“The vouchers are extremely difficult to obtain. You have to know the right people,” Miss Harrington said. She smoothed her ruffles complacently. “Mama is second cousin to a duke, you know. Naturally, she knows all the right people.”
Izzy instantly vowed that by hook or by crook they would somehow obtain vouchers for Almack’s.
“Who is sponsoring you?” Miss Harrington asked. “Your mother?”
“No, Mama is dead,” Clarissa said.
“And Papa died a year ago,” Izzy added.
“So who is sponsoring you? Not that crazy old lady, I hope.”
“If you mean Lady Scattergood—our hostess—she’s not in the least bit crazy, and I won’t have her spoken of so disrespectfully,” Izzy said.
Miss Harrington pouted, then said pettishly, “I’m sure I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m only repeating what everybody says.”
“Well, don’t, because ‘everybody’ is wrong,” Izzy said.
Miss Harrington pouted again. She glanced from Izzyto Clarissa and back again. “You don’t look much like sisters to me.”
“No,” Clarissa said pleasantly. “I take after my mother and Izzy looks like our father. Do you have any brothers and sisters, Miss Harrington?”
“No, I am an only child.”
“What a pity,” Clarissa said. “It must be so lonely.”
Miss Harrington looked surprised. “Not at all. I prefer it that way.”
“Really? I don’t know what I’d do without Izzy.”
“Milly, Milly darling, where are you?” a fretful voice called from the garden.
Miss Harrington stood up. “That’s Mama. I must be off. She dotes on me, you know, and worries if I’m gone too long.” She glanced at Izzy again. “But you shouldn’t be burning candles in here. They’re dangerous.”
“Nonsense,” Izzy retorted. She’d placed the candles carefully.
“And the gentle glow they make is so pretty, much prettier than a lantern,” Clarissa said.
“Well, just make sure you put them out before you leave,” Miss Harrington said and flounced out.
“Bossy cow,” Izzy said. “As if we don’t know better than to leave candles burning unattended.”
“Perhaps she’s just a bit awkward meeting new people,” Clarissa suggested.
Izzy laughed. “Yes, as awkward as a rhinoceros. Ah well, you wanted to meet more of our neighbors. At least so far they’re balanced.”
“Balanced?”
“Two delightful and two abominable. I say two, because I can’t imagine Mama Harrington is any better than her toplofty daughter. We have to get vouchers for Almack’s, ’Riss, we just have to.”
Clarissa sighed. “I know. But how?”
“I’ll think of something.”
***
The following morning they were washing their hands and tidying their hair after walking the dogs with Jeremiah, when their maid, Betty, knocked at the door. “Beggin’ your pardon, misses, but the carriage to take you to the dressmaker’s is at the front door. And Lady Scattergood says Jeremiah and me are to go with you.” She bounced up and down on her toes. “I ain’t never been to any dressmaker’s shop, let alone a proper posh London one.”
Izzy and Clarissa hurried to don hats and pelisses. They were as excited as Betty.
