Page 18 of The Spinster's Stolen Hear
“Well, the party tonight will have plenty of eligible gentlemen,” she promised, throwing a smile and a wink at Pippa. “And since it’ll be hosted here, we can all relax and spend some time getting to know each other. Speaking of which, this of course is my husband, Timothy.”
She laid a hand on her husband’s arm, smiling affectionately up at him. Timothy, who had been staring adoringly at his wife during this entire speech, dragged his gaze away from her to smile and nod at Pippa and Bridget.
“I’m thrilled to meet you,” he said, shaking first Pippa’s hand then her mother’s. “Katherine has talked incessantly of your visit, ever since we first learned that you were in London. I hope we’ll be friends. We have an extensive library, by the way, in case you want to borrow any books while you’re here. Unless you brought some from William’s home?”
Before Pippa could answer, Bridget spoke up again.
“Oh, I doubt Pippa and I will have time toread,” she said, smiling faintly and adding a pointed inflexion on the word. “We shall be far too busy, I’m afraid.”
Timothy’s smile wavered. “I see. What a pity.”
Pippa wanted to cringe. It seemed that the initial meeting with William and Lavinia had gone well enough to go to her mother’s head, and now she was feeling haughty about Timothy, the infamoussecond son.
“Well, I shall show you to your chambers,” Katherine said, interrupting the brief, tense moment that followed. “And Pippa, I have a little surprise for you in your room.”
***
“Oh!” Pippa gasped, snatching up the gown from where it was draped across the bottom of the bed. “Oh, it’s beautiful!”
It had, of course, occurred to Pippa that she had no dresses suitable for a fine London party. There’d been no need for showy gowns in their new life as a dowager viscountess and her daughter. Even before Philip’s death, they hadn’t gone much into Society. Over time, the dresses Pippa did have had gradually deteriorated, so that even if they hadn’t been embarrassingly out of fashion, she could hardly have worn them.
The dress Katherine had set out for her was beautiful. It was pale blue, edged with icy lace, with a daringly low neckline which skimmed her shoulders, a tight bodice, and swathes of ruched silk forming the skirts. The smooth, high-quality material slid between her fingers like water. She imagined herself wearing it and shivered with pleasure.
Perhaps it was silly to be so excited about something as simple as wearing a pretty dress, but really, Pippa thought she deserved alittleexcitement.
“It isn’t new,” Katherine warned, “But I only wore it a couple of times earlier this Season, and it is most certainly in fashion. I have some other gowns you might like to have, all from this Season. They are all worn at least once, I’m afraid, like this one. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind? Oh, Katherine, it’s beautiful. I can’t wait to wear it!” Pippa laughed, clutching the material to her chest. “It’s been so long since I…”
“Indeed, we are most grateful,” Bridget interrupted, taking the gown roughly from Pippa and tossing it onto the bed again. “Pippa, darling, you mustn’t be so excited abouteverything. Cousin Katherine will tell you that it’s simply not fashionable tocarequite so much. You don’t want people to think you’re a country girl, do you?”
Pippa’s cheeks coloured. She cleared her throat, looking away.
“Come now, Aunt Bridget, that’s a little unkind, isn’t it?” Katherine said, managing a laugh. “Society manners are so very boring, I think. Pippa will do best by being herself and beingoriginal.There’s no sense in being like everybody else, is there?”
Bridget pressed her lips together in a thin smile and said nothing.
“Now, I shall let you settle in, and then you can come and join me in the parlour for tea,” Katherine continued, smiling at Pippa. “I am glad you’re here, both of you. We have a great deal to catch up on, I think.”
She left after that, closing the door softly behind her. Once they were alone, Bridget gave a harsh, sharp laugh, throwing herself down into an armchair.
“The audacity of it,” she muttered.
Pippa went red. “Mama, what is wrong with you? You were so rude to Timothy, and to Katherine! They are ourhosts. If they tell William that we are impolite and ungrateful, we may well be packed off home!”
Bridget had the grace to blush. “I was a little sharp, mayhap, but really, Pippa, a worn dress? Could she not buy you a new gown?”
“I didn’t expect a new gown of any sort,” Pippa retorted. “She didn’t have to give her old dress either. She could have let me look like a frumpy old drab in my ordinary clothes. It wasthoughtful, Mama. And look at how lovely it is! It’s brand-new, just about. I am not complaining.”
Bridget gave amoueof displeasure. “Well, I suppose it is better than nothing. But a new gown would have been best! We’ll have to adjust this to fit you, I suppose. And try not to betoothrilled by everything at the party tonight, Pippa. It is so veryvulgar.”
Pippa clenched her jaw, the happiness of her new gown and her reunion with her cousin entirely gone.
“Yes, Mama. I shall try.”
***
The small, intimate party was nothing of the sort. At least,Pippafelt that it was nothing of the sort. The house seemed to be crowded with people, all talking and laughing. Katherine had introduced her to what felt like a horde of people, their names slipping from her mind like water.
