“She was very helpful in finding something for your mother for her birthday. She has quite the keen eye for fashion, it would seem.”
Fallon watched as those dark eyes swept over her form. “I can see that,” he murmured.
She was quite sure that her cheeks pinkened as the Clare gentlemen took their leave. When Eliza returned to retrieve her a short time later, Fallon had recovered her decorum.
From the dressmaker’s they made a few more stops but finally headed back to Shawsea Hall.
When they returned, one of the servants approached Eliza and told her that one of the tenants was feeling ill. Eliza immediately offered her assistance and headed to the kitchens to speak with cook about preparing a basket.But when she started to ask for a tincture to help with the ailment, Fallon stepped up to help. Her grandmother had always said she had a natural talent for taking care of the infirm, and perhaps it was because she had done so from such a young age. It didn’t take long for Eliza to agree for when they checked on the woman later in the week, she was vastly improved.
And she wasn’t theonlyone they visitedwho praised her arrival. Eliza and Fallon made a point to see each of the families that worked for the manor and by the end of the week, Fallon was feeling as if she had finally made a difference in her time in England.
But while she was developing a pleasant rapport with the tenants, she couldn’t say the same for her relation.Unfortunately, Francine’s aloof disposition had not improved.
Even though Eliza spoke of the great work that Fallon was doing,her auntnever offered her a gentle look or caring smile,merelycontinued to regard her in the same cold manner. However, it wasjustat mealtimes that she was forced to endure her aunt’s company, for during the day Francine spent most of the time in her husband’s former study tending to business, or she was out of the house taking care of things, thus giving Fallon a reprieve.
At the end of the week,Fallon was starting towonderifshe would ever gain her aunt’s approval, for even though she continued to act in a pleasant manner and made sure she expressed the utmost decorum, it seemedthat no matter what she did,her efforts were ignored.
When the daybeforethe ballarrived,the items that had been ordered from the modiste were delivered.As two footmen brought the itemsupstairs, it wasn’t long before Fallon’s room was filled with brown wrapped packages. For a moment, Fallonjuststared at the pile, for there were times when sheimagined thatnone of this was real, that she was living in some sort of fairytale world that would suddenly come crashing down around her like a glass ceiling.
Elizamust have noted her hesitation forshe said, “Is somethingwrong?”
Sheturned to her cousin,whohadalreadyturned into adearfriend,and sighed. “Idon’t mean to appear ungrateful, but I can’t help but think it’s all… too much.” She waved her hand toward thecoveredfloor next to the bed.
“Of course it’s not.” Eliza walked over and clasped her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I know it must seem rather overwhelming since you came from a… modest background, but believe me when I say you deserve nothing less. And I’m sure Mrs. Davis would agree since you have nearly cured her gout.”
Fallon shrugged. “I’msimplydoing my best to pay back some of the kindness that I’ve been shown here.”
“AndI’m glad to have another woman to talk to.” She sat down on the edge of the bed with a dream like sigh. “I do hope BrendanHayes can attend the ball tomorrow night.”
Fallon frowned slightly. “Who’s that?”
Eliza smiled and shook her head of blond curls. “The mosthandsomeman in all of Southampton. Other than Mr. Clare, of course.” She laughed. “I have been trying to gain his attention for weeks, but I daresay I can’t quite figure him out.”
“I wish I could help,” Fallon winced. “But I’m afraid I’m not very good at flirting.”
Eliza waved a hand. “Oh, posh. I believe that it comes naturally when you find the right man. Somehow it all just falls intoplace.”
“I think your optimism is overshadowing reality,” shesaiddryly.
“Don’t be so cynical!” Eliza rolled her blue eyes. “Didn’t you ever meet a man in Ireland who interested you?”
An image of dancing dark eyes floated through her mind and Fallon shrugged. “Not really. It was such a small village that everyone seemed like family.”
Eliza stood and patted her on the cheek. “I’m confident that by the end of the ball, that will all change.”
***
As Fallon sat at the dressing table the followingevening, waiting as Ingrid put the finishing touches on her hair, Eliza entered the room in apalepink satin gowncomplete with tiny pink roses sewn along thebodice andhem. As she went on about what Fallon might expectforher first officialball, her blue eyes twinkled with excitement. Fallon wanted to join inthesamemerriment, butthe nerves that fluttered in her midsection wouldn’t allow her the same sort of carefree abandon. She knew this was an important night for her aunt—and for herself, if she wished to be accepted in polite English society.
She certainly didn’t wish to become a further blight on the family name just by being Irish.
“Oh, it’s perfect! Come and see.”
Fallon blinked as the sound of Eliza’s exclamation brought her back to the present. She rose to her feet and walked over to the mirror toinspecther reflection.
For a moment,Fallondidn’t even recognizethe womanlookingback at her.Her dark hair had been piled on top of her head and danced about her shoulders in a cascade of elegant curls. The face powder and enhancements that Eliza had insisted upon made her skin appear flawless and combined with the deep emerald silk of her gown, her eyes seemed brighter than usual. Weighed down withlayers ofpetticoats and undergarments thatsocietybelieved wasrequiredfor women of fashion,Falloncouldn’t believe that she was the samebedraggled girlwho had arrived upon these shoresjust a fewdaysago.She doubted that anyone in Carraroewould evenknowher.
Thinking of her fellow countrymen, she was struck with a suddentwinge of guilt for dressing in such finery whenthey were still dealing with the hardships cast upon them by the wealthy landlords.
