* * *
May 1,1833
Old North Road
Mina stared out the window of the Rumsford carriage as the endless green fields of Essex sped past. She pressed her nose against the glass and dreaded when the coachman would give her the “look” he’d always given her since she was a toddler when she’d imprinted his sparkling clean windows with the unmistakable outline of the end of her nose.
Since Sir Cinnamon’s son had come along, his nose also pressed against the glass. He’d stretched up to the window, his back paws pushing against her lap, to enjoy the view as well.
Beside her, Lucy stirred from a nap, and on the seat across from her, Bridget yawned and leaned closer to the window to get a look for herself. They rarely ventured this far from Montcliffe Abbey, and for once, everyone was as jittery as Mina.
Her papa’s close friend, Sir Thomas, had convinced his mother, Lady Fitzroy, to prepare Mina and Lucy for their first (and only) Season. She’d already sent them a detailed list of what to bring and the kind of behavior she expected from them. Mina wanted to cast up her accounts just thinking about the woman who could make or break a young woman’s entry into society with a mere shake or nod of her head.
Lucy’s smile was as contagious as the early spring sun outside. “Will your mother join us, do you think?”
“Heavens forfend.” Mina threw up her hands. “The last thing we need is my mother.” Viscountess Anne Tindall had decided to stay as far away as possible during her daughter’s first Season, apparently hoping if she were absent, everyone would forget the gossip. She’d left on an impromptu trip to France to enhance her wardrobe, she’d claimed.
Although Mina’s friend, Lucy, was the daughter of shopkeepers, her deceased parents had left an estate of fifty pounds a year for her to claim at her majority. There were minor members of thetonwho might be interested in her income, and so Mina’s papa had decided Lucy should have a Season as well. He was going to underwrite all of her dressmaking expenses as well.
Mina loved Lucy like a sister and was relieved to have a companion to help her prop up the back wall with the other wallflowers at the many balls and routs they’d be expected to attend.
If only they were able to survive Lady Fitzroy’s tutelage.
* * *
June 1,1833
Rumsford Townhouse, Mayfair
Bridget tested the curling iron with a bit of spit on one of her fingers. “It’s ready,” she pronounced. “Come sit, and please don’t fidget, milady.”
Mina flung her hands behind her and dipped her head over the back of her chair. “It’s the second ball this week. Why do we have to go to so many of these events? I’m tired of smiling all the time and pretending I enjoy being ignored with the rest of the wallflowers lined up around the room.”
“Never you mind, my girl. You are meant for great things, but you’ll never succeed unless you get over here and let me crimp your hair.”
An hour later she and Lucy were in the same line of the never-asked-to-dance young women of theton. Lucy had made a game of whiling the time away during all the dances by making the acquaintance of the other girls who were in the same situation as they were.
“Did you know Elizabeth Gellen is a writer? She’s even been published.” Lucy was all aglow in her pink satin ballgown with sleeves so puffed, she’d need someone to help fill her plate at supper.
“Good for her. I’m happy she’s found a fulfilling way to support herself, because if I’m not mistaken, all of us…” She spread her arms wide to take in the army of wallflowers lined to either side of them. “…most of the young women in this line will have to figure out a way to survive without a husband.”
There was a wave of murmurs among the line of women patiently waiting to be asked to dance. Mina assumed they were considering their options, but then Julian loped into view. A hum of whispers and tittering arose when he approached Mina and Lucy.
“Why are you here, Your Grace?” Mina believed in getting to the point as soon as possible with Julian, because his rambling form of speech often took ten minutes or more to circle around to what he was trying to say.
“I…um…I…came to provide you young ladies a service.”
She was immediately suspicious. “What sort of service?”
“Well…I was trying to figure out how I could…sort of…that is…I know you need help…”
“You must stop blithering, Your Grace. Someone might think you’re having a fit of apoplexy.”
“I thought I should point out a number of gentlemen here at the ball that, um, you two young ladies might want to avoid.”
With a deep sigh, Mina signaled with a dismissive hand gesture that he might as well continue.
The smile that illuminated his face vied with the glow of the candle sconces lining the wall. “Are you quite sure?”
