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Chapter 15
She walks with swanlike gait, and her voice is low and musical as the note of the Kokila bird.
The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana
Scandalous Aunt Sarah lived in opulent apartments, bequeathed to her by one of her lovers, on the entire upper floor of a lavish building overlooking Hyde Park.
She’d had many lovers, Aunt Sarah. And not one husband. She was the family disgrace.
Despite her emotional turmoil, Alice was excited to finally meet her aunt.
Her apartments were everything Alice had imagined. Red silk and black lacquered furniture from the Orient. Low divans piled with velvet cushions. Stalks of jasmine flowers in vases on every table, their sweet, heady fragrance scenting the room.
Aunt Sarah lounged on one of the low divans, swathed from her turban to her toes in white silk trimmed with dyed-red feathers. A miniature white poodles nestled on either side of her.
Alice noted a generous display of bosom and ruby rings on every finger.
An inordinately handsome young footman in close-fitting livery of white satin trimmed in red stood at attention near the door.
“Do come in, Agatha,” said Aunt Sarah. “When my butler brought your card I thought there must be some mistake.”
Mama pursed her lips, eyeing her sister-in-law and the gorgeous footman with distaste. “You know I would never visit, Sarah, if it weren’t a matter of great importance.”
“I’m well aware of that. Since you haven’t visited me in... oh... ever.”
Her mother approached. “We need your help. There’s been a... situation.” She bent closer. “Hatherly never came home. On his wedding night.”
Aunt Sarah laughed. “My, that is a situation. And so you thought you’d come here, for a little amorous advice?”
“It’s not for me,” Lady Tombs said. “It’s for Alice.”
“Come here, girl,” Aunt Sarah commanded, waving her bejeweled hand.
Alice approached.
“Let me have a look at you.” Her aunt caught hold of her chin and turned her face to the window. “Fortunately you have your father’s chin.” She glanced at Mama’s soft, wobbling chin. “And the family dimples, I see. Altogether charming. You, my dear, are not the problem.”
“I know that, Sarah,” Mama said disapprovingly. “It’s not her face... it’s her mannerisms. She’s a very nervous girl, always saying whatever comes into that changeable mind of hers. Always putting her foot squarely in her mouth. She’s never been successful at attracting a gentleman’s lasting attentions.”
Because I hadn’t wanted to attract them,Alice thought.
“So that’s why you had to win her a husband at cards,” Aunt Sarah said.
Mama nodded. “Now she must win him”—she lowered her voice, glancing at the footman—“in the bedchamber. To legitimize the union.”
This marriage meant everything to her mother. She longed for her elevated place in society.
Aunt Sarah sat up. “I accept! Antonio,” she called, and the footman was at her side instantly, helping her rise. The poodles were dislodged with little yelps of displeasure.
“Lavinia,” Aunt Sarah shouted, and a pretty maid in a crisp white pinafore appeared at the door.
“Sit down, Agatha,” Aunt Sarah said, placing a hand on Mama’s shoulders and giving her a push.
Alice’s mother fell onto a divan with a grunt of surprise.
“Lavinia will rub your hands with a softening oil while you wait for us; it’s delightful,” Aunt Sarah said. “Come, Alice.”
Alice followed her whirlwind of an aunt outside, leaving her mother sputtering in the center of a pile of cushions.
