“Why are you not dressed?” Miss Mary said as she came into the drawing room of the small house.
Lady Louisa looked up from the book of poems she had been reading to see her young cousin dressed in a beautiful cream dress with a green ivy pattern along the hems.
“Oh, Mary, you look stunning,” Lady Louisa said as her eyes looked over her cousin.
Not only was Miss Mary’s dress of the most delicate silk, but her hair was also intricately placed in beautiful cascading ringlets down her back, with single pearls pinned into several decorative braids.
“One would hope so; I think Bess poked me so many times in the head I feared I might start bleeding,” Miss Mary said with a touch of her long white glove to her hair. “But you. Lady Louisa, here you sit, and we must leave within the hour.”
Lady Louisa found herself utterly exhausted after yesterday’s events, then an evening full of dress altering and then a morning of sewing to complete the gowns in time. She hadn’t even considered her own outfit or even the fact that she would have the energy to attend the ball.
“I don’t think I shall attend, Mary,” Lady Louisa said delicately. “I am much too tired now.”
“Nonsense,” Miss Mary said, tugging on her cousin’s hand to get her to stand. “You must come. We could introduce you to our little society here. Plus, you did such a wonderful job on this embroidered hem that my mother insisted on; I have to have you by my side. That way when I am complimented on it, I can say it was all your skilled hand’s doing.”
“That is very kind, but I shan’t be ready in time,” Lady Louisa responded.
She had to admit, however, it did feel nice to be appreciated and wanted. It seemed like the first time since her arrival. She suspected Miss Mary had many more occasions where she felt such gratitude towards her but feared speaking so in front of her mother and sister.
“I shall help you. Bess will too, now that she is done with me. I’m afraid Suz still has quite a bit of work to do on my sister, but she would help too if she could. You have been such a help to us all, even in just the short time you’ve been here. We all want to see you out tonight and having a bit of fun,” Miss Mary encouraged as she led her cousin up the stairs and to Mary’s own room.
For the next hour, the two girls along with the maid stayed in Miss Mary’s room while Lady Louisa tried on various dresses that she had brought with her and had her hair done. The latter was particularly tricky as Lady Louisa’s hair rarely cooperated.
Bess was doing her best to give Lady Louisa a unique look with various braids wrapping around her chignon and several ringlets flowing out. It didn’t work out well when Lady Louisa’s hair was so limp and flat to her head.
“It will be just fine, m’lady. I have found when hair is
not doing as it should there is always one perfect remedy.”
“And what is that Bess?” Lady Louisa asked from her seat in front of the mirror.
“A turban,” Bess replied.
“Oh no, Bess,” Miss Mary chimed in from her seat on the bed. “That is far too old for her.”
“Well, I don’t mean in the actual sense as some of the aged ladies might wear it. Instead, we will leave these bits in front, stuff some of the turban under your hair so that it looks so much fuller and nice. Then we will wrap it here…” Bess spoke as she worked.
By the time she was finished, Lady Louisa had to admit it was probably about the finest her hair had ever looked. Lady Louisa had chosen a cream dress with a rose embroidered ribbon at her waist. The fabric wrapping around her hair and highlighting each flowing curl was a matching pink color with green stripes throughout. The lines gave an even better allusion of more curls than before, and Lady Louisa could swear the pink even brought out the gold tone her hair had once had as a child.
“Mary, where are you?” Lady Hendrickson called. “You silly girl, we are going to be late, and it will be all your fault,” she huffed as she entered the room.
She stopped in surprise to see Lady Louisa there and not only that but readied for the ball.
“I was just helping Louisa, Mother.”
“Oh, my dear,” she said to Lady Louisa. “I had no idea you planned on attending tonight. What with your recent traveling I expected you would want the night to rest,” she stated as she wrung her black-gloved hands.
“If it is alright with you, Lady Hendrickson, I would like to join you tonight.”
Lady Louisa suspected if she had any chance to go tonight, which she had a growing desire to after all of Bess’ hard work, she would first need to please her aunt. There was a moment of silence as Lady Hendrickson thought over the possibility of not allowing her.
There was the fact that she had no honest reason to prevent her from attending. It was purely because she didn’t want her to. In terms of beauty, Lady Hendrickson was sure that her plain niece was no match for either of her daughters. There was the matter of title, however. She would not risk her two daughters losing a chance with the Duke over the plain silly little girl of her husband-stealing sister.
Finally, she saw no agreeable way to deter the child without it reflecting poorly on herself. It would make no difference. Her plans would still go accordingly. Perhaps if she was lucky, this ignorant city girl would get herself overwhelmed by the customs of a country public event, and decide to return home discouraged.
Lady Hendrickson already suspected that her sudden arrival had little to do with her own husband’s passing and more with a desperate attempt by her conniving sister to steal the Duke away from her daughters.
She was on to Lady Louisa’s scheme as well as her backstabbing mother’s. She would show them both who would win this final battle. She formed her face back into its present smile and looked down on her deceitful niece.
“Of course,” Lady Hendrickson said waving her hand like it was a silly question to ask. “I was only thinking of you when I didn’t suggest such a thing, naturally.”
“That was very kind of you. I believe I will be quite up to the task though,” Lady Louisa said.
