Jane Ashford (21 page)

Her husband made some commonplace reply, and only Thalia and Mrs. Wellfleet noticed Aggie’s sudden flush. For the latter, it confirmed something she had wanted to know. Thalia was merely bewildered.

The countess offered refreshment and began to tell their guests about the ball. They were suitably appreciative, and when that subject was exhausted, Aggie asked about the children and received a full report. She had found that she missed George and Alice very much, and she was glad to hear something of their doings.

After half an hour, the Wellfleets took their leave, promising to come early on the night of the ball and dine. When they were gone, everyone declared that they were among the nicest couples they had ever met, to Aggie’s gratification. As the sisters walked together up the stairs to change for dinner a little later, Euphie neatly summed up everyone’s feelings. “If the ball were not the next day but one, I should positively burst!”

The sentiment was so general that Aggie did not even reprove her for using slang.

On the night before the ball, Lady Fanshawe went out alone. As she pulled on her gloves in the drawing room before going down to the carriage, she told the Hartington sisters, “I am sorry, my dears, not to take you to the duchess’s musical evening, but it can’t be helped. You know I want you to wait until tomorrow for your debut; the effect will be so much greater.”

Euphie looked at the older woman speculatively. She understood the countess’s plan for the ball, but she did not see why she was going out tonight. Lady Fanshawe was not fond enough of ton parties to go alone. “Is the duchess a particular friend of yours?” asked the girl innocently.

“Oh, no.” Lady Fanshawe worked the final finger into her kid gloves and picked up her fan and reticule.

“I suppose the entertainment must be something quite out of the ordinary, then,” said Euphie.

The countess smiled, “Hardly.” And, seeing Euphie open her mouth to speak again: “If you must know, Euphie, I am going to this dreary party expressly to prepare the way for our ball tomorrow.”

“What do you mean?”

Lady Fanshawe looked away. “Well, you know I have kept our plans very dark up to now. I didn’t want the gossips nosing around and spoiling the surprise. Now it is too late for that, and our guests must know
something
about the three of you beforehand. Your family and your… your situation, you see. So, I am going…” She trailed off.

“You are going to this party to gossip about us!” cried Euphie. “Lady Fanshawe!” A smile, sternly repressed, played about her mouth. It was echoed by Thalia.

Her sharp eyes catching these signs, the countess chuckled. “You may put it that way, if you must.”

“It seems, ah, a little devious,” murmured Aggie.

Thalia turned to look at her older sister, and her smile faded. “Does it?”

“Well, it isn’t,” retorted Euphie very positively. “And even if it were, other people won’t hesitate to gossip about us. We must fight back.”

Thalia blushed painfully, reminded of Lady Agnes and the talk she had started.

Aggie paled a little but said, “Because others behave badly does not make it right for
us
.”

The countess, setting her lips, replied, “Perhaps not. And you needn’t. But I am all the more determined to go out.” She turned toward the door. “I shall let them know, with great discretion of course, that you are three of the wealthiest girls in London, and from one of the finest families. We shall see what the Lady Agneses have to say to
that
. Spiteful little cat!” And with this, she went out.

Aggie made a small noise and put a hand to her throat.

“I know,” responded Euphie. “But I really do think it is best. Lady Fanshawe can make everything clear, and then we won’t have any more worries. How comfortable it is to be rich; no one will dare talk against us.”

Thalia laughed shortly, but Aggie continued to look upset. Had her sisters been a little less preoccupied with their own concerns, they would certainly have noticed it, and made her tell them what was wrong.

***

The night of the ball was warm and fine. The Hartingtons ate their dinners in a daze and went upstairs immediately afterward to put the last touches on their toilettes. At the countess’s insistence, they all wore the same model gown, a pale pale primrose with tiny sleeves and a wide skirt trimmed with ribbons of deep gold. With it, they wore matching slippers and strands of pearls purchased for the occasion, and carried small bunches of deep yellow roses. With their russet hair and glowing eyes, this scheme was dazzling. The countess, in lavender, looked elegant and superior.

By nine, they stood in the arched entrance of the ballroom. Lady Fanshawe had arranged the girls in a close line behind her, Aggie first. She had placed them so that an approaching guest would not see them until the last moment, and then he would see them all at once.

“Well, my dears,” she said when they were ready, “now we shall see.” In the next moment, Jenkins announced the first arrivals, and it began.

