“Oh, apparently Lady Leighton told him it was essential if you were going to look as if you were top drawer of theton, and it was worth the investment.”
Olivia laughed. “She convinced him that a new trousseau would get me off his hands.” And she collapsed in giggles.
“It’s good to hear you laughing, My Lady,” said Ellen smiling before pausing and looking at Olivia curiously. “And maybe there was some truth in Lady Leighton’s words. I believe you may have made a conquest last night.”
“Oh no, Ellen, that was Lady Jocelyn. She has a second suitor, a Lord Hastings who is, it seems, the mystery admirer who keeps sending flowers.”
“And Lord Marcus Hatfield, heir to the Duke of Hargrove?” queried Ellen.
“Oh, well…” said Olivia.
“Ah yes, My Lady. I heard it from two of the junior footmen that his lordship was unable to take his eyes off you, and that you danced three dances together, including a waltz.”
“Well, that’s true but…”
“And a young lady only dances two dances unless there is a serious attachment,” Ellen continued.
“Well yes but…”
“He would be a fool not to fall in love with you, and I’ll leave it there,” Ellen concluded.
“And there’s been no other gossip?” asked Olivia.
“Oh, quite a bit of gossip, there always is after these events. If you mean that business with Lady Cressida, then she hasn’t come out of it very well. Everyone knows she was jealous of you, and how his lordship was clearly entranced by you. She set about spreading rumors about you and was trounced soundly by Lady Leighton and the Earl of Hatfield."
“Everyone knows then, about the disfigurement?” Olivia asked nervously.
Ellen stopped twining a strand on her hair and looked intently at her mistress. “I think they always knew, your Ladyship. Your hairstyle changed quite dramatically after the fire. There would have been talk at that point. The thing is, and Lady Cressida will never understand this, your personality always shines through, and no one notices the scars.”
Olivia felt tears welling up and she felt a warmth and affection for Ellen, who had grown up with her at Silverton Hall and become her maid when she came of age. The difference in social standing was irrelevant; Ellen was her friend as well as her maid.
“Now, I’d better get on and finish your hair. I believe Lady Leighton has plans for this morning and breakfast is already laid out in the morning room.”
After more twirling of strands of hair, Ellen finally stood back and said she was satisfied with the result.
She held up the glass for Olivia to look.
The new style suits me,it hides the scar, but somehow isn’t as far forward as my usual style.
“I like it, Ellen, very much. Thank you.”
“It was Minette, Lady Leighton’s French maid, who showed me the technique, but I agree, it works very well.”
As Olivia entered the morning room for breakfast, she was surprised to find that she was the last to arrive. Marianne, Jocelyn and Charles were already at the table. Uncle Haroldhad already returned home to Swanbourne Place the previous evening.
And for once Olivia felt hungry, and accepted the porridge, followed by braised chops as well as her usual bread and butter.
“I thought we could go together to Swanbourne Place to sort through your wardrobes this morning. We need to choose which events of the season we will attend, and yesterday Uncle Harold reminded me of another event on the horizon,” Olivia told Jocelyn.
“He did?” said Jocelyn in surprise. “Uncle knows our social calendar?”
Marianne laughed, her beautiful soprano voice drawing a look of admiration from her beloved Charles. “I think that would be too much to expect. No, it is an event which we had all quite forgotten.”
Olivia looked at her friend in confusion. Did she mean Jocelyn’s presentation to Queen Charlotte?
“Lord Sherwyn, or Harold, as he has asked me to call him…”
There was a pause while Olivia and Jocelyn spluttered in disbelief.
