“I did,” she said gently. “I brought two with a thought to wear one of them on your wedding day. One has a very similar pink to the highlights of your gown.”
“How did you know there was pink in it?” Alice asked, lifting her arm so the seamstress could mark something along her side.
“Mary told Susan,” Lily explained.
“Mary did?” There was something a little wistful to her sister’s tone, but when she continued speaking it was gone. “I suppose she would, as they are cousins.”
“I wasn’t certain you wished to have me match you, though. It might take away from you, or at least that’s what your mother might say.”
“Mother can keep her opinions to herself,” Alice said with uncharacteristic heat. “I love the idea of you having that little connection to me. It will make me less nervous. Will you put it on so we can stand next to each other in the mirror and see if we like the effect?”
“Certainly,” Lily said and gathered up the dress. “May I borrow Mary so I don’t have to ring for Susan?”
“Yes. She should be in the dressing room through there,” Alice said, motioning across the room. “I think she was putting some things away from the laundering this morning.”
“I’m surprised she could keep herself from observing the fitting. You two are so close.”
Her sister didn’t answer but went back to staring into the mirror and so Lily went into the dressing room. She found Mary sitting on a chair within, matching stockings. When she lifted her gaze, her eyes were a little puffy, as if she’d been crying.
“Oh, Mary, I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Lily said.
The young woman got up immediately and set the stockings aside. “Of course not, Mrs. Manning. How can I help?”
“Alice wants to see me in this dress alongside her wedding gown. Do you think you could help?”
“Of course.”
They were quiet as the maid helped her remove her original gown and put on the pink instead. Mary’s fingers faltered a few times, but Lily wasn’t certain why. Mary was quite young, of course. Just a year older than her sister, in fact. Perhaps it was just inexperience.
“Are you well, Mary?” Lily asked as the young woman fastened the last few buttons on the dress.
“I…of course, ma’am.”
Lily faced her. “You look as though you’ve been crying. Is there anything I can do to help?”
The young maid dropped her chin and stared at the ground instead of Lily. “Oh, no. You’re very kind to offer but there’s…there’s nothing anyone can do.”
“Are you worried about your place after Alice marries?” Lily pressed. There was a long enough hesitation that she realized she had hit upon the truth. She caught Mary’s hand gently. “I know you are of great comfort to Alice. She says so often. And Lord Lockhart is very kind. He would never force her to change her servants. I believe with all my heart that your place on staff is safe.”
She expected there to be relief on Mary’s face at those words, but the trouble remained as the young woman glanced up at her. “Thank you for saying that, ma’am. It’s very considerate of you to think of me. Please don’t say anything to Alice…to Miss Alice, though. I don’t want her to worry about me when she has so many things going on.”
Lily smiled at the kindness of that thought. “I won’t. Thank you for your help.”
Mary went back to her stockings and Lily returned to the main chamber. The seamstress had left the room and Alice remained on the dais, looking in the mirror, her expression blank.
“What do you think?” Lily asked, and Alice jumped before she turned to look at her. Now her face lit up. “Oh my, it almost matches perfectly. Like we were made to stand together.”
She motioned Lily to come to her and stepped down from the platform so they could stand at the mirror, arms wrapped around each other. Lily caught her breath. Alice was so much younger than she was, it was sometimes difficult to remember that she was grown except in these moments where she looked so much like a lady.
“Oh, Lily, you are so beautiful,” Alice said softly.
Lily ducked her head as tears stung her eyes. “Nothing like you, dearest. You will be so…” She glanced up again, and this time when she looked in the mirror she didn’t see her sister but the woman who would marry Lockhart. She pushed her pain and jealousy at that aside. “You will be so perfect on your wedding day.”
If she expected Alice to smile or blush, her sister’s reaction was shocking. Alice drew in a shaky breath and then, without preamble, began to sob. Great, wracking sobs that shook her shoulders and left tears streaming down her face.
“Oh no,” Lily said, putting her arm around her sister more tightly and guiding her to the settee before the fire. They sat together. “What is it, love? What can I do? Are you nervous? Uncertain?”
Alice lifted her head and the tears continued to flow, even as she choked out, “Uncertain? Oh no, I’m perfectly certain. Lily, I don’t want to marry him.”
