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Lord Rathbourne cleared his throat.
“What about the boy, Lady Wife?”
“Oh indeed!” Lady Rathbourne recalled, blinking rapidly at Lord Larkin as if she couldn’t quite believe he was real.
Apparently, he had that effect on all members of the female persuasion, Brigid was relieved to note.
When she eventually shook out of her awestruck paralysis, Lady Rathbourne gave further instructions to another footman to bring a tailor as well. Equipped with a ready-made evening attire they could easily modify to fit Lord Larkin’s impressive frame.
Given the time, they would be lucky to find him a dress coat that fit those ridiculously wide shoulders. It could be that he simply attended the Ball in his current attire with a refreshed shirt and tie. As a last resort, the rest of what he was wearing was formal enough to pass for the evening as well as daytime.
Thus decided, the men and women separated for the evening’s preparations, with Lord Rathbourne eagerly steering Lord Larkin into the library for some brandy and masculine conversation.
Brigid knew that he thirsted for it, being constantly surrounded by the women in his life. One of the reasons he spared no expense on his daughters’ first Season was because he sincerely wanted to bring another man or men into the family, as soon as humanly possible. Even if the married couples lived apart at their own residence.
But they would never relocate too far away, was the unspoken understanding. Elizabeth and Lucille loved their parents too much to countenance it.
Soon, the younger women were ensconced in Elizabeth’s chamber, for hers was the largest, while Lady Rathbourne rushed off to see to other affairs.
“Tell me, ladies,” Annie said, as one of the maids styled her naturally lustrous, wavy hair. It looked like living flames shot through with molten gold.
“What should I expect at tonight’s Ball? Or should I ask—whoshould I expect? Brigid tells me that it’s sure to be a crush. Have you discovered many handsome gentlemen during your stay in town thus far?”
Lucille wrinkled her nose.
“Only a few. Though, granted, we don’t belong to the most popular circles.”
“Yet,” Elizabeth reminded her.
“Yet,” Lucille dutifully echoed.
“We’ve only met a few eligible bachelors at three musicales and one opera. Perambulations around the parks were beneficial for people watching, but less successful for making introductions, given our lack of network.”
“Our Great Aunt Tabitha can only do so much to introduce us about town,” Elizabeth explained.
“Her connections are all rather…older. But many of the families we visited said that their younger relations will attend Lady Watham’s Ball. Hence, we’ve been anticipating tonight most eagerly.”
“I am sure you will meet and make the acquaintance of many charming men and women,” Annie said agreeably.
“You are—all three of you—so lovely and sweet. Your dance cards will be filled to overflowing before you know it.”
The girls giggled and blushed at the compliment.
But Elizabeth was self-aware enough to comment, “We would be the most popular group at the Ball because we shall have you in our set, Lady Ann.”
“Just Annie,” she corrected. “Let’s not stand on ceremony.”
All three women gave leave to use their names as well.
“And that’s not true,” Annie added. “I would be happy to blend into the shadows if I could. No telling how many faux pas I might make. It’s the Oriental upbringing, you know. I’m practically a heathen.”
“All you have to do isbethere,” Lucille said. “Just hum and smile and nod. Your looks will do the rest.”
Annie scrunched her nose in an adorable face, as if she’d caught a whiff of something displeasing.
“Are men of this era—”
The girls looked at her askance.
