Since when did Elizabeth ever worry about propriety, Jonathan couldn’t help wondering, but he forced himself to make idle chitchat “We’re invited to the Cheshire’s Ball next week.Will your gown be ready by then?”
“Yes.Mrs.Hepplewhite said she would put someone special on my order.So, don’t worry, I will not embarrass you.”
“Good,” Jonathan said, then dismissed her by turning to the window and viewing but not seeing the many town houses they rode past.He remained quiet for the rest of the trip home, wondering what Elizabeth was up to.She was being much too agreeable.
Did he even care what she wore or how she looked?Elizabeth wondered.There was a time when she could read his every expression but not now.Jonathan had a carefully blank expression.She never knew what he was thinking and it was driving her mad.She only hoped Tiffany's plan would work.At the moment, she believed, Jonathan Hird was completely immune to her.
The morningof the Cheshire’s Ball dawned bright and sunny.It was a beautiful spring day.Tiffany had some of her things delivered and she settled into the room next to Elizabeth’s.
By mid-afternoon, Tiffany and Elizabeth sat down at a small table in the garden behind Trent House to have tea and to discuss the upcoming ball.
“Has your dress arrived?”Tiffany asked.
“No,” Elizabeth replied while placing the second lump of sugar in her teacup.“I expect it will be late, but I know the gown will get here.Mrs.Hepplewhite has never let me down.”
“Good.We have three parties in a row to attend,” Tiffany pointed out as she stirred her tea.“I have been busy the last few days on your behalf.I have a good friend, Beau Brummell, who I’ve persuaded to help us.”She placed her teaspoon on the saucer and looked at Elizabeth.“Do you know Beau?”
“No, but I’ve heard of him.”Elizabeth picked up her cup.“He’s all the rage, and a friend of the Prince Regent, I seem to recall.”
“He’s very much in demand.Everyone wants him at their party, and for good reason.He is so handsome with his dark hair and green eyes.He has set a new standard in men’s wardrobe.You remember when men use to dress in those pastel colors?”
Elizabeth nodded.“Sometimes they appeared more feminine than the ladies.”
“Precisely.Well, Beau dresses in black and white and looks magnificent.”Tiffany smiled brightly.“He has also agreed to help us with our plan.”
Elizabeth almost dropped her teacup.“How?”
Tiffany laughed at the surprised look on her friend’s face.“Beau is going to flirt outrageously with you.And by the third party, Jonathan should be seeing red.”
“Do you really think so?”
“If Jonathan loves you, yes.”
Elizabeth focused her gaze on her cup.“Sometimes ‘if’ can be a very large word.”
“We’ll have none of that.No fretting.”Tiffany patted Elizabeth’s hand.“Let’s start preparing for the party.It doesn’t matter if Mrs.Hepplewhite’s dress isn’t ready.We want to save that special dress for the third party.”
“This sounds so devilishly underhanded.”Elizabeth laughed wickedly.“I just love it!”
Back in her room,Elizabeth began preparing for the ball.Happily, one of the upstairs maids was adept at styling hair.Elizabeth sat patiently while her dark locks were swept up into heavy curls at the crown.White flowers intermixed with pearls were woven into her tresses.After her hair was finished, she chose a black pearl necklace and earrings to match her gown.
She picked up her skirts and fluffed them, enjoying the feel of the material.The dress was a simple one since there hadn’t been much time to do more.It was made of white crepe, spotted with white satin.The skirt was finished at the bottom by a garland of flowers and leaves composed of black silk.
Tiffany swept into the room without bothering to knock.“Are you ready?Jonathan is downstairs waiting.”
Elizabeth nodded, pinched her cheeks to add color, then stood up from her dressing table.“It’s been a while since I’ve dressed for a ball.How do I look?”She twirled around and held her arms out.
“Splendid.The dress is so simple, but you dress it up yourself.Come.It’s time to have fun.”Tiffany slid her arm through Elizabeth’s and they went downstairs.
Jonathan waited at the foot of the steps, his arm propped upon the newel post.Dressed in dark blue, he looked very dashing, Elizabeth thought as she came to stand in front of him.His hair was combed to the side and slightly longer than he normally wore it giving him a more rakish look.She smiled up at him.
Jonathan made sure his expression didn’t change as Elizabeth and Tiffany approached him.Tiffany had changed from the little girl he remembered to a beautiful woman dressed in green silk.But she wasn’t the one who held his interest.
Elizabeth was simply radiant.It should be a sin for any woman to be so beautiful.The black pearls glistened against the creamy softness of her throat.Her white skin begged to be touched.
Damn, why had he agreed to this?
He wasn’t looking forward to watching a room full of men fawning over her.They had better make damned sure they did nothing more than look.
