“Hestony?” Luke walked up behind her, his voice soft. A tall gentleman and Hal’s cousin, Luke was certainly striking to look at, Hestony thought as she turned to him, though he was not the sort of gentleman she would usually find attractive. His voice was gentle, and low with concern.
“Hello, cousin Luke,” Hestony greeted him. After marrying Emilia, he had become her cousin – more or less. She always called him so.
“What’s the matter?” he asked gently. “Canmure and Raphaella are just leaving, and I don’t even know who the other two are – must be friends of theirs. I never met them before in my life. You mustn’t feel unwelcome because of them.”
Hestony covered her mouth to smother her laughter. Luke had whispered, but they were really very close to the door and the risk that the unknown guests had heard him made the whole thing even more amusing.
“Hush, Luke,” she whispered. She was still grinning as she walked in over the threshold with him in tow.
“Hestony!” Emilia greeted her. “How good to see you! I thought you might be resting, or out for a walk. Come and join us. Canmure and Raphaella are here too, though they have to leave at five for a recital.”
“Hello,” Hestony smiled at them nervously. Both men shot to their feet.
“You haven’t met Lord Grayford and his sister, Lady Leona?” Emilia inquired mildly
“No, I haven’t. Very pleased to make your acquaintance, My Lord. My Lady.” Hestony bobbed her head to both of them. Lord Grayford and Canmure sat down again after a polite bow.
“I am pleased to meet you, Lady Hestony. Alas, we also have to part company at five,” Lord Grayford said.
“I wish you all a pleasant party, then,” Hestony said, quite glad as they stood up to leave.
“Goodnight, Lady Hestony, Lady Emilia.”
“Pleasant evening.”
When they had left, Emilia stayed where she was, standing by the wall. She turned to Hestony, hands clasped.
“We’re going to give a ball here at Westmore.”
“A ball?” Hestony felt her brow lift in a delicate frown. “Cousin, are you sure? I mean…won’t all that organizing be a little hard for you?”
Emilia patted her hand gently. “Oh, Hestony. Cousin, you have a good heart. But, no…oddly, I am finding that carrying this child is giving me plenty of vitality! Raphaella mentioned it was the same for her mama.”
“I see,” Hestony frowned. “But, cousin…if there is anything that I can do…”
“I will be very happy to have your help,” Emilia said gently. “It’s going to be good fun to organize such a thing together!”
Hestony nodded, though she felt a little daunted. She had organized many parties, but never by herself. Her mother always had the guiding hand and could be so domineering that she felt quite nervous to take on the task alone.
“It will be good fun to have our own ball here in the country. A little bit of London elegance in the summer” she chuckled.
“Yes! Capital,” Emilia agreed with a friendly nod.
Over the next week, Hestony and Emilia discussed plans for the ball – it would be held in the small ballroom at Westmore House, which had last been decorated over twenty years ago, but was still classic-looking and appropriate. It was big enough to hold forty guests. They drew up a guest-list, refined it, and discussed the choice of musicians and refreshments. They planned the little details and chose their own gowns. Hestony had brought two ball-dresses with her, and Emilia had one which would still fit, despite the growing presence of the child.
“All set, then.” Emilia smiled.
“All set,” Hestony agreed.
The evening before the ball, she felt somewhat less excited. She stood before the mirror, a nervous frown on her pretty, neat features. Her hair was fluffed around her face in curls, decorated with a ribbon as a band about her head. She wore a dress in muslin, of a yellow so pale it could have been white.
“Hestony, don’t you think you should wear the pearl-set?” her mother’s voice said from the doorway. “Pearls suit you far better than that necklace…it’s a little plain.”
“It’s my heart necklace,” Hestony said, touching the little pendant with her finger. It was a gift from her grandfather who had passed away years before. She still liked to wear it on special occasions, and it was her favorite piece.
“Fine,” her mother shrugged. “Do as you like.” She sounded hurt. “I just think the pearls are far showier and suit you well.”
“Mama, please…” Hestony almost pleaded. “I’m so looking forward to this evening…”
Her mother was already walking down the stairs.
Hestony bit her lip hard, not wanting to be upset or angered by her mother’s ways. She glanced at herself in the mirror.
“I do look pretty,” she told herself firmly. “And I’m going to have fun.”
She headed down the stairs to the coach.
Westmore House was twenty minutes away by coach from the lodgings she and her mother had borrowed from their friend, Lady Amhurst. The countryside was bathed in mauve dusk and Hestony felt her spirits rise as they travelled towards the ball. She was still excited. Her mother had relaxed somewhat, now that they were in the coach, and she seemed content to watch the scenery as it passed beyond the windows.
At the house, they stopped at the head of the drive. The coachman, Mr. Emms, jumped out to help them down, and Hestony drew in an anticipatory breath as she stood at the foot of the stairs.
Westmore House was a fine home, made of pale sandstone with an elaborate entrance way and gables. The place was transformed by the light of torches: turning from an ordinary, if fine, manor to an enchanted world.
“Hestony! Good evening,” Emilia greeted her enthusiastically as she came up the steps. Her cousin was radiant in a yellow dress with long silk gloves, her hair pulled back from her face and hidden under the briefest of nets – a nod to her married status.
“Cousin. You look beautiful,” she whispered sincerely.
“And you too cousin! You look radiant. Luke’s just gone down to supervise the musicians…he’ll be back in a moment. He’ll be so pleased to see you.”
“Thank you, cousin,” Hestony murmured. Her eyes followed Emilia’s gesture to the back of the hall, where a group of musicians, dressed in black, were adjusting their seating. She searched the area around Luke, hoping to find his cousin, Hal, nearby. She searched the room once more, and spotted him, standing just beside the musicians. She hurried over, trying not to look as though she was headed in that direction purposefully.