“I’ve sent for our seamstress,” Kathleen said as the girls took their seats.
Since she didn’t doubt the seamstress was for her, Vanessa replied, “Inspect my wardrobe, Mother, if you must. It’s perfectly—”
“More of those ridiculous pants?” Kathleen cut in.
Vanessa laughed. “No, what you would consider appropriate—and just a few pair of pants.”
“The twins said you have only two ball gowns. Hardly sufficient.”
“Why ever not? They can be worn more’n once.”
“No, Nessa,” Layla said.
“Unheard of,” Emily added.
“And not necessary,” Kathleen said. “You will be fitted for at least four more, and you can pick the colors and fabrics, if you like. The twins will guide you if you aren’t sure what is appropriate.”
Vanessa shrugged. “Do as you like.”
“No ‘thank you’?” Kathleen asked. “Have you even forgotten common courtesies?”
“Not a’tall. But I didn’t ask for more clothes, because I already have a very nice new wardrobe. It feels as if you’re forcing this on me.”
“Your father should have known that you would need more than two ball gowns. Six may not be necessary, but there is no reason you shouldn’t be prepared for more than a few balls.”
Faulting William for her supposedly inadequate wardrobe rubbed Vanessa wrong and brought out the lie, “I hadn’t even decided on having a Season, if you must know.”
Everyone gasped at that point—except Vanessa. But she regretted the lie immediately. She just couldn’t help getting contrary with her mother. How was she going to deal with Kathleen if she couldn’t shake off this defensiveness? And she was being provoked. Kathleen’s stiff hauteur, the disparagement. Was this how she was with the twins? Was she this way now because they were present? Or did she somehow think that Vanessa would “behave” with them listening to every word?
It was the twins who both said in unison, “But you must have your Season!”
“Of course she will, darlings,” Kathleen assured the girls. “Our Vanessa is merely being difficult because she didn’t prepare sufficiently for the Season, but it’s an oversight that can be easily rectified.”
Must she really? Now, when she already had a husband lined up? Before she could mention that, Kathleen asked, “Did your father at least teach you how to dance?”
Hearing yet another disparagement of William, Vanessa stood up abruptly. “This was a mistake. When you can act like a mother instead of a bloody taskmaster, perhaps we can try this again.”
“Wait,” Kathleen said quickly. “I apologize, Nessa. I’ve let my disappointment get out of hand, but it was such a surprise that William sent you home alone. I thought surely he would return with you for your Season, but I understand why he can’t.”
Well, Kathleen certainly had no trouble keeping up the lies. But she did sound sincere in the apology, making Vanessa realize she was being far too antagonistic, especially after she’d heard a new version of what happened six years ago. Both parents determined to stave off scandals? Ironic if that was so. But the trouble was, she wasn’t sure if she could believe Kathleen’s excuse. After all, she’d just heard how guilelessly her mother could lie.
But she nodded and sat back down, then amazingly, Kathleen went right back to complaining. “There’s no time to get a dancing instructor here to teach Vanessa.”
“We can teach her,” Layla quickly offered.
“You don’t know how to lead, which is what a gentleman does,” Emily pointed out, though she added, “But we’ve got two presently in residence.”
“So we do,” Kathleen agreed. “If they won’t mind.”
“We’ll ask!” the twins said in unison again.
Which brought Kathleen’s censure. “You certainly will not. Ladies are never that bold.”
“But I am,” Vanessa said, and was proud that she managed not to smirk.
“No, you will not!”
Vanessa rolled her eyes. “It’s a little late for comportment lessons, Mother. I won’t embarrass you in public, but I won’t pretend to be someone I’m not in private. Besides, I know them well enough for it not to be the least bit bold to ask for something as harmless as dancing lessons.”
