by Lynn Morris
“You certainly are. But I’m not going to dissect everyone you’re going to meet, we’d be here for a fortnight. I will tell you about the three ladies we’re visiting tomorrow.
“As you know, Lady Castlereagh is married to Lord Castlereagh, the foreign minister. She, too, has a reputation for hauteur, although she is very elegant and can be charming. She confides in my mamma, as they have been such longtime friends, so she’s always been kind to me, and I’m certain she’ll show the same cordiality to you.”
Mirabella frowned slightly. “Countess Lieven, I fear, may be a little more difficult. She can be extremely arrogant and cold, and can be ruthless in denying vouchers to anyone that she deems unsuitable. However, Mamma seems to be certain that she’ll accept you and Lewin; I just hope that she won’t seem terribly formidable to you.”
“Likely she will,” Josephine said calmly, “but I’ll say a quick extra prayer before I meet her so that I may not wilt away.”
“As if such a thing could happen. You are like your mamma, so serene and graceful, and you always retain your good humor. That’s exactly how I know that you’ll be such a success this Season, Josephine, those are much-sought-after qualities in a young lady. And you’re very pretty, which helps immensely.”
“Thank you, it’s always so nice to hear such from someone besides your mamma. And so—Lady Jersey? You have told me that she also has a reputation for being overbearing.”
“She’s really a sort of complex person, in my mind,” Mirabella said with uncertainty. “She’s mercurial, one might say. She can be unbelievably rude, but she can also be affable and cordial, even to people she doesn’t like. For instance, she despises Lady Caroline Lamb, but she always is gracious to her, which, I think, demonstrates a sort of empathy and kindness.”
“Lady Caroline Lamb, she’s the lady who went so mad for Lord Byron, is she not?”
“Mad is a good word for it,” Mirabella said. “Ever since they were estranged last year, Caro has been behaving in the most insane manner. She’s hardly presentable, even at Almack’s. But Lady Jersey has always been courteous to her, even when Countess Lieven and Mrs. Drummond-Burrell have openly shown their contempt for her.”
“It is puzzling, for a person to have such apparently opposing qualities in their demeanor, to be on the one hand terribly rude, and on the other extremely considerate.”
“Yes, but to me it’s always seemed that Lady Jersey is not so much purposely abusive as it is that sometimes—well, perhaps much of the time—she speaks without thinking, and whatever is in the forefront of her mind just comes right out of her mouth. One of her nicknames has come to be Silence, which is perfectly ironic. She has a tendency to continuously talk nonstop. And also, she is an inveterate gossip, and can be extremely indiscreet.”
With amusement Josephine said, “That doesn’t intimidate me too much, as I doubt we’ll supply her with any delectable tidbits.”
Mirabella’s mouth twitched. “Actually, we will. Or at least I will. That’s really the delicate matter I wanted to talk to you about.”
Warily Josephine said, “Mirabella, I cannot imagine that you’re involved in any sort of scandal.”
“No, it’s no scandal. It’s just something that I’ve decided I want generally known in Town this Season, and I’ve calculated that the best way to quickly circulate any information is to tell Lady Jersey.”
“Very well, I am mystified. Pray tell me of this evidently good news that we want to be a topic.”
Mirabella smiled mischievously. “I have decided that I’m going to get engaged this Season.”
The look on Josephine’s face was one of absolute astonishment. “What? But—what? Engaged? To whom?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“Mirabella, please explain,” Josephine begged.
“Oh, it’s simple, really. For the last four Seasons I’ve managed to alienate several potential suitors because I didn’t want to get married. Now I do. But I have no intention of wasting time trying to discern who might be interested in me now. I’m certain that if Lady Jersey lets everyone know right away, it won’t be long before—”
“Before the men come flocking around,” Josephine interrupted with an uncharacteristic frustration. “But surely you can’t mean to choose your husband by simply taking a likely group and eliminating them one by one.”
“Why not?” Mirabella said lightly. “That’s in essence what the Marriage Market is, although I may say that you expressed it a little more crudely than is generally done. Granted, normally a girl’s marriage is arranged by her parents, and I intend to arrange my own, but it’s still well within the bounds of the normal convention.”
