“Stole it, I’m afraid.” The mere suggestion of a smile touched his mouth, and for an instant his eyes were warm. “I’ll speak to Father Patrick about it later.”
“And then hehanded me a stolen oatmeal raisin cookie,” said Lydia. “What do you think of that, Pei Ling?”
Pei Ling paused in brushing out Lydia’s hair and caught her mistress’s eye in the mirror. “I think Mr. Hunter want to see you smile. He know what I know. You beautiful when you smile.”
Lydia’s eyes dropped away from her reflection immediately and she busied herself collecting the hairpins Pei Ling would require. “I wonder if he’ll be there tonight.”
“He come. You have plenty young men admire you tonight. James will be there. Also Henry Bell. Mr. Moore escort you and Mr. Hunter try to take you away. Wish Missus Newberry invite me to party.”
Laughing, Lydia handed Pei Ling a hairpin. “I think it will be a dull affair.”
“No. Not that.” There was a knock at the door and Lydia and Pei Ling exchanged knowing glances before Lydia asked her mother to come in. Madeline’s reaction to Lydia’s gown was almost immediate. “Fireworks start now,” Pei Ling murmured.
Lydia pretended she didn’t hear. “Yes, Mother?”
“I came to see if you needed any help, but you seem to be almost ready.” Madeline’s emerald eyes were critical as they traveled over her daughter’s bare shoulders and the severely cut lines of her midnight blue gown. Tiny blue beads sparkled along the edge of the low cut bodice. They were worked into the tight sleeves at the wrists and decorated the gown’s hem and train. Lydia wore sapphire drop earrings, and when she turned her head to look at her mother inquiringly, they brushed against the smooth ivory stem of her neck. “Stand up, Lydia,” she said. “I want a better look at what you’re wearing.”
“In a moment, Mother. When Pei Ling’s finished with my hair.”
Madeline opened her mouth to argue, then thought better of it. Whatever she said in front of the Chinese girl would get back to Samuel and he would not hesitate to confront her. She could do without her husband’s criticisms these days.
Pei Ling took her time, winding Lydia’s sable hair into an intricate knot at the back of her head. She anchored it with pins that she hid and a gold comb that she did not. Purposely freeing a few strands of hair at Lydia’s temples and nape, Pei Ling created a softer look that contrasted beautifully with the severity of the gown. When she was finished, she touched Lydia lightly on the shoulders, offering her silent support before she left the room.
Lydia stood and turned so that her mother could see the gown from all sides. She hoped that what she might hear would be different from what she expected. It wasn’t.
“I don’t think I approve, Lydia. Not at all.” When Lydia stopped turning, Madeline walked around her. “Where did you get this? And when?”
After taking a calming breath, Lydia said, “I’d hoped you be pleased, Mother. After all, you’ve always wanted me to take more interest in my appearance. I had this made for me at Madame Simone’s. It was only finished yesterday.” She almost bumped into Madeline as she started toward her wardrobe. Madeline stopped circling and Lydia excused herself. She opened the door of her wardrobe and pointed to the row of new purchases. “I had half a dozen made and there are three more on order.”
“That was extravagant, Lydia. What is your father going to think when he gets the bill? You should have come to me and discussed it first.”
“I discussed it with Papa,” said Lydia. “He was agreeable.”
“And you said nothing to me.”
“I wanted to surprise you.” Was Madeline hurt? Lydia wondered. Was that what she heard in her mother’s voice?
Madeline indicated Lydia’s gown with a dismissive wave of her hand.“Thisis a surprise.”
“You hate it, don’t you?”
“On the contrary. It’s a lovely gown, but totally unsuited to you. You’re too young to wear something like this, Lydia, which I would have told you had you had the grace to ask to me to accompany you to Simone’s. You took Pei Ling, I suppose?” Lydia nodded, biting her lower lip. She felt herself shriveling inside her skin, becoming smaller and smaller as Madeline went on. “What on earth would she know about fashion? Someone your age requires pastels, or at the very least a printed fabric. And you’ve allowed Simone to neglect all the usual ornamentation. Oh, the beads are fine if you’re planning to lead the opening number in a dance hall, but I don’t know that they’re suitable for Mr. Newberry’s birthday party. The Newberrys are very circumspect, remember.” She took Lydia by the elbow and escorted her to the full-length mirror. “Your shoulders aren’t your best feature, darling,” she said, running her palms across them. “The collarbones are very pronounced, aren’t they? And the cut of this bodice…I’m not certain you want to expose this much…skin. What do you expect the men will think of you?”
Lydia ventured her thought softly. “Perhaps if I ask Papa what he thinks.”
“Your father would never say anything against it,” Madeline said truthfully. “He’d spare your feelings if you wore a sackcloth and ashes. Now, do what’s best for all concerned, and find something else to wear. We still have enough time. I’ll go and tell Samuel and Mr. Moore that you’ll just be a little longer.” She left the room without giving Lydia the opportunity to respond.
Still worrying her lower lip, Lydia stared dully at her reflection. She wanted to cry. She had been so certain she had made a good choice, and in less than two minutes Madeline had found all the flaws. If Madeline saw them so easily, then others would eventually. She had wanted to have admirers at the Newberrys’ party, and instead she was going to embarrass herself. And shewouldembarrass herself, Lydia realized, because she was going to defy her mother and wear the gown anyway. It would be like wearing a sackcloth and ashes, she thought, remembering Madeline’s phrase. Throughout the evening the gown would serve as a reminder that in all things she should learn to choose wisely.
Brigham Moore ledLydia onto the ballroom floor and took her into his arms. “My God but you’re lovely this evening.” He hoped he didn’t sound as surprised as he felt. When he had first seen her coming down the staircase in her own home, he thought she was a guest, a friend of Lydia’s perhaps, but certainly not Lydia. ItwasLydia, though, and the entire time he watched her descend the steps, he felt Madeline’s eyes on him. She was worried, he thought, and she had every right to be. Tonight Lydia would outshine her mother. For Madeline it must have felt like the end of the world.
“You always make such pretty compliments,” Lydia said, smiling up at him. Her eyes were bright and her cheeks were flushed becomingly. “It’s difficult to know how seriously to take them.”
“Pretty compliments, Lydia?” He feigned a wounded look. “I speak the truth. I’m thankful you wrote me in on your dance card in three places before that crowd of young puppies descended on you.”
“Mr. Newberry is sixty today, remember? Hardly a puppy. And I’ve written him in twice.” She laughed gaily as he turned her several times in quick succession. “But it’s kind of you to make jealous noises, Brig. It cannot help but flatter me.”
“These aren’t jealous noises. Iamjealous. Look at my eyes.”
