“I shall not have opportunity to even try this on,” she murmured, half to herself as the maids looked on, wide eyed. “There is little point.” Sighing, she gestured to her sister’s bedchamber. “Please, set the gown out onto my sister’s bed. I have every expectation that it will be hers regardless of my own thoughts.”
Just as she said this, another maid appeared at the door, quickly begging Rachel to go to speak with Lady Carmichael about an urgent matter. Sighing inwardly, Rachel nodded and then stepped out into the hallway in search of her mother.
Bettina had won again.
Chapter One
Rachel looked down at her yellow gown and let out a small sigh. Their mother had already decided that Bettina would be given whatever it was she wanted, and thus Rachel had been resigned – nay, forced to wear the yellow gown. It was their first ball of the London season, having made their presentation to the King the previous day, but unfortunately, she now looked pale and drawn. Bettina, on the other hand, looked absolutely beautiful in the light green gown which somehow suited her absolutely perfectly despite Rachel’s previous protestations. It was unfortunate that the gown suited her so well, for Bettina had crowed over her success whilst Rachel had had no opportunity to make even the smallest murmur of complaint. Even if she had tried, she would have been silenced. On their way here, their father, the Viscount Carmichael, had made a comment on how pretty Bettina looked, while saying nothing to Rachel herself.
That had hurt. What had come thereafter, after their arrival at the ball, had pained her all the more.
“Good evening, Miss Grifford.”
Rachel turned just to see a young lady smiling at her. She could not, however, recall the young lady’s name though she did know her face, and the flush which came into her cheeks was one of embarrassment as she tried to smile. “Good evening.” Forcing her smile to grow bigger, she gestured to the room around them. “Are you enjoying the ball this evening?”
“I am.” The young lady’s smile grew, her blue eyes twinkling with a sudden good humor. “Tel me, do you recall where we met?”
The smile on the lady’s face was one which told Rachel that she had to be honest. “I am afraid I do not, for which Iam highly ashamed and deeply apologetic,” Rachel replied, her embarrassment sending prickling up her spine. “Goodness, you must think very poorly of me.”
“Not in the least,” the young lady replied, her eyes still twinkling. “There are so many people present and it can be hard to remember from one Season to the next!”
This remark made Rachel frown. “Though I have not been to any other season thus far.”
The young lady’s eyebrow lifted as she smiled. “Then can you recall where we met?”
Rachel chuckled. “Well, I do not think that we can have met in London, which means that we must have met at my father's estate or… ”
“Or at my father's estate?” came the reply, and the young lady laughed, seeing the dawn of recognition on Rachel’s expression. “Do you recall me now?”
Rachel nodded fervently. “Yes, I remember now! But of course, I am so very sorry that I forgot, Miss Renfrew. How delighted I am to see you again and especially here in London! I do recall that your father's house party was very enjoyable indeed.”
The young lady laughed again, her red curls dancing this way and that as she shook her head. “Please do not apologise. It was a very enjoyable time and I am very glad that our friendship – which was only just beginning to blossom – can continue through the London Season.” She looked all around Rachel before turning her gaze back towards her. “Might I ask where your sister is? I do hope she is present.”
“Yes she is present, but she has gone with my mother and father to be introduced to one particular gentleman.” Rachel watched at the confusion sparked in Miss Renfrew’s eyes, no doubt wondering why Rachel had not been invited to go and be introduced to this gentleman also. She could not give ananswer to an unasked question, for though Lady Carmichael had made it quite clear that Rachel was to remain exactly where she was – which was at the back of the room, hidden in the shadows –whyshe was not also to be introduced to this gentleman, Rachel had not understood. As she had stood there, watching the other guests at the ball, she had surmised that it was simply because her mother and father hoped there might be a glimmer of interest between this gentleman and Bettina. Clearly, Rachel might be considered a possible distraction so thus, this introduction didnotrequire Rachel’s presence in any way whatsoever. Bettina was to be the only noticeable person present, the only one worthy of any interest, and thus Rachel was to linger in the shadows.
That had brought a good deal of sadness to her heart but Rachel had attempted to force such feelings away. This was to be expected, she had told herself. Whatever Bettina required, Bettina would be given.
“I understand it is a little unusual for me to be standing here alone,” she found herself saying, the pain beginning to grow within her heart all over again. “They are going to introduce my sister to this gentleman without my presence, though I do not understand why. However, I am sure it is for a good reason.” She tried to laugh, but it came out a little brittle sound. “Whatever purpose my mother has, it will be to benefit my sister.”
“I quite understand.”
“Bettina is the eldest,” Rachel replied softly, finding herself eager to give some sort of explanation, embarrassed to see the curiosity in Miss Renfrew’s eyes. “It makes sense that she will be pushed forward.”
“I am sure that is so,” Miss Renfrew replied, her smile a little sympathetic. “But does that mean that you must stand here alone until they return?” One eyebrow arched. “Might you bepermitted to walk around the room with me? As you may have noticed, I do not have a chaperone either.”
Rachel’s eyebrows lifted, surprise catching at her chest. “Goodness. No, I had not noticed.”
“What say you, then?”
A happiness flooded Rachel’s heart, pushing away her upset. “I suppose there could be no trouble in walking around the ballroom, no,” she said slowly, thinking about how quickly her mother and father had dismissed her. The way her parents treated her with such disdain and disinterest made Rachel believe that neither of them would even notice that she was gone from where they had left her. Perhaps they would not even notice until the end of the ball! A wry smile tipped her lips as she nodded. “Yes, I think I shall. It will be a good deal better than standing here quietly!” So saying, she stepped forward and walked alongside Miss Renfrew as they began to make their way around the ballroom. All the same, they kept themselves to the side of the ballroom rather than walking near to where the dancing was taking place.
“Might I ask, Miss Renfrew, where your father is this evening? Is your mother not with you, rather than with him?”
It took Miss Renfrew a moment to answer. “My mother is with my sister who is presently nursing her first child.”
“Oh, how wonderful.”
“I thank you. It is good news.” Miss Renfrew smiled warmly. “Therefore, my mother considered it a greater duty to be with my sister than to be with me, though my father did promise her that he would do the very best he could to secure me a match.”