The next hour was everything Lady Fanshawe could have wished. Carefully primed by remarks dropped the previous evening, the ton turned out to see the three wealthy and wellborn sisters taken under the countess’s wing. One by one, they were astonished by the Hartington girls’ beauty and poise. There were murmured references to the dazzling Gunning sisters, who had taken London by storm fifty years ago. And in a very short time the combination of the Hartingtons’ names and appearance had led to the inevitable result—they were “The Three Graces” forever after.

The Wellfleets had stationed themselves near the doorway to watch. Anne Wellfleet appeared delighted by each new reaction. A guest would come to the outer door, cross the hall as Jenkins announced him stentoriously, and walk smiling toward Lady Fanshawe. Just before he reached the countess, he would catch sight of the Hartington girls and freeze. Not even the most blasé and controlled managed to hide a pause, a blink, and a look of dazzlement. And many showed much stronger reactions. Alex Wellfleet laughed aloud at one young man, who was so overcome he couldn’t even speak.

The arrival of Lady Agnes Crewe and her parents was a tense moment. The older couple exhibited the usual surprise, but Lady Agnes was absolutely astounded. She stared at Thalia, then at her sisters, with open mouth, and continued to look at them even after her group had walked into the ballroom beyond.

Euphie couldn’t help giggling. “She looked exactly like a stuffed parrot,” she whispered. “We have silenced her.”

“I daresay she’ll find her tongue,” murmured Thalia dryly, as they turned to be introduced to the next guest.

No one else of note came in for several minutes. Then Thalia was amazed to see a tall imposing woman approaching, accompanied by a gangly blond girl. “Oh…” she gulped. Her sisters looked at her, and Lady Fanshawe said, “My dears, allow me to introduce Mrs. Elguard and her daughter Amanda.”

Aggie and Euphie opened their eyes very wide; Thalia struggled for words, but before any of them could speak, Mrs. Elguard surged forward. Taking both Thalia’s hands, she cried, “But we need no introduction, do we, my dear Miss Hartington? We are old friends! How
are
you? I am so delighted to see you in London.” She cocked her head. “And so will someone else be, when I write and tell him of it.” She attempted a roguish smile.

Thalia’s jaw dropped. And her sisters stared at Mrs. Elguard incredulously. They had heard the story of this lady’s treatment of their sister. But before they could say anything, Mrs. Elguard was sweeping her daughter on into the ballroom. “I shall look forward to a cozy chat later on,” she cried over her shoulder.

“Cozy chat!” exclaimed Euphie. “Why, that old—”

“Shhh!” hissed Thalia.

“Why should I be quiet? She deserves that everyone should know how monstrous she is. She has heard about the money, of course.”

“Perhaps so,” whispered Thalia, “but I do not wish everyone to know my part in the business. Please.”

At this, Euphie closed her lips tight.

Lady Fanshawe was looking about the room. “I think we may leave the door now. Nearly everyone seems to have arrived, and we must start the dancing. Come along, I will—”

But just then Jenkins announced, “Lord Fanshawe,” and they all turned back to greet their hostess’s son.

He held out a hand. “Good evening, Mother,” he said. “You are looking…” At this point, he saw the Hartingtons. He blinked, but his control was so good that he did no more. Rather, he smoothly finished his sentence, “…splendid tonight.”

“Thank you, Giles. You have not met Euphie’s sisters, I think? This is Miss Aglaia Hartington, and Miss Thalia Hartington.”

The earl bowed. “Your parents were prophets.”

“That’s what everyone says,” replied Euphie rather rudely.

Lord Fanshawe smiled. “I am amazed they can manage so much, after the sight of the three of you. A magnificent arrangement, Mother. I compliment you.”

“Yes. But we are going to open the dancing, Giles, if you will excuse me.”

“Certainly. But might I still claim the dance, Miss Hartington? Or are you all engaged?”

They were not, but Aggie looked uncertain. It was very proper that he should ask her first, of course, as the oldest. But he was much better acquainted with her sister.

“That would be splendid, Giles,” answered the countess. “I thought to get young Barrington, since you don’t usually dance. But if you mean to tonight, you will do very well. Take Aggie along, and I will find partners for the others.”

The earl offered his arm, and after a moment, Aggie took it and walked away with him. Lady Fanshawe shepherded the others toward a group in the corner and beckoned imperiously to first one young man, then another. They came very willingly. The countess performed introductions, sent the two couples to join Aggie, and went to speak to the orchestra.

The music began, and the Hartington sisters opened their first ball. With their pale dresses and bright hair, they made a lovely picture as they swayed in the movements of the dance. After a while, other couples joined in, and soon the ballroom was full.

