Bits and pieces… Eden
CHAPTER 5
Reconnaissance- is the exploration outside an area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about natural features and enemy presence.
The following Tuesday the Bluebells were all a flutter with newfound information and could hardly wait for the meeting to begin.
“I would like to start by saying this has been a very educational week for all concerned,” Eden winked to her fellow sisters-in-arms, and they fell back into the pillowed couches and chairs laughing and giggling uproariously.
Sophie rolled her eyes, but couldn’t help the small smile from escaping her lips: “Pray tell what havoc have you, ladies, been wreaking on the men of London.”
Hazel’s arm shot up: “Oh please, let me go first!”
Eden nodded: “By all means.”
Hazel jumped to her feet, her enthusiasm propelling her forward. “Well, at the Stewart’s ball last Friday night I saw my brother Markus talking the ears off Lord Benjamin Shore, you know, the Viscount of Northland? I normally would have hidden my face in shame. You know how Markus can talk the ears off a brass monkey? But I marched right up to where they were speaking and I, quite by chance mind you, happened to bump into Viscount Northland. His man piece wasn’t doing anything interesting, and trust me I was looking and quite intently too. But then the funniest thing began to happen: the longer I looked - the more it seemed to, goodness, I am uncertain how to phrase it, poke out a bit? I am certain that, had I been able to look longer, it would have done something more exciting, but he made some bumbling excuse and went away.”
The ladies were all very impressed with Hazel’s recounting, that is all except Sophie, who quite literally was hitting the palm of her hand against her forehead.
“Bluebells!” she pleaded. “You cannot go around staring at the breeches of all the men in London. It is simply indecent, and you will find yourselves ruined!”
“I do not see why,” Eden argued. “It’s not like we have touched anyone, and they are constantly staring at our bits and pieces. If I had farthing for every time someone stared at my bosom, I would be a very rich woman.”
Eva sniggered, “You are a very rich woman.”
Eden stuck her tongue out at the younger woman: “Whose side are you on?”
Eva immediately straightened: “Yours, of course. Besides, I have a story to tell of my own.”
Sophie covered her face entirely: “Of course you do, and she’s the youngest of all of you. What have I started?”
“You remember that I am the youngest of seven daughters?”
They nodded in sympathy: poor Eva had been wearing hand-me-down dresses and made-over frocks her entire life. To make matters worse, she was a little slip of a thing, and nothing really fit quite right. It usually looked like she was swimming in whatever she was wearing.
However, since becoming a Bluebell, she had been dressing in better style. Eva had too much pride to accept new dresses from the girls, although many had offered. But she had no qualms about accepting their castoffs. After all, that is what she had been doing her entire life. The real blessing had been Eden’s lady’s maid, who had begun altering the clothing to fit Eva’s tiny form.
“I have noticed a decided increase of attention from the male suitors now that I am outfitted properly.”
The Bluebells all grinned up at her. It was so nice seeing one of their own having some success.
“I was dancing with Viscount Adderly, I know it was probably a setup from my mother, but that is beside the point. Ladies, it was a waltz.”
They all leaned in, while Sophie let out a sigh of grief or, perhaps, exasperation.
“His grip was firm on mine, and his other hand was low on my back. I know that it helps that I am so much smaller than he is. But I wondered: if I brushed up against him a few times, what might happen.”
“Dear Lord above!” Sophie cried out.
“Don’t interrupt, it’s getting good,” Eden hushed her friend.
“Well, he seemed unperturbed, and I did apologize for the first few times, but not after that. Then I noticed that his gaze got darker and his grip got firmer. By the end of the dance there was a decided firmness poking into me every time I brushed up against him. We both were very winded at the end of the dance, so for a moment I wondered if he wasn’t going to let me go. But then he seemed to catch himself, and he shook his head almost impenetrably. Perhaps to clear it, I am not certain? Then he bowed and hightailed it out of there before I could get a word in edgewise.”
“Ladies, I must implore you to stop this nonsense. I did not want you to go around focusing all of your time and energy on what is happening in a man’s pants,” Sophie was frazzled.
Beatrice shrugged, “I don’t see why not. If they can think with that appendage 95% of the time, the least we can do is understand it.”
“Agreed,” Eden’s eyes narrowed. “Does anyone else have anything to share?”
The other Bluebells shook their heads.
“Well, I have a little something,” Eden blushed. “It isn’t much, nothing as grand as Hazel’s and Eva’s, but it is a little tidbit that brightened my day. I was introduced to the dowager Marchioness of Lancaster at Stewart’s ball.”
Hazel’s face was a mask of confusion: “Why would that brighten your day?”
“Because I do not think I have ever seen Phillip more miserable in my entire life, and that my, dear Bluebells, was a sight to behold!” Eden grinned.
Sophie glanced away furtively.
“Is there something you know that you are not telling us?” Eden asked.
Sophie choked, “No, not a thing. More tea, Bluebells?”