“I’m sorry, you have this all wrong,” Ivy said, jamming her feet in her shoes. “This is a mistake.”
“Ivy!”
“Thea! Oh, thank goodness you are here. This is Melinda, and she says she is here to dress me because Lady Osborne wishes her to, and these maids seem to be carrying dresses. Please explain I don’t need their help. I have your maid.”
“Oooh, really? That’s exciting.”
“I am at your service also,” Melinda said, looking at Thea.
“Really! Oh yes, please. Janet is excellent, but she is guided by mother. You won’t be, will you?” Thea bounced up and down.
“Non, I am rarely guided by others.” Melinda’s chin elevated, making her look like royalty.
“I’m so excited!” Thea bounced and added a clap this time.
“I don’t want to wear another dress or have my hair done. I like things as they are.” Ivy crossed her arms. No one could make her do this. And she was definitely not doing it just because Bramstone Nightingale had kissed her and she wanted to show him she could look nice.
“Miss Birdwhistle.” Melinda moved to stand directly before Ivy.
She really was beautiful. Her brows curved in a delicate arch, and her eyes were an exquisite shade of blue. Styled simply but elegantly, her hair was the color of midnight. Ivy had never been elegant.
“Hiding behind ugly clothes and hair has its purposes, I am sure, but at this moment I cannot think of a single one.”
Ivy refused to shuffle her feet as the woman looked at her.
“I am unsure why someone as beautiful as you would wish to dress as you do.”
She didn’t know how to answer that.
“You are a beautiful woman, Ivy Birdwhistle,”Bram had said.
“Ivy.” Thea moved to Melinda’s side. “Why do you want to hide behind ugly clothes and hairstyles? I have never had the courage to ask you before today.”
Ivy felt the sting of tears and willed them away.
“I like the way I look.”
“No, you don’t,” Melinda said. “No one would be happy in such colors.” Her hand waved up and down Ivy’s body.
“Be honest, Ivy. Do you like wearing those hideous clothes that Mother despairs over but can do little about as you insist on paying for your dresses?”
“I have worn them for so long.”
“Which is not an answer. I wish I knew why you started to dress as you do. For your very first season you wore light colors and lovely fashionable styles, and then you came home sad and everything had changed.”
She’d been relieved her family had never questioned Ivy about the change after that first season, but clearly they had wondered.
“We thought you just needed time. Mother said I wasn’t to question you, so I never have. I wish now I hadn’t followed her advice.”
“Oh, Thea.” Ivy hugged her cousin.
“Excellent! That is settled then. Into the bath with you, if you please, Miss Birdwhistle,” Melinda said, making Birdwhistle sound romantic for the very first time.
Hands released her from her clothes, and she surprisingly found herself complying. Thea chatted and wandered about, looking at Melinda’s case of pins, ribbons, and every other accessory that could be needed to dress hair.
“Hair should not be pulled so tight one squints.” Melinda started removing the pins that held Ivy’s locks in place. She was so used to the style, she no longer noticed the discomfort until her hair was released at the end of the day. Then she moaned with relief.
Ivy washed with the floral-scented soap and then stepped out and dried herself. Was that flutter inside her chest excitement? Was it time to come out of hiding? Had Bram made her want to?
