of them to marry. And now, Lady Rachel, Charlotte, and Mary stood together, having just entered the hall.
“She is absolutely hideous. And I have no doubt those pearls are paste,” Charlotte hissed, noting that Lady Maven was dancing with Lord Waller. Charlotte had danced with him at the previous ball and Mary knew that Charlotte would have liked to dance with him again. But the way he was looking at Lady Maven made it perfectly clear that no other woman mattered to him that evening.
“Of course they are paste. Her father owns property, but that means nothing. It is not as though he has any great business,” Lady Rachel agreed.
“If he is able to afford property, could he not also afford a necklace?” Mary asked, thinking it the logical question.
Lady Rachel and Charlotte gave her the same blank stare. Mary had seen that stare often enough in the past couple of years. She knew that they disliked it when she pointed out a flaw in their complaining.
“Perhaps you ought to let us speak of what we know. After all, you have very little experience with women such as her,” Charlotte snapped.
“Regardless, I would say that Lady Maven is not the most scandalous attendee here this evening,” Lady Rachel said, moving the conversation along. “Did you not see that Lord and Lady Winston are present? You know, her cousin works in trade. I am shocked they were even invited this evening!”
Mary remained silent, not wishing to engage in this unnecessary chatter. The last thing she wanted was to remain privy to gossip like this. She believed that there was so much more to women like Lady Maven than her pearls, or Lady Winston and her cousin’s work in trade. It was unfair to decide their worth based on such little things.
But she knew that the conversation would not cease soon. Her stepmother and stepsister were always looking for others to speak of poorly. It was simply how they enjoyed spending their time at balls. They would dance with a charming man and then chatter about some poor soul and her perceived failures.
Lady Rachel gasped and Mary nearly jumped from the surprise, but her stepmother looked at Charlotte with a twisted delight in her eyes.
“Do you see her?” Lady Rachel asked with a girlish laugh, far too young for a woman such as herself.
“Good heavens! Is that Lydia Crenshaw?” Charlotte asked.
“This must be her first time in public since the birth of that child of hers. The child born a mere seven and a half months after her wedding,” Lady Rachel said with clear intention.
“And they claim that the child came early?” Charlotte giggled.
“The two of you are not to speak with her. Not at all. It would make you equally culpable for her guilt,” Lady Rachel warned.
Mary sighed and looked around the grand room, trying to ignore the continued talking of her stepmother and Charlotte. She had no desire to listen to any more of this and knew that the only way to avoid it was to find someone else with whom she could spend her time.
At last, she spotted Sarah down near the end of the hall with a few of the other women of lower rank. Knowing that her stepmother would object if Mary mentioned whom she was going to, Mary slipped away quietly. Once she could no longer hear Lady Rachel and Charlotte, she was deeply relieved.
Mary smiled with gentility as she made her way through the throng of people, each vying for the attention of this or that man or woman. The room was brightly lit, and all were dressed to the height of fashion.
The music played a jaunty tune and the dancers laughed and grinned as they pranced through the motions. There was a lovely floral scent in the air, mingling with the sweetness of sherry and small cakes and cookies for the guests to indulge.
The whole evening was a show, but it was a show that she would have enjoyed much more if there was an ounce of honesty. Unfortunately, Mary knew, most of what she saw was a matter of every man and woman simply trying to put on their best face for the sake of attention.
By the time she reached Sarah, Mary was eager to have a moment with someone she knew to be entirely genuine.
“Mary! There you are. I had hoped you were already here,” Sarah said with excitement.
“Yes, of course. Lady Rachel and Charlotte would never have allowed us to be anything more than fashionably late. You know how they are,” Mary said with a light smirk.
“Indeed, I do,” Sarah sighed, evidently as discouraged as Mary was.
“I do hope that one day, I may be able to escape their incessant gossip. As it is, I think my father would sooner forget I exist than come and rescue me from them,” Mary said, without a hint of self-pity in her tone. She knew that Sarah was the one person she could speak to with all honesty and not be accused of complaining.
