Page 6 of Lady Fiona's Tall, Dark Folly
"No. Because she wanted to surprise us."
Fifi blew air up and ruffled the curls over her brow. "She'll suitably surprise me if she breaks her engagement."
Mary set her gaze on Fifi. "Before next Tuesday, Fee, you must come round. Perk up. Make an effort to have fun at this party."
"I will. Don't worry."
Mary look angry, but then she often did when she said things that were...well...not quite polite. And she did that often.
"So? What's your plan?" Fifi threw her a rueful look. "Dance with a new guest?"
"More than that."
Hmm."How much more?"
"Smile. Laugh. Kiss him."
She grimaced. "If I can find one with dry lips."
"Be serious, Fee!"
"I am. Have you ever kissed a man with wet lips?" She shuddered. "Like Mister Weymouth?"
Mary wrinkled her nose. "Did you kiss him?"
"Absolutely not! He kissed me." Fifi shivered.
Mary dismissed that with a shrug. "You must show Esme that you don't care if she marries Northington."
"What? That's not true!"
"Of course not. But you must prove to her that you don't care for Northington so that he will believe it."And so will you.
Fifi put down her empty plate. "Good point. And I'll do that by... I know." She snapped her fingers. "Giving him the cut direct."
"Forget Northington. Choose another man, someone kind and sweet. Allow him to pay his attentions to you. Smile. Dance. But at any cost, do not play cards with him!"
"Very funny." Fifi shook her head and her glasses slipped. "I don't always win, you know. Last week, I lost—Never mind." She couldn't reveal that she'd gone to that hideous card parlor. "In any case, I couldn't pretend to like a man. I'm not a good actress."
"No acting involved. Just look appreciative. Interested. It'll be easy, Fee."
"How?"
"Keep to the fun of it. No kisses if you don’t want them. No disappearing into the library. Or whatever one does. Just simpering and cow eyes."
"Cow eyes? Ba! I can't see well enough to do that!"
Mary laughed.
"I'm not kidding. I failed at flirting our first year out." Fifi reached for anotherchoux. "It doesn't work."
"Oh, god, Fee! Pretend!"
Fifi regarded Mary with the perspective of ten years' of knowledge of her friend. Mary would go to this event and not have fun herself. She hardly ever did. Though Mary had never voiced it, Mary thought of herself as less than worthy. A faulty leg did not necessarily a wallflower make. Except Mary had become one. Not dancing. Not flirting. Sitting conversing with the spinsters at house parties and balls. She deserved to enjoy life. She was young, pretty and learned. Especially about plants and gardening. "I'll pretend if you will."
Mary startled. "Oh, I couldn't."
Fifi hated to see her so cloistered. "It would be easy. Isn't that what you're telling me?"
"Well, I—"
"Mary, it's simple. Smile. Dance. Play cards!"
"Nowyou'rebeing funny."
"I'm deadly serious, Mary. You do so many things to help others, but never yourself. Do this. Just once. And have a bit of fun."
Since she'd never asked much of Mary in all their years of friendship, Fifi was shocked and delighted that her friend agreed. Even if she did so, reluctantly.
