“No right to meddle?” Antoinette sent a horrified look at her sister. She seemed more scandalized by this than anything else Fanny had said this evening. “We were born to do this, Fanny. And we are doing our very best by Venetia out of the kindness of our hearts, wanting to make her shine to advantage. Whether it’s Signor Boticelli or...or Lord Yarrowby whom she entrances, she can make up her own mind, can’t she? As for Arabella, if she loves Sebastian, then her father should not be the one who says she cannot marry him.”
Despite Fanny’s concern over their meddling, as she termed it, she was humbled by Venetia’s reaction to the gown they brought her.
“Why, it’s the most beautiful creation I’ve ever seen,” the girl murmured, stroking the folds of silver net reverently.
“And I’ll send my dresser to attend to your hair,” said Antoinette. I’ve not seen your hair before now, and while it looks a very ordinary dark brown, it has rather a fine gloss to it.”
As Venetia hesitated, Fanny was struck by what fine features the young woman possessed. Her eyes were bright and intelligent, and of a very fetching blue, while her complexion was clear and, with the right colored gown, would be shown to best advantage.
“You shall resemble a lady born,” Fanny declared, wondering why she’d overlooked Venetia’s attractiveness before.
“And I shall feel it. Thank you,” Venetia said, appealing to Lady Indigo as Antoinette shook out the gown which twinkled in the light. “Is it not the most beautiful gown you’ve ever seen?”
“Beautiful,” Lady Indigo agreed without enthusiasm from her chair by the fire. “But wasted on you, my girl. Whom do you wish to impress? You are overreaching yourself. Everyone will say it.”
“I’m not wearing it to impress anyone.” Venetia sounded offended. “I’ll be wearing it because it will be a pleasure to wear something that I would choose to wear if I had the funds. And I don’t care what anyone says.”
“Well, as long as you please old Mr Wells, I’m sure that’s all that matters,” muttered Lady Indigo who was staring into the fire and seemed out of sorts. “He wanted to do you a kindness, and you will tell him how grateful you are to him.” There was a warning in her tone, and Fanny was reminded of her own forceful mama’s strictures.
And of how hard she’d worked to escape. She glanced again at Venetia. The girl was still in the first flush of youth, though, in a few years, when she’d passed her early twenties, she’d have little chance of escape.
“Of course, ma’am.”
Fanny didn’t miss the flint in the young woman’s eyes. Clearly, she didn’t like taking orders from Lady Indigo who now added, looking up suddenly like a blackbird who has come upon something bright and shiny, “So, there is to be an announcement, I hear, between pretty Arabella Reeves and the suitor she once rejected, Lord Yarrowby. For that reason alone I must make myself ready to appear for at least that auspicious moment. I knew Lord Yarrowby’s father, you know.”
“She’s not marrying Lord Yarrowby,” Antoinette corrected her.
Lady Indigo paused as she reached for her glass of brandy. “Are you accusing me of lying?”
Fanny hid her surprise, while Antoinette soothed their guest.
Was that the rumor flying around Quamby House? That an announcement was to be made regarding a betrothal between Miss Reeves and Lord Yarrowby?
Mr Reeves had a reputation for making his wishes felt, but Fanny didn’t think he could possibly make such an announcement without Arabella’s agreement.
She tried to change the subject. “Lord Quamby is also going to make an announcement. On Libby Wells’s behalf. She’s here with her suitor, Mr Clayton.”
“Lord Quamby is going to make the announcement? What about the gel’s father, old Mr Reeves?” asked Lady Indigo.
“He doesn’t approve.”
“How sad,” Venetia murmured, still stroking the lustrous folds of the gown she now held. “Mr Wells’s sister is...such a deserving girl. And so sweet natured.”
“You’ve met her?”
“I used to do lessons with her when my father was bailiff for old Mr Wells.”
“Really?” Fanny could not have been more surprised. “Was that Mr Wells’s idea?”
“He was kind to me when I was a child,” Venetia replied.
“And how lovely that he wanted you to be able to attend the ball tonight,” said Antoinette. “Such a dear old gentleman, as it turns out, though he seemed very forbidding to me. Even more so than old Mr Reeves.”
“Oh, he can be forbidding. And forceful,” Venetia agreed.
“Well, hopefully Miss Reeves will persuade the two old men out of their insistence if they know what is in poor Arabella’s best interests,” said Antoinette.
“Marrying Lord Yarrowby is in that girl’s interests,” Lady Indigo insisted, leaning forward. “And that is what is going to happen.”
“No, it’s not.”
Fanny wished that Antoinette was not so...tactless at the same time as being so liberal with the truth. This should be kept secret, for now, she thought. Especially when there might still be an opportunity to persuade Arabella out of it.
But, of course, Antoinette couldn’t resist. She was now leaning in toward the old woman so Lady Indigo could hear better as she explained, “Arabella and Sebastian have been carrying on a clandestine love affair and wish to be married, but both their fathers are set against it. Old Mr Reeves has been wanting Arabella to marry Lord Yarrowby for three years now. But she has fallen madly in love with Sebastian.”
“Sebastian Wells is in love with Arabella Reeves?” Lady Indigo sounded highly unimpressed. “Lord, what’s he see in that silly chit of a gel? That’s as absurd as suggesting he’d fallen in love with...with Venetia, for goodness sake!”
It was only by chance that Fanny caught the flare of hurt and surprise in the poor girl’s eyes, and suddenly she realized what it must feel like to be forever disparaged by a harsh and exacting woman such as Lady Indigo.
“I’m sure you don’t mean that, Lady Indigo,” she protested mildly. “When Venetia is dressed for tonight’s ball, Sebastian will find Venetia just as charming a companion as he does Arabella.”
“Except that Arabella Reeves is a simpering miss, and my Venetia is as stubborn as a mule. I can’t see either would suit.” Lady Indigo’s beetling brows made no secret of her strong disapproval. “But I’ve heard Lord Yarrowby has been wanting to marry Arabella for years. He was just waiting for her to grow up, so I heard. Sounds like she never will, though if anyone needed a steady fellow like Yarrowby, it’s Arabella. Why, she and Sebastian Wells would be disastrous together. As for that young man, well! Mr Wells needs someone who’ll keep him in line. Not some giddy schoolroom miss.” She jerked her head up. “What are you doing, Venetia? Dilly-dallying about when you should be getting ready for the ball? Now, go and fetch my book of verse. Don’t think I’ll release you before you’ve read to me. I’m not so indulgent as Ladies Fenton and Quamby, you know.”
Fanny realized she and Antoinette had been dismissed. She turned with a farewell for Venetia and a smile.