Penelope burst out laughing. “Can you actually imagine Jon swooning?”
“No, never.” Joanna grinned. “But I am now quite determined to.”
“He is competitive and spirited at times,” Penelope said, “so I doubt he would like a timid sort of woman.”
I made notes in my mind of their list. I did consider myself a skilled rider, having been raised in the country with my own horse. It was one of my favorite pastimes, in fact. Was I timid? I reflected on my interactions with Mr. Croft and found that I hadn’t been timid in the slightest. Perhaps too much to thecontrary. Throwing a crab at his face could never be interpreted as such. My hope ticked upward as I considered the rest of the list. Perhaps there was a chance that he would find me interesting after all.
“We shall do our best to convince him to attend the assembly on Monday.” Penelope winked. “There you all might come to know him better for yourselves.”
My stomach fluttered with excitement.
After discussing the merits of imported buttons for a quarter of an hour, Penelope and Joanna stood to take their leave. The moment the drawing room door closed behind them, Charlotte returned slowly to the settee with a faint grin. She poured another cup of tea, her eyes unblinking behind it.
I clasped my hands together with a smile of my own. “Well, they were agreeable, were they not?”
“Very agreeable, indeed,” Charlotte said. We exchanged a glance. She must have been thinking exactly what I was: That Mr. Jonathan Croft could possibly be the perfect match for me. I could hardly wait to discuss the subject with her in private.
Mama was smiling too, though with a little less mischief in her eyes. “Well, let us hope we see them again soon. We shall see them at the ball for certain, and then I expect they’ll extend a similar invitation for tea.”
My heart thudded at the thought of my first ball in Brighton. To find Mr. Croft across the room, to meet his gaze, to see him cross the floor in my direction…
I quickly halted my daydreams. My hopes were rising prematurely. I had no evidence that he would ever be interested in me.
But it was still a delightful thought.
Chapter Five
ALICE
Alight knock sounded on my door seconds before Charlotte slipped into my bedchamber. My maid Eliza was still arranging my hair, but Charlotte was dressed and ornamented to perfection. Pale blue silk draped over her figure, white gloves pulled up over her elbows. A delicate pearl necklace followed the curve of her collarbone, and her blonde curls were arranged in a soft coiffure.
She rotated slowly in front of my tall looking glass. “Do you think the color is too dull?” She examined her gown with a look of concern.
I turned too fast in my chair, causing my maid to drop a pin. “Sorry!” I grimaced, turning my attention back to Charlotte. She knew full well that blue was her best color. It was strange that she would be worried at all. “There is absolutely nothing dull about you, my dear.” I smiled. “You look radiant.”
Charlotte’s lips pressed together as she took another long look in the mirror. Finally, she tore her gaze away from her reflection and strode toward me. Her gaze traced over myreflection in the vanity mirror next, a slow frown tugging her lips downward. “I thought you were going to wear your lavender gown. I told you it suits you best. This gown gives a naive impression…perhaps that you are much younger and less accomplished than you actually are. You must present yourself as a woman, not as a girl.”
I looked down at my pastel yellow with a scowl. “This is practically ivory.”
She stared at me for a long moment. “I disagree. It is practically daffodil.”
I raised an eyebrow. “It’s paler than butter!”
Charlotte backed away with a laugh, raising one hand in surrender. “To each their own. I simply thought you might appreciate a second opinion. This ball is very important, you know.” Her soft smile did little to soften her words. She went back to studying her reflection with a satisfied gleam in her eye.
Vexation bubbled in my chest. Was she right? I had carefully selected my gown for that evening, but now I was having doubts. This ballwasvery important. It was my chance to show Mr. Croft that I was an elegant lady, and not just a girl who peruses shops, collects shells, and flings crabs at people. Charlotte was simply trying to help me make the best impression possible on Mr. Croft and the other gentlemen there.
“Very well,” I said finally. “I’ll wear the lavender. But what do you think of the hair?” I gestured at my head.
Charlotte drifted closer with a thoughtful look. “The hair is acceptable. The rosette curls are an elegant touch.”
I smiled. A compliment from Charlotte always put me at ease. She was not easily impressed; I had learned that from our many years of friendship, but when shewasimpressed, she meant it. I had to give her credit for her candor. I was fairly certain she could never pretend to be anyone but herself. Even if she was a little frank at times.
She reached down and pinched my cheeks hard between her fingers. I laughed, jerking my face away. “Are my cheeks not pink enough?”
“They are now.” She grinned, but it was fleeting, quickly replaced with her genteel smile. Surely she was practicing for that evening.
“Perhaps we will both meet our husbands tonight.” I wiggled my eyebrows.
