Page 65 of The Duke Who Loved a Widow
“Of course, the colour is going to suit your complexion very well indeed. A perfect choice,” added Aunt Grace.
“Now Arabella, you need to come and choose something. I’m determined you shall have a new gown for this ball,” said Aunt Grace with determination. “Have you any idea about colour or cloth?”
“Perhaps a deep rose pink or even a print in green? I hardly know what suits me anymore,” admitted Arabella.
Mrs Cribbage looked at Arabella. “Either colour would suit you. I have a green floral print; it’s a little darker than usual with some gold thread running through the material. It would bring out those golden glints in your green eyes,” declared Mrs Cribbage, sending one of the seamstresses into the back room. They returned with the bolt of cloth.
“Look here, the fine, spidery gold thread gives quite a luminous glow to the fabric. It isn’t silk, it’s a sprig muslin, so it’s light as a feather,” pointed out Mrs Cribbage.
“It’s beautiful. Almost like golden gossamer thread. The sunrise in a forest scene,” enthused Arabella.
“Well, that’s a decision then,” said Aunt Grace. “Could you make a head dress to match Lady Farrington’s gown?” she asked Mrs Cribbage. “I have the turban with a feather; Emmashall have ribbons, but I think something more individual for Arabella.”
“Of course.” Mrs Cribbage nodded her agreement. “I have an idea for that.”
Aunt Grace turned towards Elinor. “And you, my dear. Have you a head dress that will go with your gown? “
“Now that you mention it, no. I usually wear my wedding tiara, but I did want a lighter, more summery feel this time. Mrs Cribbage, could I have something made with the lace you are using for the bodice and sleeves of my gown?”
Mrs Cribbage nodded once again; she was never seen to be unprepared, and took out some fashion plates for Elinor and Arabella to look at designs of head dresses.
As the door jangled when they left the shop, they found the sun shining brightly on the village green. Aunt Grace and Emma set off to walk back to Horton Hall while Arabella joined Elinor on the pathway to Castle Montbury.
As they walked towards the vicarage, Arabella looked across the village green and felt glad that she lived here in Montbury, surrounded by family and now with this new friendship with Elinor.
Elinor occasionally resembled her brother, the duke, in subtle ways. Sometimes, she smiled in a way that reminded Arabella of the duke. They both ran their fingers through their hair when they were thinking.
It’s so strange that I think about him so many times, but it feels quite usual now, as though it is part of my everyday life. I guess that he is part of my life now. Maybe at some point, I could ask Elinor about Robert and Rosalind. She almost said something but pulled back. It weighed on her mind that Rosalind was engaged to Simon but felt a pull of possession towards Robert.
She realized Elinor was talking to her and she had been many miles away. Of course … she’s talking about preparations for the ball and ideas for the decorations. Arabella pulled herself back to the present moment and listened to Elinor.
“We can now think about decorations linked to the theme of the ball,” said Elinor. “I once went to Vauxhall pleasure gardens and liked those lanterns hanging from the trees. So, I wondered about hanging lanterns from the trees around the castle garden. It could be quite fun for the guests as they would have to walk across the drawbridge over the moat.”
“That does sound fun,” agreed Arabella. “You could have lanterns hung around the entrance hall to welcome guests, too,” she suggested.
Elinor continued, “I also had an idea while we were in the haberdashery shop. In fact, it was choosing material that made me think of this. We could hang swathes of coloured fabric around the ballroom and dining area. I’m thinking of something like a sail on a boat. It could be simple muslin fabrics; it wouldn’t need to be silk or satin.”
“I like that idea,” agreed Arabella. “You could also twist some long muslin strings around the room,” she suggested. “Yet, as I thought that, I wonder why we can’t do the same as we used to at Christmas and bring foliage in from the woods to decorate the house?”
“Arabella, I believe you are on to something. It is a midsummer ball, and we could bring the woodland into the house. If we are lucky with the weather, then we have the lantern light in the courtyard and garden. It will look lovely, yet the design is very simple.
“The estate workers can bring in the foliage and help the household staff put up the decorations. It shouldn't take more than a morning. The challenge will be finding enough lanterns. We are running out of time,” added Elinor.
“You live in a castle, so you could have rush torches outside along the walls. I believe they are simple to make,” Arabella said, warming to the task.
“I’ll ask Jason Brown about it. In fact, I believe I’ll put him in charge of organizing the rush torches and the foliage,” said Elinor.
“The theme can be the same throughout all the rooms. You’re doing the same as you would at Christmas, but with different garlands. You could even tuck some flowers into the garlands.”
“I’m getting quite excited,” said Elinor. “I was a little worried, I confess after Mama decided to abandon a formal supper for her hot finger buffet. I wondered if people would think we hadn’t bothered as much.”
“Far from it. I believe it’s quite a clever idea. I’ve always found taking several hours out of a ball to sit and eat at the table tedious. This way, there will still be an abundance of food, with lots of choices, and we can all dance for much longer,” Arabella reassured Elinor.
“Perhaps next time we meet, we could think about how I instruct Chalston, the butler, and our housekeeper, Mrs Slater to set up this supper table. I would like it to link with the other decorations. As it is a new approach, it needs to look impressive.”
“I don’t think it will be difficult. It’s going to look like an enchanted forest. I suspect this will be a fairy tale ball,” Arabella encouraged Elinor.
“Oh, Arabella. I do hope so.” Elinor clapped her hands in delight. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
