The coachman immediately set into motion,andFalloncouldn’t help but imaginethat such a strict woman couldbe a harsh taskmaster. Those around her would havelittle choice but to comply with any demands that were made without complaint or comment if they wished to keep their position.
While Fallon might not agree with how someof the lower classeswere treated, sheknewitwasbest to hold her tongueand not voice an opinion if she wished to prove to her aunt that she wasn’t as radical as her fellow countrymen.
“I doubt that you are familiar with how polite society works here.” Francine’s smile was far from warm. “But since we wanted to welcome you in proper fashion, I am holding a ball in your honor this weekend.” Her eyes were assessing. “I’ve worked hard to ensure that ShawseaHall is well known, not just for its hospitality, but for the graciousness ofitshostesses.”
Fallon’sirritationwaspiqued. It wasn’tas if she didn’t know how to comport herself around other people, but Francine made it soundas though she was going toclimb up on the dining table andstart chanting about the injusticesin Ireland. But since she wanted to make a good impression, she forced herself to hold her tongue.“Rest assured I will not disappoint you.”
Francineappeared to relent slightly. “I’m relieved to hear it for I have spared no expense to see that you are introducedproperlyinto society.With any luck, we will soon be ableto find you a suitable husband.”
Fallonstilled, for she hadn’t even thought of the possibility of marriage, but she supposed it was expected for a woman her age, as her aunt had just pointed out. She was twenty,after all,but the idea of entertaining a suitorcausedherto becomerather flustered. She’d neverreallyflirted with anyone of the opposite sex, for she found it rather awkward. She had never even been kissed!
Abruptly, the image of a roguish man in grey flared in her mind and her cheeks flushed.She wondered ifMr. Clareintended to hold to his word and attend the ball. For some reason this excited her, but then she reminded herself that he was a former privateer with a shady reputation and not someone that she should be entertaining thoughts about.
“Since the ball will be held in a few days, that doesn’t give us much time to prepare.”Francinetilted her head. “I assume the rest of your attire is the same as this?”
“I’m afraid so,” Fallon admitted,although shecouldn’t resist adding, “I had little need for silks and satins when I wastoilingin the gardens.”
Her aunt’s eyes narrowed. “Indeed.” She brought her hand up to smooth an imaginary hair back into place. “In that case, I shall make arrangements for you to seethe localdressmaker as soon as possible. Until then, you can wear one of Eliza’s gowns.I’ll see that one is altered immediately.”
With that, she turned to her daughter who had been standingnearby andsilently observing the exchange. “Please show Fallon to her room so that she can tidy up before dinnerand choose one of your older gowns forIngridto adjust. I have somebusiness to take care of, so I will see you both then.”
At the woman’s departure, Fallon stared after her retreating back. It certainly wasn’t the welcoming display of emotion that she had beenhoping for, but perhaps Francine was just a shrewd woman who had little need for grand displays of affection.
Eliza touched her arm gently. “I hope you didn’t think Mother was tooharsh,” she soothed, as if reading her thoughts. “It’s just her way.I know she truly is happy to have you here.”
Fallon wasn’t so sure about that, but she forced a smile for her cousin’s sake. It was difficult to believe that thisfree-spiritedwoman and Francine wereof the same bloodline, asthey were so different.
As Eliza led Fallon up the grand staircase toward the family bedchambers, Fallon let her mind wander as her cousinchatteredaboutvarious thingsaroundthe house. Shespokeabout thetenants and life in Southampton, but Fallon’s mindwas whirling with what had happened betweenher aunt andher mother that had caused such a great divide.It was something that had always tugged at the back of her mind. And perhaps if she finally knew the truth,itwould explainthe cool manner that Francine was showing to her.
Fallonglanced at her cousin who was extolling the virtues of a particular tapestry andwhen she paused, she took it upon herself to ask the question burning in her thoughts.“Iappreciate your efforts to make me feel at home, Eliza, but Iwonder if you might knowwhat happened to cause your mother and mine to become estranged?I daresay I’ve wondered about it for years.”