Josephine was silent for long moments, frowning darkly. Then she said, “You know, I hate to admit it, but I do see your logic, and I know that what you’ve said is often true for women of your rank and position. But still, it seems to me that you of all people could marry for love.”
“Oh, really. If you recall, I tried that once and it didn’t work out too well,” Mirabella said in a hard voice.
“Oh, darling, my dear Mirabella, I’m so sorry,” Josephine said softly. “I—didn’t mean—I didn’t think. Please forgive me.”
Immediately Mirabella smiled sweetly. “There is nothing to forgive, dearest, nothing at all. Perhaps I will fall in love, who knows? Or perhaps I’ll marry for other, more realistic and tangible, reasons. At any rate it will make for a most interesting Season, will it not? Now let’s talk about something of much greater import. The Hussar jacket, with the mink…”
* * *
It was indeed much like the jacket that Hussars wore. Waist-length and tight-fitting, it was of midnight-blue velvet trimmed with horizontal rows of fine gold braid. The mink trim was at the shoulder seams and the cuffs, along the facings, and around the bottom, and it had a luscious double row of mink for a collar. Josephine carried a large mink muff. Her straight gown was light blue, a thick, rich grosgrain fabric that was heavy enough for the coldest winter days.
Josephine sighed. “I say again, Mirabella, I would have preferred not to wear any of your new clothes, but seeing how stunning you look, you outshine me enough that it’s lessened my aversion somewhat.”
In a stuffy tone, with ridiculously pursed lips, Mirabella said, “‘What business have you, Miss, with preference and aversion? They don’t become a young woman.’”
Josephine giggled. “The Rivals. I—I, oh, bother, I can never come up with a Mrs. Malaprop reply, I’m not as quick as you and Giles.”
Mirabella’s deep blue eyes danced. “‘Female punctuation forbids me to say more.’ Thank you for the compliment, but I say that neither of us outshines the other, we’re just so very different. I think you look better in that ensemble than I ever will, now that I see it on you, it may be a bit dramatic for a pale blonde. Still, I look very bewitching in my witzchoura, do I not?”
Lady Camarden said severely, “He that would pun would pick a pocket. And I am at my wits’ end, I’m now forbidding you two girls to argue one more instant about your clothing. Both of you look very well indeed.”
Mirabella did indeed look stunning in her witzchoura, a long, full mantle made of a deep-puce merino wool that was a perfect blend of brown and purple. It had a triple-tiered cape collar made of silvery gray Iberian lynx, which also lined the bottom of the mantle, and framed her face around her bonnet. She had an enormous muff of lynx. As a touch of whimsy, as Mirabella often did with her ensembles, she had had her velvet slippers lined with the same fur.
They were beginning their morning calls of the Season, and their first call was to be on Lady Castlereagh. The three ladies presented their cards to the butler, who immediately returned to the entryway to invite them into the drawing room, as her ladyship was at home.
Amelia, Viscountess Castlereagh was now forty-one, one of the oldest of the patronesses, the other being Lady Sefton, who was forty-four. She was still a very pretty woman, with a wealth of curly brown hair and
delicate features, and she had an undeniable elegance in her posture and deportment. Still, her greetings to her callers had a certain reserve; she was not a warm person.
As she was well known to be the greatest stickler for propriety among the patronesses, she greeted Mirabella and Josephine with courtesy and then addressed most of her remarks to Lady Camarden. Lady Castlereagh was of the opinion that young ladies should speak only when spoken to. They talked of Who was in Town and when other families were expected, and of Lord Castlereagh’s onerous duties as foreign minister, and then she turned to Josephine.
“Miss Rosborough, although it’s not generally announced personally, I wish to let you know that because of Lady Camarden’s glowing recommendations, your application to Almack’s has been approved, and also that of your brother. You should receive your voucher today or tomorrow,” she said with her customary coolness.
“I’m honored, Lady Castlereagh, and I thank you for your kind consideration,” Josephine said.
She acknowledged this with a queenly nod of her head, then turned back to Lady Camarden. The ladies stayed the requisite fifteen minutes and then took their leave.
