“What? Why?” Flora had come alive now, hopping up from the armchair. “You must! I won’t accept any other answer.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” Flora demanded.
She felt ashamed to admit the truth, but Flora was her friend. “Because I haven’t anything suitable to wear.”
Flora stared at her. She didn’t dispute Hattie. She frowned and planted her hands on her waist. “Then you’ll wear one of mine.”
Hattie laughed. “I couldn’t possibly!”
“Why not?”
“For the most obvious reason—you’re smaller than me. And because it’s a terrible imposition.”
“It’s not an imposition at all, and that’s what corsets are for.” She marched to her line of gowns hanging in the open wardrobe. She sorted through them, holding one up, then the next, finally deciding on a pale blue silk with silver trim. She turned around and held it up to Hattie. “Try it on.” Hattie opened her mouth to speak, but Flora pushed the gown at her. “Don’t be quarrelsome, Hattie. Go,” she said, gesturing to the screen behind which Hattie could change.
Hattie went. And when she emerged, the back of the gown not fastened, as it would not close, Flora—who was now wearing a gold gown—nodded approvingly. “It’s perfect.”
“It’s unfastened.”
“We’ll change that.” She turned to the mirror. “What do you think of this?” she asked as she admired herself.
“It’s beautiful,” Hattie said, but really, she was looking at her own reflection, a sliver of which she could see from behind Flora. She’d never worn anything as fine as this, and she loved it. She loved the way it almost fit, the way the expensive fabric felt against her skin. And she resolved then and there to work for the viscount as long as she possibly could so that she could have gowns like this.
“Yes, I think I’ll wear this one,” Flora said. She turned from the window and took Hattie’s hand. “Oh, Hattie. I’ll feel so much better with you there. You always know how to encourage me. Do you remember when we were away at school, and Ellen Comstock was determined to make me cry?”
Hattie’s brow furrowed. “You mean after you hit her?”
Flora waved a hand. “That had nothing to do with the other. But you were the one who told me that no matter what she said, I was beautiful and kind, and I should remember that Ellen only aspired to be all those things, and hence her disdain of me.”
Hattie suppressed a small gasp. Whatsheremembered was that Ellen called Flora a horrible, awful person after Flora had hit her, and Flora had felt such embarrassment that she’d burst into tears and fled to her room. Hattie had been very honest with Flora that striking anyone was wrong, but that punch was particularly mean, given that it was over the perceived affections of a boy. And that Ellen very much admired Flora made it even more egregious.
It was not the first time Flora had misconstrued what Hattie had said.
But she didn’t think about that now. Right now, she was thinking about the beautiful gown she was wearing and hoping that someone could fasten her into it.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
EVERYONEINLONDONknew that thirty lucky souls had been invited to Mr. and Mrs. Forsythe’s supper. For days, there was great speculation as to who the illustrious thirty might be. But on the day of the supper, when places in the formal dining room were set for thirty-two, tongues began to wag. Who had garnered the additional two invitations, and why?
Naturally, everyone believed it must be more young women to be introduced to the new Viscount Abbott. But in fact, it was two people who were never on any invitation list and likely would hardly be noticed at all.
One of those mysterious invitees was Hattie. She did, miraculously, manage to get into the dress she’d borrowed from Flora with the help of her mother’s part-time lady’s maid—but her corset was cinched so tight she could hardly breathe. She decided that breath was an unnecessary luxury, because she looked absolutely stunning in the dress.Stunning!Who knew such fine clothes could completely transform a person?
She was fastening a bracelet when Daniel strode into her room for a second time. Hattie’s eyes rounded with surprise when she saw her brother—he looked quite dashing in his formal suit of clothing. His hair had been trimmed and he’d fastened his neck cloth with a diamond pin—she wondered where that had come from—and the result was a very handsome, trim man.
He, too, looked a little taken aback as he surveyed her. But the surprise quickly turned to a smirk. “And where did you get that fine frock?”
“I borrowed it. Where did you get such a fine suit of clothing?”
“I bought it.” He straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “I can’t believe you’ve convinced me to go along with this charade.”
She hadn’t convinced him of a thing. He’d simply announced he must go to accompany her. He wouldn’t admit it, but hewantedto go. Daniel sometimes adopted their parents’ disdain of the Quality, but really, who wouldn’t want to mingle with them? To have a chance to see what it was like on the other side of the door?
“Come on, then. Better this is over and done.” And then, quite unlike his usual self, he held out his arm for her.
“Daniel Woodchurch. Have you been a gentleman all along and are only now revealing yourself?”
