Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 685(@200wpm)___ 548(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Wow.
There was a great view of me out there, wasn’t there?
“They may have in the past, but I almost died. It’s put a few things into perspective for me.” I smiled. “I have decided to live for myself.”
“A noble cause. Where are you going to collect your dress?”
“I was planning on visiting Madam Fontaine’s. I wasn’t able to get a dress made as I didn’t have enough time, so I was going to see what she had available.”
She eyed me speculatively, then reached back and knocked on the partition between us and the coachman. “Excuse me, coachman?”
Harry slid it open, leaning backwards. “Yes, Lady Trelawney?”
“Good sir, would you mind changing course to the Trelawney estate?” Lady Vivian asked. “We have some sudden business there before Lady Alicia visits the town.”
“Of course, my lady.” Harry pushed the partition closed once more.
Lady Vivian turned to me with a smile. “I had more than one dress prepared for this ball, and one of them simply does not suit me, but I think it’ll look divine with your colouring. Would you humour me by trying it on?”
“I couldn’t possibly accept a dress from you.”
“Of course, you can. I cannot see the eldest daughter of Marquess Vermillion attend the biggest ball of the year in a dress from the rack. Besides, as I said, it doesn’t suit my colouring.”
“Are you sure?”
“Quite sure.” She peered out of the window. “Ah, we weren’t too far away. We’re almost here.”
She was right. The Trelawney estate appeared before I knew it, and I quickly became acquainted with Lady Vivian’s no-shit attitude. I was swept out of the carriage and into the mansion by her with our maids scurrying along behind us. Lady Vivian gave orders as we moved, sending maids scattering through the house.
By the time we reached her dressing room, the most gorgeous green dress I’d seen in either of my lives was already waiting for us.
It was the exact colour of my eyes.
It had a strapless sweetheart neckline, and the bodice was adorned with exquisite silver beading that was concentrated in the centre of the bust. It stretched down as if it resembled a stomacher jewel, and the adornment lightly petered out as it reached the skirt.
The skirt itself was made of light material, and the layers of it fell like waves, giving it an almost asymmetrical look. More layers of a lighter material were attached to the waist, and the main layer had stitching that perfectly matched the beading of the bodice.
No.
Beading was wrong.
It was jewelling.
The dress was adorned with tiny diamonds.
There was no way I could accept this dress.
“Lady Vivian, I—”
“There are also matching gloves,” she said, taking a small box from a maid. “They’re quite short, but we felt long ones would take away from the bodice.”
“I can’t accept this,” I said quickly. “It’s far too much.”
“Nonsense.” She handed the gloves to Bella. “We’re the same height and about the same size, so it shouldn’t need too much altering. Everyone will help you try it on.”
“I can’t—”
“Think of it as a token of our friendship.”
Damn it.
She had me.
I stared at her for a second, then sighed. “You win.”
She grinned. “Then call me Vivi.”
“Only if you call me Allie.”
She clasped my hand in hers, and that playful twinkle was back in her eye again. “Deal, Allie.”
Lady Vivian Trelawney—your worst enemy or your most loyal friend.
I’d earlier wondered which one she’d be to me.
I had my answer.
***
“That was exhausting,” I said, collapsing into the carriage.
Bella giggled as she took the seat opposite me. “Lady Vivian is quite full of life, is she not, my lady?”
“That’s a very polite way of putting it.” I shook my head. “I’m very thankful for the dress, but it feels like far too big a gift. Especially since we’ve only just met properly.”
“She must have taken quite a liking to you. From what I’ve heard, she can be quite cold to those she doesn’t like.”
“Yes, I think Sophia had some of that treatment during the tea party today.”
“I suspect the marchioness will be unhappy when you return home. You should brace yourself for it.”
I waved my hand. “What can she do? The invitation was addressed to me. Father won’t be happy to hear they’ve been taking my invitations and Sophia has been going in my place. Besides, he’s already aware I was attending the tea party today as I told him yesterday. I did that deliberately.”
“You are quite wise, my lady.”
“Thank you. I think so.” I smiled at her. “I was prepared for a fight when I made the decision to respond to the invitations, so don’t worry so much. There’s nothing she can do to me this close to the ball.”
Bella eyed me concernedly for a moment, then sighed. “I suppose so.”
Gosh, she was so sweet.
I’d always been marginally uncomfortable with the power dynamic where a friendship was concerned between a lady and her maid in novels like the one that I was living in. It sometimes felt as though the maid had no choice but to be friends with the lady she served, but I was now viewing it in a whole other light.