Next they called on Countess Lieven, a great beauty with black hair and eyes, and wide full lips. She was much as she always was, haughty and aloof. But she, too, welcomed Josephine to Almack’s and asked about Lewin, expressing her hope to meet him soon. “Pray, where is he quartered here in Town? I intend to send him a message to call on me.”
Josephine replied with open pleasure, “That’s very kind of you, my lady. He and Sir Giles Knyvet have taken a flat at St. James’s, number eighteen.”
“Sir Giles is here this Season? I am glad, he’s so charming, I shall be glad to see him again.”
In the carriage, Josephine said, “She was not quite so frightening as I had dreaded. It’s most gracious of her to invite Lewin to call.”
The marchioness said, “Camarden tells me that Lord Wellington allowed around two hundred veterans of Badajoz to winter here at home, and I believe there are a dozen or so of them here in Town. But Lewin is the only one who obtained a voucher to Almack’s.”
“And it was certainly all your doing, my lady,” Josephine said warmly. “Again, I want to most sincerely thank you.”
“I was happy to do it, and as I’m banning all further talk of furs, I’m also banning any further effusive expressions of gratitude. Such exuberance is not proper here in Town. Young ladies may be expressive, but with a certain restrained refinement.”
Mirabella winked at Josephine. Instantly Lady Camarden said, “I saw that, young lady, and we’ll have no more of your sauce, either. Here we are at Lady Jersey’s, and I expect she’ll provide more than enough impudence for all of Polite Society.”
They presented their cards and were immediately ushered into an enormous, grandly furnished drawing room. Lady Jersey rose to greet them, and the ladies did their curtsies. Now twenty-seven years old, Sarah, Lady Jersey was not considered a beauty, but she had a lovely creamy complexion, and a particular vivacity in her countenance, with sparkling dark eyes and a bright expression.
Eschewing proper introductions, she immediately took both of Josephine’s hands and started talking. “Here, let me have a look at you, Miss Rosborough. I see that you’re not a great beauty, but you are pretty, even with a somewhat pert nose. Your curtsy was proper and graceful, I’m happy to see, as I can’t abide a woman that cannot perform even a passable curtsy, like that awful Mrs. Smythe, she positively grovels, it’s really a disgrace. Here, please sit down, so happy to see you, Lady Camarden, Lady Mirabella. Tell me, Miss Rosborough, can you dance as elegantly as you can curtsy? You must, you know, to pass muster with the young men at Almack’s. And this year Dorothea is introducing the German waltz, so you must immediately learn it, if you aren’t already accomplished in it.”
There was a pause for breath, so Josephine said with some puzzlement, “The German waltz? No, Lady Jersey, I’m not at all familiar with it, in fact I can’t recall that I’ve ever heard of it.”
Lady Camarden said with surprise, “The waltz? I’m amazed that all of the patronesses gave their approval, particularly Mrs. Drummond-Burrell.”
Lady Jersey said carelessly, “Oh, she’s always indignant at one thing or another, great heavens, she’s the same age as I and she behaves as if she’s an ancient dowager, she’s so stiff and pious, I declare it only adds to her dowdiness. Mirabella, do you waltz?”
“No, I’ve heard of it but never observed it. I understand that it’s considered to be scandalous, although I could never quite penetrate what about it—”
As Lady Jersey often did, she interrupted. “I think it’s total nonsense, it’s quite a lovely and graceful dance, they’ve been doing it on the Continent for years and I haven’t seen a precipitous moral decline resulting from it, if anything if those horrid sansculottes of the French Revolution would have spent more time dancing instead of whining and chopping off people’s heads they likely wouldn’t have had a Revolution in the first instance. I assure you, Audrey, that all of the ladies heartily approve of finally introducing a dance that is so much more modern and fashionable, although at first Clementina was positively horrified, but Dorothea soon convinced her, and of course since Amelia is so widely traveled she’s seen the elegance of the waltz all over the Continent…”
Mirabella reflected that her assessment of Lady Jersey had been accurate: she was so impulsive in her speech that she seemed to be rude. She noticed that the expression on Josephine’s face was one of lively polite interest, but Josephine could have no idea who the ladies were whom Lady Jersey was going on about. Although Mirabella herself occasionally slipped and used her friends’ first names when she was talking to Josephine, she tried very hard to correct herself. No matter what the speaker’s rank, it was considered extremely rude, even ill-bred, to speak of people without using their correct titles when someone included in the conversation couldn’t know their given names.
