Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116547 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“They believed you would not make it tonight as you sought to recover from all the festivities. But I assured them there was no chance Hathor Du Bell would forfeit another opportunity to snag a duke this season.” Lily giggled, and I looked to Hathor, waiting for her furious retort. However, to my great disappointment, she only nodded.
“I am glad you know me so well, Lily. Thank you for your congratulations. Now, if you will excuse us—”
“Hathor, we have barely made acquaintances with Verity,” Poppy replied as she turned to me. “I feel as though I have heard of you all my life but barely have said two sentences to you. I am Poppy Perrin, Sir Grisham’s daughter. These are my cousins, Lily and Iris.”
I was correct. Their dresses matched their names, and I wondered if they did that often, and if so, for what purpose?
“Hello,” I said to them as if I were unfamiliar with Sir Grisham. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance—”
“Oh, she is here!” Lily all but squealed, squeezing her cousins’ arms.
When I turned to look, none other than Lady Clementina Rowley was coming down the stairs behind her mother and father. Her bright pink dress was nothing in comparison to the stunning rows upon rows of pearls around her tan neck. Never had I seen so much finery on anyone—beyond the queen and my stepmother.
“By heavens, she is like a walking chandelier,” Iris whispered as she withheld her laughter.
“Truly, how does one get that tall?” Poppy whispered back.
“Stretching,” Lily answered, and they started to snicker.
“The duchess truly spares no expense, does she not? To arrive at her home is always such an honor, though I do wonder about those to whom she extends invitations. I thought this concert was to be shared only among the nobility,” Hathor said to me, reminding me very much of her own mother before kindly glancing back toward the others. “Do enjoy yourselves. I am sure such invitations rarely come to your households. And I so love your dresses. They look strikingly similar to the ones you wore at our ball.”
There was the retort I was expecting. Proud of herself once more, Hathor took my arm captive and led me from the garden sisters toward another group of ladies. I was sure I knew these ones, as we all had been presented before the queen this year. However, even among ladies of our rank, they, too, mocked Clementina as she walked ever so slowly behind her parents, both of whom she was taller than, to greet guests. And even as Hathor redirected the conversations to topics of gentlemen, they eventually refocused on Clementina.
I found myself utterly bored by all of the gossip. So much so that, if I could have, I would have gone to sleep.
“Good evening,” Lady Clementina said softly as she finally escaped her parents’ clutches and found herself within our group.
“Clementina, how beautiful you look. Your skin is glowing.”
“Your dress is magnificent.”
“It is so long—”
“Lovely,” Hathor interrupted the lady beside her.
I was not shocked by their words or actions, and neither was Clementina, who merely smiled back. However, before she could speak, the pianist made his way to his instrument, and more than a few candles were blown out while a series of them were lit around the pianoforte, drawing everyone’s attention forward.
Hathor and I were about to return to where her family stood when suddenly, a long but slender hand reached into the space between us and grasped on to Hathor’s arm. She nearly jumped out of her brown skin, looking up at Clementina, who was breathing heavily. Without the candlelight, it was clear she was not glowing but sweating, strands of her brown hair clinging to her.
“I…wish not to…cause a scene but…I must return to my rooms.” Clementina struggled to get the words out. She truly was not well.
Hathor took hold of her hand and gave it to me. “Verity shall lead you, and should anyone notice, I shall distract them.”
“Me?” I looked at Hathor, eyes wide.
“It is not as if anyone will notice your absence…”
“Shh,” said the lady before us, causing Hathor to nod in apology before glaring at me with eyes wide.
“Go!” she mouthed.
Frowning, I took Clementina’s arm and turned to navigate through the crowd of people before us. However, she dragged her feet as she walked and nearly fell upon me as we passed a table, her weight causing me to knock over a chair. Usually, it would not have been noticed, as gatherings were mostly loud, but a single chair was as thunderous as a cannon due to the silence.
“Oh!” A loud gasp echoed through the room, followed by an even greater commotion. I could not see what had caused it when I turned, but I was sure it was Hathor.