“My sister told me about these. It’s a petticoat which is firmer and makes a dress stand out a little. You know how some of the muslin dresses can cling to a figure. This keeps the muslin in place all evening.”
“Just the thing for a ball which lasts all night,” said Jocelyn. “We can’t be the only ladies of quality not wearing the new petticoats. Add them to the list, Ellen.”
A knock startled them, as Mrs. Jennings put her head round the door. “It’s a gentleman asking if Lady Jocelyn is taking callers,” she said.
Looking at the fashion plates and pieces of fabric spread out across the table she continued, “I’ll tell the gentleman to return another day, shall I?”
Jocelyn stood up in alarm. “Is it Lord Ludlow?”
Mrs. Jennings nodded.
“He’s here. Olivia, I told you he would call today.”
“As you seem to be expecting him, I’ll tell him you are available,” Mrs. Jennings said, smiling. “I’ll put him in the morning room for a few minutes while you tidy in here.”
After a scurry of activity, Lord Ludlow was shown through and bowed stiffly. Olivia acknowledged him and indicated he should sit.
“Would you care for a cup of earl grey tea, your lordship,” she asked, “and we have honey cake today.”
He nodded and they all settled to tea and cake and the conversation flowed.
Listening to Lord Ludlow, Olivia realized he was quite a conversationalist. He was very polite and the stories he told about his life on his country estate at Granville were not in the least bit boring. Olivia realized that Marianne must know him as they were neighbors.
“Do you prefer town or country Lord Ludlow?” she asked.
Without a momentary pause, or hesitation, he told her. “That’s easy, the countryside. I’d always prefer to be home in the Chiltern Hills.
He looked a little apprehensive, as if he wanted to say something, but wasn’t sure if he could.
How charming.I really rather like Lord Ludlow. He could be perfect for Jocelyn.
“I wondered if you would care to take a ride in the park?” he inquired, looking longingly at Jocelyn.
“Oh yes of course,” she said. “Olivia, can we go riding in the park?”
“I see no reason why not,” agreed Olivia “It’s a fine day. If you go to the mews, and prepare your team, have your coachman bring your carriage round to the main door, then Jocelyn and I can join you in ten minutes.”
“I’ll go and do that now,” he said, with an over excitement Olivia found authentic and natural. “I brought the landau, so we have the roof in case there is a shower of rain.”
After Lord Ludlow had gone to speak to the groom in the mews at the back of Swanbourne Place, Jocelyn could hardly contain her excitement. “He came to call and now we’re going to ride in the park.”
“You must look demure and not too enthusiastic Josie,” Olivia warned her.
“I know. I know. But a carriage ride, and in a landau.” She rushed over to the window, peering out. Do you know Olivia that the sun is shining, and there is actually a rainbow in an arc across the sky?”
“Go and get your velvet redingote. I think that will be warmer than a pelisse,” suggested Olivia.
Olivia called for Ellen. “We are going carriage riding Ellen, and it’s an open topped landau. What does Lady Jocelyn need in her hair? And does she need a bonnet?”
“Come quickly upstairs and I have just the thing,” Ellen replied.
As they rushed across the hallway the study door opened for a moment and a dour-faced Uncle Harold stared at them both before retreating back into his study without making a comment.
An elegant lady in a blue bonnet with a turquoise feather, and a younger lady in a straw bonnet with a rose-pink ribbon, soon left Swanbourne Place, stepping into an elegant landau with a pair of handsome bay horses. The sun was shining as Lord Ludlow’s coachman set off for Hyde Park.
Conversation continued much as it had in the drawing room, but in the glorious sunshine as the coach trundled towards the park.
Olivia smiled to herself, remembering the trivia of courting conversation.
