Lavinia’s eyes gleamed. “We’ll present a buffet of main dishes. Glazed duck with orange and clove. Roast beef carved to order with horseradish cream. Poached salmon chilled over watercress, and lamb cutlets with a mint and pistachio crust.”
She turned the page. “The vegetable offerings shall include greenpeas in cream, buttered asparagus with toasted almonds, and a savory mushroom tart for those inclined toward rusticity.”
“Mother, this is extravagant,” Georgiana said, her stomach in knots. James was a patient man but this might anger him. She consoled herself only by mentally noting that James had been the one to suggest this task for her mother. “Perhaps we might scale it back a little?”
Lavinia smiled sweetly. “Darling, what is a ball if not a declaration of wealth, taste, and restrained theatrical excess? This will be a night of triumph for Lord Ashford.”
James crossed one leg over the other, looking pensive. “This would certainly make a statement.”
“That’s right, Lord Ashford,” Lavinia said. “Think of it as your debut into Society. It must be perfect, if not a little extravagant.”
“My worry, however, is Mrs. Honeycutt and her staff,” James said. “This is a tremendous amount of work and I’m not sure any of this is in her repertoire.”
“I’ve taken the liberty of inquiring after a chef in Brighton,” Lavinia said. “One must have vision, my lord.”
“And bottomless coin,” James said with a wry smile.
Lavinia went on, undeterred. “Also, we’ll have a cold table. Stilton, Wensleydale, oat cakes, sugared almonds. Though not the pink ones. They’re simply vulgar. A towering trifle. Lemon syllabub. Pistachio macarons. Plum cake with sugared violets. And finally, a centerpiece sculpted from spun sugar. I was thinking something allegorical. Perhaps a laurel wreath or Cupid’s bow. Depends on what the sugar artist can manage in winter.”
Georgiana blinked. “Sugar artist? Is that really a profession?”
“Georgie, dearest, where have you been?” Lavinia asked. “They’re quite the rage. I’ve narrowed it to three artists, all of whom have good reputations.” She closed the folio with a satisfied sigh. “The entire evening shall be exquisite. A feast for the eyes and the appetite.”
James leaned back, looking a bit like someone had run over himwith a carriage. “It’s certainly well-thought out, Lady Lavinia. You’ve done well.”
“I knew you would understand my vision,” Lavinia said. “You’re a man of exquisite taste.”
Georgiana met James’s gaze and tried very hard not to laugh.
“I suppose what you say is true. This is my debut into Society. I believe we should do it exactly as you’ve suggested, Lady Lavinia. However, we must also plan a party for the villagers and tenants to attend. Later in the year. Perhaps in the fall?”
Lavinia looked at him with a blank expression, as if she couldn’t understand why he would contemplate such a thing. “Mrs. Ellsworth will do an adequate job of that type of event, I’m sure.”
Cecily choked on a laugh. James didn’t look away from Lavinia.
“Shall I proceed as planned?” Lavinia asked. “I can begin as soon as you are ready.”
James rubbed a thumb along the edge of the mantel and said mildly, “It would be foolish to deny your talents, Lady Linley. Yes, I say we go forward with the plan. The house will be complete by late spring. We will plan it for the end of May.”
Lavinia preened. “I do try. And yes, that’s a fine idea. I’ll have plenty of time between now and then to ensure every detail is perfect.”
She paused, her expression shifting to something more serious. “Speaking of details, there is one tiny matter we must address before we can proceed with all these wonderful plans.”
Georgiana felt her stomach clench. She knew that tone.
“Oh?” James asked.
“Well, it’s really nothing more than a minor inconvenience.” Lavinia waved her hand dismissively. “You see, I’ve had some rather pressing expenses lately—maintaining appearances, you understand. One simply cannot economize when representing the family name.”
“What kind of expenses, Mother?” Georgiana’s voice was tightwith dread.
“Oh, the usual things. Proper clothing for my stay with dear Caroline, travel expenses, a few necessary accessories. And of course, the gowns I had made for last Season’s balls, naturally. We can’t have people thinking we’ve fallen on hard times.”
Georgiana’s hands clenched in her lap. “How much, Mother?”
“Really, Georgiana, you needn’t look so severe. It’s not as if I’ve been frivolous.” Lavinia arranged her skirts with practiced elegance. “Though I will admit, Mr. Craven has become quite unreasonable about the timeline for repayment.”
“Mr. Craven?” James’s voice carried a warning edge.