Eliza paused, her expression becoming thoughtful. “Iwish I could say, but until recently,mother neverevenmentionedthat she had asisterwho had lived inIreland. In fact, it wasn’t until a few weeks ago that she even told me aboutyou, which is why I wassothrilledwhen you arrived.” She shrugged. “I don’t have any siblings and it’s rather niceto have another female in the house around my age.”
Fallonknew that they were going to get along famously. “I didn’t either, but I’m glad that we have each othertoo.”
Eliza grinned and showedoffa set of charming dimples in her cheeks.She grabbed her hand. “Just wait until you see your chamber!” With that,ElizapulledFallonbehind her with exuberant enthusiasm.
***
Later, as Fallon was soaking in an elegant clawfoot tub, scented with rose perfume,trulythefinestbath she’d ever taken, she tried to push aside herconcernsabout her aunt, but that niggling uncertainty in the back of her mind that her grandmothersaidhad always been her greatest strength, just wouldn’t go away.However, in this instance, she could just be jumping to conclusions.Time wouldeventuallytell if Francine’sintentions tobringher within the circle of their family were sincere.
Or not.
Doing her best to lay her misgivings aside for the moment, Fallon laidher head back against the rim of the tub. She took a moment toglance around atthesurroundingsthat Eliza had flown through earlier. She smiled, for truly her cousin was a whirlwind.
Thebedchamber waspleasingandalmostquaint, and nearly as large as her grandparent’s entire cottage. The mahogany four-poster bed stood in the middle of the room and dominated thefloor space, while a roll top desk and chair, dressing table, and the grand wardrobe made up theremainderof the furnishings. The latter was quite impressive as well, made from dark maple wood and adorned with gold ornate trim. But it was the full-length cheval mirror standing beside it that had made Fallon wincewhen she’d first spied her reflection.
It was no wonder Francine had eyed her with such disdainupon her arrival. Her dark hair was a disheveled mess about her shoulders and her simple, faded dress certainly looked out of place in such a magnificent place.No one would mistake her as anything but the poor relation, for withouta single petticoat or corset, hersolitaryundergarmentsbeing a thin shift and drawers, she looked the perfect picture of a charity case. But then, she’d had no need for bustles or such frippery in Ireland. Survival had been infinitely more important than being fashionable.
But after listening to Ingrid, the maid who had assisted her with her bath water, chatter on about Shawsea Hall and how Francine had taken over the running of the estate after her husband’s death,and how harvest season was nearly over and their crop had flourished,Fallon had tobelievethather aunt wasn’t so much a harsh woman, as ahardone.It sounded as though sheer will and determination had allowed her tocontinuelivinga comfortable life. Granted, she had been left a generous stipend through her late husband, and exercising her dower rights, Francine was allowed to act on her own merit, and according to Eliza, she had become a rather successful businesswoman in her own right, investing various funds in the growing industrial technology, such as the railroad and steam ships, which had obviously paid off rather well. But it wasstilla large responsibility to keep up withon her own, for Eliza mentioned that she preferred not to enlist the services of a steward.Combined with the added expense of having a daughter to see properly settled in the future, Fallon wondered if there were timesFrancine might not havejust tried to survive as well.
It was certainly somethingfor herto consider.
Sheshivered as the water began to cool andasdusk was starting to fall outside, she knew it wouldn’t be long before she was summoned downstairs to dinner.
Reluctantly, she stepped out of the tub and proceeded to towel off the water droplets that were clinging to her flesh. Shethrew on a silk robe that Ingrid had brought for her use andsat down in front of the cheery fireplace in her roomtocombthroughher hair.As it began to dry, she pulled her long tresses back intoa simple knot at her napeand pinned it.
Sheglanced at the mirror once again andhoped that her appearance would pass her aunt’s inspection this time.She certainly looked more presentable than the waif who had arrived on her doorstep a few hours prior. And once she donned the pale blue satin that now lay across her bed, one of Eliza’s former gowns, she hoped it might even bring a smile to Francine’s face.
