My stomach writhed with discomfort. I was not going to be as popular as Mrs. Everard suspected. I was certain she had only said that for one of two reasons: to instill a little confidence in me, or solely to get a reaction out of Owen.
I looked out the window to see the servants setting up a white tent on the back lawn. Several round tables and chairs had already been placed, clad with clean white cloths and floral centerpieces. Ultimately, Mrs. Kellaway had spared the oranges, opting to serve lemonade to the guests instead.
The party was in less than two hours, so I had little time to waste fretting over it. As Madame Fareweather had said, I needed to look more beautiful than I had ever looked in my life.The ingredients she had listed were the gown, Lizzie’s work on my hair, and all the confidence I could muster.
I rang the bell and Lizzie came quickly, setting to work on lacing my new stays. They were much more structured than my old ones, and far less comfortable. She helped me into my gown, which fit perfectly. We paired it with a set of white gloves, as well as a pearl necklace and parasol from Mrs. Kellaway.
I would have to at leastpretendthat I had a habit of shielding my face from the sun.
Lizzie threaded a pink ribbon through my hair, pinning a few strands in the shape of rosettes at the crown of my head. She pinched my cheeks, then instructed me to bite my lips as hard as I could manage. The end result produced a flush of color to both.
I examined my reflection from head to toe, pulling my shoulders back and lifting my chin. After those two adjustments, I looked much better. I smiled, my heart skittering with excitement. I looked like I might actually…belong at the party. Madame Fareweather had meant what she said about finding confidence in well-structured stays and a daring neckline. My silhouette looked elegant and feminine, and my eyes shone with certainty.
Perhaps Icouldhold my own among a crowd of fashionable people. I might not make a fool of myself after all.
I maintained my straight posture as I walked down the stairs to meet Mrs. Kellaway outside. It was almost time for the guests to arrive, so she was busy directing the finishing touches on the refreshments and table settings. I stood back and watched, keeping my parasol straight over my head.
Thankfully, Mrs. Everard joined me.
“You look positively remarkable, my dear,” she said with an approving smile.
“Thank you.”
I stood beside her for several minutes as the guests began wandering onto the lawn from the courtyard. I couldn’t stop my own smile from tugging on my cheeks. The entire setting was a dream—the guests in their beautiful dresses, the flowers, the rows of pastries and sandwiches in the tent, pitchers of refreshing lemonade, and the golden house in the background—all draped in a cloudless summer sky.
Mr. Everard joined us, and then I saw Owen as he stepped up beside his mother to greet her guests. He looked handsome with his navy blue jacket and white cravat. He stepped away for a moment, surveying the crowd. His eyes settled on me, and a smile crossed his face. He began in my direction, and for a strange reason, I wanted to hide behind Mrs. Everard.
I had tossed and turned much of the night, and I could only attribute my restlessness to the moment I had shared with him at the pianoforte. It lived in my mind constantly. At the sight of him now, it jumped straight to the surface. My shyness overcame me, so I fiddled with my parasol. It was all because of that blasted secret we now shared—that he had held me in his arms and I had held him back. I had felt his heartbeat on my chest.
And, if I wasn’t mistaken, we had nearly kissed.
My face heated at the thought. Why could I not brush it aside and forget it had happened? I was acting like a dolt. Surely Owen hadn’t lived that moment over in his mind as many times as I had. I had little experience with such things. It would be foolish to make it into something bigger than it was.
On his way to me, Owen was stopped by a woman and her two daughters. He seemed caught in a conversation, so I allowed my shoulders to relax.
Mrs. Everard looped her arm through mine. “You cannot hide on the edge of the party forever. I am going to plant you by my daughter’s side so she may exhibit you properly.”
The idea of being ‘exhibited’ tied my stomach in a knot, but I had no choice in the matter. Mrs. Everard marched me across the lawn until Mrs. Kellaway caught sight of me. She looked beautiful in her lavender gown, and her smile set my nerves at ease. She waved me forward, and Mrs. Everard stood on my other side.
All the introductions blended together, and I did my best to curtsy and smile at each new face. A man wearing a black top hat and yellow waistcoat stopped in front of me with a deep bow. His hair was dark, curling at the base of his neck. He had a charming smile, and his dark brown eyes took me in with immediate interest.
After presenting me, Mrs. Kellaway said, “this is Mr. Henry Baines.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Downing,” he said in a deep voice. “Are you a relation of the Kellaways?”
I gave a soft smile. “No, but a friend. They were gracious enough to invite me here for the summer along with my two young brothers.”
“Ah, and who wouldn’t wish to spend the summer at such a lovely manor?” His smile put me at ease.
“Precisely my thoughts. Do you live nearby?”
“Fairly close, yes.” He adjusted his hat with a content sigh. “There is little that can persuade me to leave the area, so I spend most of my time at my country house. London does not offer me the same sense of peace as the rolling hills of Hampshire do.”
I smiled, keeping my expression gentle and polite. “There is something very liberating about slowing down and enjoying nature.”
His eyes twinkled with satisfaction. “I agree wholeheartedly.”
I had no idea if I was performing well or not, but Mr. Baines did seem to enjoy our conversation. Thus far, he seemed just as agreeable as Mr. Frampton, and since he lived somewhereother than Silton, he already had more to recommend him. As Mrs. Everard had said, it was wise to have as many options as possible.