Lady Hendrickson had to stop herself from saying that she highly doubted a delicate flower such as herself was ready for the high energy that accompanied country public affairs. Instead, she merely motioned for both her daughter and niece to exit the room.
The carriage ride into town was a quiet one. Lady Hendrickson and her eldest daughter had few words to exchange. Miss Mary seemed again to concentrate on the hands in her own lap and refused to make contact with anyone else in the party.
She suspected, in her youthful excitement to include Lady Louisa, she had somehow upset her mother. It was something that Miss Mary found she often did. Unlike her older sister who was always pleasing to their mother, Miss Mary had to struggle to find herself on Lady Hendrickson’s good graces.
At the same moment, Miss Elisabeth was intensely occupied with going over every possible outcome of every action to happen in the near future. This was her one and only chance to secure a rightful place among the ton. She would leave nothing to chance.
Having her cousin, Lady Louisa, there in the carriage and also on her way to the ball was of little consequence to her. In fact, she considered Lady Louisa much like one would consider a fly buzzing around. It was a slight annoyance, but nothing to really take notice of.
Lady Hendrickson was already making a mental note of all the new things she could plan for her niece to do. She had to admit, for such a simple looking town girl she did seem to have the spirit and work ethic of a mule. She had taken her trips on foot without complaint and done all the tasks that Lady Hendrickson had come up with.
She was sure those chores over the last week would have been enough to send the girl home. Instead, Lady Louisa, seemed to show the same stubborn determination as her mother. She never once complained about the tasks, no matter how demeaning.
Lady Hendrickson was quite unprepared for that. In fact, she was unsure what to do next. Perhaps she hadn’t been as hard on Lady Louisa as needed. Surely she could find more degrading things for her to do.
If that were not enough to send her crying back to her mother, then at least Lady Hendrickson would have some much-needed servant work done for free.
Yes, she smiled at that thought as she watched the trees pass by with every rotation of the carriage wheels. She was sure to get her long-awaited revenge on her sister.
Lady Louisa, on the other hand, settled into the pregnant silence and focused out her own window instead of on the three other passengers. In all honesty, she was very exhausted after such a tedious day.
In fact, she had almost fallen asleep as Bess had delicately placed each lock of hair and wrapped the fabric into place. She held her chin up high now, though. It had been clear by her aunt's actions that the lady had meant to exclude her from the event. And this was after all the extraordinary ways that Lady Louisa had tried to please her with.
Perhaps it was purely the exhaustion talking, but she was feeling particularly vindictive as she sat and thought about her aunt. How could she have asked so much of Lady Louisa and then turn and snub her at every chance?
Certainly, it was all due to her ire towards the
Dowager Countess, Lady Gilchrist. Lady Hendrickson seemed to have no desire to make amends with her sister. It was most puzzling since Lady Hendrickson had sent the letter stating her struggling with her husband's departure from this world.
Lady Louisa was deep in thought, wondering what Lady Hendrickson could have possibly wanted from such a letter. It was apparent that help from Lady Louisa’s family was not its purpose. Perhaps she had hoped that
Lady Gilchrist would have sent the money that Lady Hendrickson had refused in the past instead of sending her daughter instead.
Before she knew it, they had reached their destination. She laughed a little to herself realizing the trip was much quicker when done in a carriage.
It was Lady Louisa’s first experience at a public event in a country setting, and part of her wondered if she should have been surprised at their stop, but after seeing the town inside and out over the week, she really found it a reasonable location.
Instead of the usual halls that generally were attended in London, their carriage pulled up in front of the public barn that housed all the livestock as they came to and from town. Their own carriage was shuttled away into a stall just after the ladies exited the vehicle.
Lady Louisa wanted to ask where the event would be held. As of yet, she saw no room big enough, besides this barn, to host even such a humble town as this. She feared her question would only be returned with a scoff, however, so she walked silently behind her aunt and cousins.
They made their way around the barn. The smell of its present occupants caused the ladies to hold handkerchiefs to their noses. Finally, on the other side, Lady Louisa saw the group making their way to one direction.
It was a church building just behind the barn. For a moment, Lady Louisa thought this gay event might be held in the holy sanctuary, but then she saw it. Just behind and to the right of the church steeple, was a large canvas tent. It reminded her of a revival tent she had once been told about. All along the front of it, leading from the church to the canvas flap doors, was a row of lanterns in the otherwise dark.
Lady Louisa could barely contain her excitement at seeing it. She had never expected to attend a public dance in a tent. It seemed so exhilarating that she forgot her struggle against exhaustion earlier.
“Is it normal to hold events in such a way?” Lady Louisa couldn’t help but ask.
Her aunt turned to her already prepared with her response.
“I am sure it seems very insignificant to the glorious events of London. I do remember them well myself from my own childhood. If you don’t think you can handle attending such a meager event, I suggest you begin the walk home. There was a reason after all why I didn’t tell you about the ball in the first place.”
“I didn’t mean it that way at all, Lady Hendrickson. In fact, I am most excited to see the inside. It does look rather magical with its glowing lanterns and billowing walls. Like a dream. It could be here one moment, and in a blink, it would be gone,” Lady Louisa said as her eyes looked over the spectacle.
She caught the smile on Miss Mary’s lips before Lady Hendrickson huffed and moved quickly to enter, dissatisfied with Lady Louisa’s reply.