“Besides, you don’t love Rupert,” Sirena said. “You’ve always said he was like a brother to you.”
“Yes, but I am comfortable with him, and he does whatever I tell him,” Allegra admitted frankly.
Mr. Trent swallowed a guffaw at this remark.
“Upstairs with you both!” Lady Abbott ordered. Then she turned to the butler. “Marker, send a footman to Madame Paul’s to say we have arrived and would like a fitting on the girls’ gowns as soon as possible. They certainly cannot be seen in public in such old-fashioned country clothing.”
“Yes, m’lady,” the butler replied with a bow.
They easily settled into the house on Berkley Square, but late that same afternoon they had a visitor as they sat in the gardens enjoying the sunshine. Marker came with the card, and offered it to Lady Abbott.
“Good gracious!” she exclaimed, paling. Then, “Of course Iamat home to Lady Bellingham. Show her out here at once! Girls, your very best behavior,please!Clarice Bellingham is one of the arbiters of both fashion and society in London. If she approves of you, you will be given entry to everywhere that is important.”
“And if she does not?” Allegra inquired.
“Your season will be a total failure, my dear child,” Lady Bellingham said, coming into the garden. She was a tall, handsome woman dressed in the height of fashion. “They all listen to me, although frankly I do not know why, but there it is. How do you do, Olympia? It has been four years since you brought a daughter to London.” Lady Bellingham plunked her ample frame onto a marble bench, looking about her as she did so. “Septimius has the finest gardener in all of London. I don’t know anyone else’s garden that looks so beautiful.” She stopped speaking for a moment to catch her breath and gaze sharply at the two young girls in her view.
“I-it is good to see you, Clarice,” Lady Abbott said, regaining her composure. “No, I haven’t been up to London since Amanda made her bow. I am a countrywoman at heart, I fear. And then, too, London is not the same without my dear husband. Marker, tea, please.”
“I suppose I should miss Bellingham if he went and died on me,” Lady Bellingham remarked dryly. “I shouldn’t like to take a backseat to that featherbrain my son is married to, but fortunately my good husband seems to be in grand health, praise God! How are Augustus and his Charlotte? That marriage was executed quickly, and we were all quite certain…” She paused, and then continued, “Well, you know what everyone was thinking, Olympia. Yet here it is several years later, and she has not produced.”
“We continue to hope, and pray,” Lady Abbott said weakly. She had forgotten what a whirlwind Clarice Bellingham could be.
“Now introduce me to these two fetching young creatures. Who is the outspoken one, and who is the gentle one, as if I didn’t already know,” she chuckled.
“This is Miss Allegra Morgan, my niece.”
Allegra curtsied politely, although her cheeks were still warm from having been overheard; and now to be called outspoken was most embarrassing.
“Not Pandora’s gel?Well, she’s certainly a rare beauty. I suppose as her father’s heiress we can expect she will be a great success,” Lady Bellingham pronounced quite candidly. “How d’do, Miss Morgan.”
“How do you do, madame,” Allegra replied as another rush of heat suffused her face. Lady Bellingham had called herPandora’s girl. Did they all have such sharp memories? She supposed so. It was interesting that they could remember her mother when she could not.
“And this is my youngest, Lady Sirena Abbott.”
Sirena made her curtsy to Lady Bellingham, giving her a shy smile as she did so.
“How d’do, my dear,” the formidable lady said. Then she turned to Lady Abbott. “She will certainly be an Incomparable, Olympia. She is the loveliest of your three gels,” and then seeing Sirena flush with pleasure, Lady Bellingham said, “Why, child, has no one ever told you that?”
“No, madame,” Sirena replied.
“Well, you are, and I have seen both Caroline and Amanda. The elder has shoulders a bit too broad, and the other’s nose was a bit too retroussé, I fear. Still, they did well in the husband hunt, but you, I suspect, will do better.” She turned her attention back to Lady Abbott. “She has a respectable dowry? I know how selfish Charlotte is, and how she must begrudge this lovely child.”
“Fortunately Arthur left monies in his will for both Sirena’s season and her dowry. It is identical to that ofmy two elder daughters, and more than adequate,” Lady Abbott said proudly.
“And being in the company of her cousin won’t hurt either,” the redoubtable lady replied. “I assume Septimius is giving them both a ball? What a house this is for entertaining! What a pity it is only used by Lord Morgan when he is in town managing his many affairs.”
“My father does not cheesepare, madame,” Allegra spoke up boldly. “Of course he will give a ball for both of us. Sirena’s will be at the beginning of May, and mine at the end of that month. If you wish to know the dates, I can call Mr. Trent. He keeps track of such matters for us.”
“Allegra!”Lady Abbott’s voice was anguished.
“Bless me, the gel is hardly shy,” Lady Bellingham chuckled. “Don’t scold her, Olympia. I like her. She is not the usual simpering miss I meet each season.” Her gaze swung about to Allegra. “Have Charles Trent check with me regarding the dates of your balls, my dear. You don’t want to find out when it is too late that there is a more important event those nights. And you will want Prinny at your balls. Nothing adds the stamp of success to a gel’s own ball than having Prinny there.”
“Tea, m’lady?” Marker asked, prepared to pour from the silver pot.
“Gracious, yes!” Lady Bellingham replied. “Septimius keeps the best store of tea in town, I am told.” She sniffed the steam arising from the cup that Marker had handed her. “Ohh, yes!” she approved and, spilling some into her deep saucer, sipped. “Ah, indeed!”
Lady Abbott felt weak with relief. Clarice Bellingham had approved both of the girls despite Allegra’s quick tongue. Their entry into society was therefore assured. She sipped her own tea, and once fortified said, “It is so nice of you to call on us, Clarice. I cannot take the girlsout until their new wardrobes are ready. We must not make a bad impression, or give rise to jealous gossip from the other mamas.”