Lord Fanshawe looked down at his partner with interest. The sisters did not really resemble each other, despite the first impression that they were alike. The eldest was probably the most beautiful, and her face showed a placidity lacking in the others. “You and your sisters have created quite a sensation tonight, Miss Hartington,” he said, looking around the ballroom. Everyone’s attention was on
the girls.

Aggie looked down. “It was your mother’s scheme.”

“Did you not enjoy it?”

She raised wide blue eyes to his face. “Oh, well, of course.”

Lord Fanshawe began to feel a little bored. “This is your first stay in London, I understand.”

“Yes, we lived in the country for most of our lives.”

“Do you like the city?”

“I, ah, hardly know. But I think I prefer the country.”

“Why is that?”

“Oh, well, it is so much more, ah, pleasant.”

Lord Fanshawe sighed and began to wish the set would end.

When at last it did, his mother was besieged by young men begging for introductions to her charges. She looked very pleased with herself as she selected three and presented them. And this scene was repeated each time the dancing ended; clearly the Hartington sisters had made a hit.

For the set before supper, the countess chose carefully. Aggie was paired with a very eligible peer and Thalia with an extremely wealthy young man who had no title but a charming personality. She was just looking for a suitable partner for Euphie when she saw her son approach the youngest sister and claim her hand. “That’s all right, then,” she murmured to herself, and went to see about the buffet.

“What a splendid party,” said Euphie as they started to dance. “I always knew I should be fond of balls.”

“Did you?” replied the earl, smiling.

“Oh, yes. Even when we were still at home with my aunt, I was sure of it. And I was right. I am so happy I could shout.”

“Do,” he urged.

“Oh, no. I mean to behave with the strictest propriety, so that those forbidding ladies will give us vouchers for Almack’s and everyone will think the Hartington girls ‘unexceptionable, my dear.’”

She said these last words in such a convincing and comic imitation of one of the more starched-up society dames that Lord Fanshawe laughed outright. “You are in high spirits,” he said. “I have not seen you so animated before.”

“Of course I am. How often does a girl attend her first ball? But don’t tell anyone.”

“Tell?”

“That I am excited. One is supposed to be very bored and take everything for granted, isn’t one?”

He laughed again. “Who told you so?”

“Oh, no one. It is just the impression I get from some of the modish ladies. When your aunt introduced us to Princess Lieven and Mrs. Drummond-Burrell, I thought they would nod off in boredom.”

He looked around to where these haughtiest patronesses of Almack’s sat and then turned back to answer Euphie’s smile. “I see.”

“So we must try to seem quite drowsy too, I daresay.” She assumed a comical expression of utter boredom. “I told Aggie and Thalia so.”

“And what did they say?”

“Oh, Aggie said I was ridiculous, of course. She is so wonderfully proper. And Thalia quoted Pope.”

“Alexander Pope?”

“Yes. She is always quoting. I forget what it was. Something about the fickleness of fashion.”

“She is your learned sister, I remember.”

Euphie nodded happily. She was suddenly conscious of an even greater feeling of contentment than that engendered by the ball. She realized then that this was the first time she had chatted with Lord Fanshawe in weeks.

“Daunting.”

The girl looked surprised. “She isn’t at all. How can you say so when you have hardly spoken to her?”

“I beg pardon.” Lord Fanshawe watched her face for a moment. “You were glad to see your sisters, weren’t you? You are much happier and livelier now that they have come.”

“Of course I am glad. We have always been together. And no one laughs with me as they do.”

He nodded to himself.

The music ended, and the dancers slowly moved toward the supper room. Euphie urged the earl toward her sisters and their partners. “Let us all eat together,” she said. He agreed.

Just as the group was passing under the archway that led to the dining room, a slight dark girl came up to them hesitantly. “Miss Hartington…” she began.

“Mary Deming!” exclaimed Thalia. “How glad I am to see you. Euphie told me you were in town, and I looked for you earlier.”

“W-we were late. And then you were so busy dancing that I… that is, I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“Nonsense. Come and have supper with us. We must have a cozy talk.”

“Oh. I… I don’t know.” Mary looked toward where her mother sat.

“Is your partner waiting for you?”

“No.” The younger girl flushed. “I haven’t one.”

Thalia frowned, then took her arm. “Come on, then. We’ll find a vacant table.”

Supper was a jolly meal. Thalia and Euphie sparkled in their different ways, while Aggie watched with a smile and an occasional supporting word. After a while, even Mary Deming relaxed and joined the conversation. The two older girls’ partners were obviously entranced, and Lord Fanshawe looked extremely entertained. He looked from one lovely face to the other.