Then Mirabella started wondering about the German waltz: what exactly it was, how it was performed, and how she could possibly master it before the opening night of Almack’s next week. She was jolted out of her musings when she heard Lady Jersey finally say her name.
“Mirabella, I demand to know, how is it that you haven’t married yet? It’s so ridiculous, you should have been married three Seasons ago, you’re going to end up a spinster if you don’t take care. There are any number of suitable matches you could make, but as you get older, both the number and the likelihood of a truly brilliant match lessen considerably. You really must stop frittering about and make a decision, last Season I know there were at least a half dozen eligible young men interested in you, and you callously discarded them all, did you not?”
Finally Mirabella was given the opportunity to speak. “I don’t believe I was callous, exactly, as none of the young men were so smitten that I broke any hearts.” Taking a deep breath, but speaking quickly before Lady Jersey could go on a diatribe again, she said, “But I will admit I’ve somewhat changed my attitude in the last year. As you say, I’ve realized that it’s time I started thinking of marriage.”
Lady Jersey’s eyes brightened alertly. “Oh, really? And are you simply starting to think of it? Or are you actively thinking of it? Is there any gentleman in particular that you’re thinking of ?”
“I am thinking of it, and no, I have no particular gentleman in mind at this time.”
Lady Jersey immediately launched into a long list of young men, enumerating their various good and bad qualities, including their lineages, their present fortunes and prospects, and assessments of their personages, sometimes including her opinions on their horsemanship, their political views, and their cravats. The visit lasted all of thirty-five minutes, with Lady Jersey talking the entire time. They escaped only because Viscount Southam and Lord Trevor Brydges came to call on her. Lady Camarden and Mirabella knew Lord Southam and Lord Trevor, and did manage to introduce Josephine, but immediately
Lady Jersey started talking nonstop to the young men and barely took notice as the ladies took their leave.
When they were safe in their carriage, Josephine said, “I’m actually quite breathless. She’s very fast-paced, isn’t she?”
“She is,” Lady Camarden said. “I hope you’re satisfied, Mirabella, by tomorrow she will have decided whom you are to marry, and will have told everyone in Town.”
Carelessly Mirabella said, “That’s fine by me, Mamma, you know very well there is no harm in letting people know that you’re interested in marriage. Good heavens, that’s practically the sole reason young ladies come to Town anyway.”
“It’s not the worst thing that can be said of you,” Josephine said with amusement. “I expect that she’ll mention to everyone that I have a pert nose.”
“It’s not pert, it’s small,” Mirabella said decidedly. “But just now the only thing that’s worrying me is however are we to learn the waltz before next Wednesday?”
“Oh, yes, that is of the utmost import,” Lady Camarden said sarcastically. “I haven’t given you permission yet to waltz.”
Slyly Mirabella said, “Not yet. But you will.”
Lady Camarden sighed deeply. “Sauce, young lady. Pure sauce. And yes, I probably will.”
Chapter Seven
The following day the ladies called on the other three patronesses of Almack’s, Lady Sefton, Mrs. Drummond-Burrell, and Lady Cowper. Against all dictates of fashionable dressing for ladies of high society, Mirabella decided that she loved her witzchoura so well that she would wear it again, and again she persuaded Josephine to wear the Hussar jacket. Josephine protested, but weakly, and soon gave way to Mirabella. The girls were very careful not to discuss it in front of the marchioness.
As soon as Lady Sefton greeted them, she warmly complimented the girls. “Mirabella, you are simply stunning in that color. Not many ladies can wear puce. As a matter of fact I bought a gown once that was exactly that shade, and I declare it made me look as yellow as if I had the jaundice. Miss Rosborough, you look as dramatic and dashing as your brother in his striking regimentals.”
