“Yes, Miss Mathilda.” Maria fastened the last of the tiny buttons marching in a row down Harriett’s back, dipped into a curtsey, and quietly withdrew.
Tilly waited until the bedchamber door had closed behind Maria before she turned to Harriett. “Of course you can, dearest. Why, a ball is the simplest thing in the world!”’ Simply monstrous, in truth, but she couldn’t say so to Harriett, who looked like a panicked horse about to bolt.
“But what if I can’t?” Harriett’s dark eyes were shiny with unshed tears. “What if no one asks me to dance?”
“My dearest Harriett, this ball is being held inyourhonor. Your aunt will make certain you’re partnered for every dance, though I daresay there will be no need for her to intervene, as the gentlemen will all be clamoring for your hand tonight.”
Harriett sniffed. “Do you really think so?”
“Of course, I do. Why shouldn’t they? You look lovely.”
“So you do, Tilly.” Harriett gave her a watery smile. “I adore your gown. It flatters you.”
“It better do.” Tilly tugged at the tight silk bodice of her gown. “Because it’s clearly going to be a torment to wear.”
But Harriett wasn’t looking at her. She was staring at her own reflection, her lips turned down.
“Harriett?” Tilly crossed the room. “Is something amiss with your gown?”
Harriett met her gaze in the glass, forced a smile, and gave a little shake of her head. “No, nothing at all. I’m being silly. It’s just that this is our first ball of the season, and I’d hoped… well, never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
Itdidmatter, because Harriett’s lips had gotten all trembly again. “It is your gown, isn’t it? Do you not care for it?”
“It’s very pretty, and I liked it well enough at the modistes’, but now I’m not sure it suits me. And my hair, Tilly.” Harriett raised a hand to her head and ran her fingertips over the stiff curls pinned beside her ears. “It’s not quite the thing, is it?”
Itwasthe thing. A number of young ladies were wearing their hair in clusters of elaborate curls at their temples this season. The trouble was, it wasn’t the thing forHarriett.
“Never mind it, Tilly. I won’t be so selfish as to complain, and hurt my aunt’s feelings.” Harriett turned away from the glass, and gave Tilly a brave smile. “Shall we go downstairs?”
“There’s nothing selfish about wishing to look your best for your first ball of the season, Harriett.” She took Harriett by the shoulders and turned her back toward the glass. “It’s not the gown’s color. This shade of blue is lovely on you. The trouble is the trimmings. Why, you’re positively drowning in bows and ribbons, and this hairstyle is too fussy.”
“Well, I don’t see what we can do about it now. It’s too late to change it.” Harriett let out a forlorn little sigh. “My aunt and Euphemia are likely already wondering what’s become of us.”
“They may wait a few more minutes.” She couldn’t let her friend appear at her first ball looking anything less than breathtaking. Harriett was as lovely as any other young lady in London this season. Unfortunately, the only person who couldn’t see that was Harriett herself.
She turned a critical eye on Harriett’s gown, fingered the bows at the waist and neckline of the bodice, then gave a decisive nod. “I know just what to do.”
She strode across the bedchamber, rummaged amongst her things until she found her sewing scissors, and waved them triumphantly in the air. “Stand still, dearest. This won’t take but a moment.”
Harriett gasped. “Tilly! We can’tcutit!”
“Certainly we can. There’s nothing wrong with the gown that few judicious snips here and there won’t fix.”
“But it’s one of Madame Dubois’s original creations! It cost my aunt a fortune!”
“Madame Dubois, my eye. I’d wager she’s never been to France in her life. Have you noticed her Parisienne accent has a distinct tinge of the Yorkshire countryside about it? You can hear it whenever she’s agitated.”
“But she’s London’s most sought after modiste!”
“Then she should have known better than to put you in this gown to begin with. You’re much too dainty for such an elaborate style. It overwhelms you, and makes you look as if you’re a child playing dress up. Something simpler will suit you much better.”
“Are you…are you cutting off the bows?” Harriett was watching in frozen horror as Tilly began carefully snipping away at the gown.
“Yes, but not to worry. I’m quite handy with my scissors, you know.”
“But you’ll cut a hole in it!” Harriet wailed. “How will I ever explain this to my aunt?”
“Nonsense. I’m not cutting the fabric, only the threads. I used to make over my sisters’ gowns all the time, because we couldn’t afford new ones every year.” Of course, that was before Emmeline, Juliet and Helena had gone off and married earls. It had quite ruined her fun when they’d become such grand countesses.
