“So the weather is looking acceptable, then?”
In her room, Cherry stared from the window as her maid began to gather the necessary items suitable for a young lady attending a small country dance.
“Beautiful evening, Miss Cherry. Air’s warm, and likely a bright sunset, Cook says.” She shook out a petticoat energetically, making the material snap to attention. “Cook’s always had a good eye for the weather, as you know…”
“Indeed,” answered Cherry, trying not to sigh audibly. Her last hope of a violent thunderstorm postponing the event was fading with the onset of what was shaping up to be just as her maid predicted…a beautiful evening. Damnation.
It wasn’t that she wanted to avoid Garrett. She enjoyed his company, and yes, she really enjoyed the odd little feeling she got when he kissed her.
But her intention was to steer well clear of the mothers who would, in all likelihood, make both hers and Garrett’s evening awkward, to say the least.
The village hall, where the dance would be held, was quite large, and many couples could take to the floor for the dancing without tripping over each other. (Although that had happened a time or two, especially when Farmer Littlefield had slipped some of his special cider onto the table where the beverages were being served.)
Strong drinks notwithstanding, it was a building lending itself perfectly to this evening’s planned entertainment, with araised dais for the musicians, and a small gallery ringing the dance floor where those choosing to excuse themselves from the more energetic activities could stroll comfortably, or avail themselves of the chairs set around the edges.
No matter where the mothers chose to sit, they could see everyone and everything. Unlike some of the London salons and ballrooms Cherry had visited, there were no nooks or niches where anyone could grab a moment’s privacy. Here in the country, everything was on display, including marriageable daughters.
She sighed as she slipped into the undergarments, enjoying the feel of the soft cotton shift that would line the lovely pink gown laid out on the bed.
She always felt a bit silly wearing pink, given that her name was Cherry, and she’d been teased often enough by her brother and sisters for it, but she could not ignore the fact that the colour suited her very well, and tonight of all nights, she needed every iota of self-confidence she could gather.
“Here we are, then, Miss Cherry. Just lift your arms a bit—like that, yes, perfect.”
The silk slid over her shift like a cloud, the lace frill at the hem drifting into place around her ankles as the girl tightened and straightened everything. The neckline was low, but trimmed with matching lace, as were the puffed sleeves that ended slightly above her elbows.
Gazing at herself in the mirror, she wondered what Garrett would think when he saw her like this, dressed much more formally than her usual day attire. A string of small pearls encircled her neck, and there were two pink silk flowers to secure her hair, worn tonight in an elegant twist at the back of her head.
She sighed. The whole thing would please her mother, sinceshe presented the ideal picture of a young woman attending a dance in polite society. Also one who was single, and would be a perfect match for a suitably eligible gentleman.
Like Garrett.
For a brief moment, Cherry closed her eyes and recalled the sensation of being thoroughly kissed. Would being married to him be so bad? She could enjoy those kisses at will, and also whatever else went along with marriage. Not that she knew all the details, but she wasn’t a stupid woman and had a pretty good idea of what was involved.
Up to now, she’d not given it much thought at all. But that was before Garrett had touched her and turned her insides upside down.
No, it wouldn’t be a hardship to be married to him, even though they’d spent such a brief time together.
But it had to behischoice andherchoice, not the result of the well-meaning machinations of their mothers. Of that, Cherry was absolutely certain. She’d heard far too many tales of arranged marriages that met all the appropriate requirements, only to learn that the couple never went anywhere together, and that the offspring were rumoured to be of dubious parentage.
“Miss?”
Cherry sighed. “It’s lovely, Mary, thank you.”
“Here you are then. Your reticule, there’s a handkerchief already in there.”
“You’re very thoughtful.” She glanced in the mirror briefly. Yes, she’d do.
But what would Garrett think?
*~~*~~*
Oddly enough, at that very moment Garrett’s thoughts were running along similar lines.
Fastening his waistcoat in front of the mirror, he frowned, wondering if his sartorial splendour was a little overt for a simple country dance.
“I don’t know,” he said to the young lad who had been conscripted into acting as his temporary valet. “You don’t think this is too much for a dance at the Village Hall, do you?”
The poor boy wrinkled his nose. “I dunno, sir, to be honest. I’ve not been to one yet.”
