As she talked, more and more people left the room, heading toward their suites to prepare for the ball. My heart went out to Professor Carmichael. As the end of the hour neared, all who was left was me, Alice Yo, Gerald, and Professor Hathaway and Christina right in the front row.
When she presented her conclusion and clicked off her slide, Professor Hathaway stood, clapping over his head as if she was a rock star finishing her encore at Earl’s Court.
“Go to hell,” she glared at him.
By Isis, there’s no love lost there.Alice gave me a pained look. I wanted to stick around and ask her more about her article and if it had anything to do with Gerald and Professor Hathaway’s argument and the subsequent clandestine meeting, but a glance at my phone screen revealed I only had an hour left to get ready for the ball. I packed up my things in a hurry and raced off to my room to change, frantically trying to remember all the steps to the dances I’d learned yesterday.
* * *
“Have either of you seen Lydia?” I asked as we milled around in the antechamber. By the time I’d returned to our room after Professor Carmichael’s lecture, Lydia was already gone. She’d left every towel sopping wet and had somehow looped my favorite bra over the ceiling fan. I had to call a staff member to help me get it down. Without Lydia’s help, I’d barely managed to pull on the beautiful red dress and get my hair up in time.
“Maybe she’s on the roof, polishing her broom,” Morrie said.
I punched him in the arm. “Don’t say that.”
“She’ll be here somewhere,” Heathcliff said, indicating the crowd of people who packed every corner of Undercross. “I wish they’d open the windows. All the hairspray fumes are doing my head in.”
I peered at the series of high windows along the wall, remembering that Quoth had promised he’d be here. “I want to look for Lydia and see if Quoth’s here yet. Let’s take a turn about the room.” I looped my arms in Heathcliff and Morrie and dragged them toward the wall. I peered outside, but the windows revealed only a dark void. If Quoth was looking in at me, I’d be none the wiser, thanks to my stupid eyes. Inside, at least, the chandelier was bright enough that I could make out most faces.There’s Gerald and the rest of the Brontë society. There’s Professor Carmichael in a beautiful cream dress, and Cynthia looking stunning in blue.
“I see Lydia.” Morrie pulled me in the direction of the fireplace.
“Oh no,” I breathed. Professor Hathaway sat in the crimson chair in front of the fire, wearing a fine topcoat with gold details and an elaborate sword on his belt. In his lap, Lydia bounced on his knee, whispering something in his ear. “When she said she’d acquired new suitors, it never occurred to me that she’d be afterhim.”
Behind me, I heard a disgusted sigh. I turned around in time to see Professor Carmichael make a disgusted face and push her way through the crowd to get away from Hathaway and his sycophants.
“Well, he is a bachelor, and definitely eligible.” Morrie grinned. “I bet he has a fortune of ten thousand a year.”
“He’s also old – even under that dyed hair – andgross. I told you what Professor Carmichael said about him, and there was Gerald’s outburst this morning.”
“Indeed, although I’d be careful to believe the words of rival academics. I’ve read at a top university, and I can tell you that the dons bicker incessantly and constantly try to throw each other under the bus in order to score a book deal, speaking slot, or professional accolade for themselves. It’s a lot like Hollywood, except that the fashion lends more ‘tweed and tipsy’.”
I watched Lydia toss her head back and laugh at something Professor Hathaway said. Beside her, David leaned down and handed her a drink. “I can’t stop thinking about Hannah’s face when she was confronting Hathaway. She looked scared. That makes me worry about Lydia. She’s onlysixteen. Should we rescue her?”
“No,” said Heathcliff and Morrie in unison.
It appeared we didn’t need to. As well as David, three other men hovered around her, offering food and wine and to fill up her dance card. It appeared Lydia had wasted no time in taking my advice. I made a note to speak to her about the dangers of men like Hathaway as soon as I got the chance.
“It’s a terrible tragedy,” a woman behind me gushed. I turned around, wondering if she was talking about Hathaway. But no, for she held on to Christina Hathaway’s hand. “For you to be without your jewels for the ball. Are you certain you’re not a victim of the Argleton Jewel Thief?”
“No, no. Father keeps them on his person at all times. I just don’t want to disturb his conversation,” Christina replied in her high, breathless voice. She looked absolutely radiant in a cream dress covered in fine lace. Rows of pearl beads dotted her demure neckline and edged her gloves, but I noticed she wore no earrings or necklace, as the other woman did. Behind her, Gerald moved closer, with Hannah on his arm. “Those jewels belonged to my mother. He would be terribly upset if something were to happen to them.”
Perhaps if your father wasn’t so busy trying to seduce sixteen-year-old girls, he might be able to find your jewels.
I didn’t get to eavesdrop any longer. Excitement rippled through the crowd as the doors swung open. Janeites surged toward the entrance, sweeping us along with the crowd. I held tight to Heathcliff and Morrie and gazed around the room in wonder.
The ballroom had been transformed. Gone were the folding chairs arranged in neat rows. Instead, the grand marble floor shone from a fresh polish, ready for dancing feet. Floral arrangements wound around the columns, drawing the eye upward to the ornate paintings of nymphs and satyrs that adorned the ceiling. A band set up in one corner, playing a jaunty reel to welcome us. In front of them, a microphone had been set up for Cynthia to call the dances. Round tables down one end waited for the guests, adorned with towering flower arrangements and glittering with crystal dinnerware.
“Mina, there you are!” Lydia grinned at me. Beside her, David held her hand. “Isn’t this great fun?”
“What happened to Professor Hathaway? I saw you two getting friendly together.” At the mention of his boss’ name, David frowned. Christina rushed over and took David’s other arm. “I heard you say that you saw my father. He keeps Mummy’s jewels on his person, and I wish to wear her pearl earrings tonight.”
“I think he’s had too much alcohol! He was nodding off by the fire, so I left him. David is a much better dancer, anyway, isn’t that right, David? What are those lights?” Lydia stared at the ceiling.
“They’re called fairy lights.”
“How delightful! Like fireflies except more… glamorous. I look forward to dancing beneath them. They will make my dress look most fetching.”
“Should I worry about Father?” Christina asked David. “I don’t want him to miss the ball.”
