Page 31 of Kissing the Debutant
Lillian sat in her spring dress, a gauzy purple fabric, tapered at the waist with pink rosebuds decorating the full skirt. Her mother’s hair dresser had blown out and curled her long blond hair, draping it over her shoulders.
After so long of wearing her usual buns, it was a strange feeling when the strands grazed her neck. She brushed a hand through it, hearing her mother’s voice in her head. “Don’t touch your hair. Sit up straight. Don’t slouch. Act as though holding a penny between your knees.”
Lillian crossed her ankles, trying to get comfortable in the high-backed golden chair around a table full of girls who looked no more comfortable than her. She knew some of them from their years in Lexington society. Their mothers were friends, and so they were expected to be too. Most of the girls attended various private schools, some close to home and others far away like Lillian in Ohio.
But they all came back for debutant events. Soon, they’d walk down the gilded staircase to prove themselves to be women of substance and no longer girls.
Meagan Sanders set her water goblet down and let her eyes fall on Lillian. “You’re quiet today, Lillian.”
She was always quiet, never joining in on the gossip these ladies enjoyed. “I’m just taking it all in.” They’d listened to a keynote speech about philanthropy for an hour before the food was even served. Now, Lillian waited until she could politely leave.
“Well,” Susan Carmichael started, flipping thick, black hair over one shoulder. “My mother told me you have an audition for the American Ballet Company.”
Excited chatter wound around the table, and Lillian averted her eyes. “Yes, that’s true.”
Meagan smiled at her. “My mother wishes I’d follow in her footsteps as a lawyer. She’s always bragging to me about how Lillian Preston takes after her mother and wondering why I can’t do the same.”
Lillian’s mother would take some pleasure in the envy of her friends, but it only turned Lillian’s stomach sour. They were right. She’d always done whatever her mother asked of her. Would she continue to do so for the rest of her life?
Susan leaned forward conspiratorially. “Tell us, Lillian, how is Defiance Academy? I tried to convince my mother to send me there, but she wouldn’t.” Lillian knew the truth. Susan wasn’t accepted into the academy.
“It’s fine.”
“Fine? You go to school with the children of billionaires, diplomats, and celebrities. That’s more than fine.”
The line of questioning made Lillian uncomfortable. She’d never paid attention to the kids in her classes. To her, they were peers, not people to be revered. Sure, Wylder had a famous brother. She knew kids from the academy would end up playing professional sports and creating apps or vaccines or a million other important contributions to society.
And all she’d do was dance.
One shoulder lifted in a shrug. “Honestly, no one acts any different at school.”
“That’s so cool.” Meagan sighed. “They’re so normal.”
“Well, yes.” Why wouldn’t her classmates be normal? She thought of the high walls around campus and the strict rules meant to protect the important students from the press or anyone else who’d try to get to them. Maybe it wasn’t as normal as she’d thought.
She caught sight of her mother talking with the keynote speaker at the front of the room and shot from her chair. Setting her napkin on the table, she gave the other girls a tight smile before crossing the room, winding through tables to get to her mother.
“I’m ready to go, Mom.” Lillian stopped in front of her.
Her mom turned toward her. “No, dear. It’s early. It is rude to leave now.”
Lillian glanced at the clock on the wall. She’d expected this to be over by now and only had about an hour and a half to make it to the dance studio on time. If they left now and didn’t hit traffic, they could do it. “Please, Mom. I was hoping to fit in a practice this afternoon.”
Her mom huffed out a sigh. “Fine. Driving you back early suits me, anyway. I can get back in time for bridge club.”
“Great, let’s go.”
Lillian said a few quick goodbyes on her way out and could finally breathe again as they stepped into the parking lot. Her heels clacked across the pavement. She hated wearing heels because of the damage they could do to her feet—feet she needed to protect for her future as a dancer. Once debutant season was over, she’d throw away every pair she owned.
There was no point going back to their house because Lillian’s bag was already in the car, so she convinced her mom to head straight for the highway. It was only when Lexington was in the rearview mirror she smiled.
All weekend, she’d thought of dancing with Jack again. It might not work out, but she was ready for something new, something challenging.
“Have you chosen an escort yet?”
That was not the challenge Lillian wanted. “No.” She slumped down in her seat.
“That’s not a problem, dear. I can ask my friends if any of their sons will be available to attend. We will not let you go unescorted. If worse comes to worst, Charles can take you.”
