Page 13 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
Kitty put down her brush and met Evelina’s eye.“Has Lord Dunstable tried to kiss yer, miss?”
Evelina blushed as she nodded.
“And did yer like it?”
“It wasn’t unpleasant.”
“That’s a good start.You might even find you like it when he takes off your clothes and does them things men do to give yer a baby.”
“Is it necessary to take off my clothes?”The thought made Evelina feel suddenly ill and very vulnerable.She had suspected there was more than kissing, but whenever talk strayed into avenues pertaining to relations between men and women the nuns had quickly shut it down.
This was the closest she’d ever get to anyone preparing her for her wedding night, she suddenly realized.Just as she realized that she was going to marry Lord Dunstable and would have to go beyond the realms of the comfortable.It was inevitable.She was going to spend the rest of her life with this man and yet the prospect was filled with murkiness.Suddenly, she wasn’t sure she wanted to do this if it meant taking her clothes off.How was that supposed to work?
“No, you can do it in the dark with yer clothes on.He just needs to get his manly appendage to… to where it needs to go.”
“What manly appendage?”Evelina gasped and Kitty, looking utterly mortified, picked up her brush again and said through gritted teeth, “I reckon I can’t go on, miss, since I hadn’t realized quite how much you didn’t know.Perhaps Lady Perry can tell you.”
“Perhaps Lady Perry can tell Evelina what?”came that imperious voice before the old woman swept into the room in a swish of black bombazine.
“My mistress were asking me about wedding nights but I reckon I ain’t the one who should be tellin’ her,” Kitty said boldly with the result that Lady Perry shrieked, “Indeed not, Kitty!I hope you’ve kept your mouth closed.This is definitely not talk to be had between a servant and her mistress.”
Or between anyone, Evelina realized dismally as she finished dressing and accompanied Lady Perry to Lady Conway’s ball a few hours later.She should be thrilled at the prospect of their impending marriage announcement, but instead she felt filled with terror.
A terror she naturally tempered as Lord Dunstable danced her around the ballroom before leading her back to a group of older ladies and gentlemen; his friends, who complimented her and questioned him slyly on the subject of possible forthcoming marriage announcements.
But he was strangely reticent.“Until certain details of the marriage contract have been finalized, it is too early to announce our marriage to the world,” he explained to Lily, later pressing her hand to his lips.With a smug smile, he raised his head and smiled.“Let people surmise as they will, but we will keep our surprise a little longer.”
Despite her mixed feelings, Evelina did enjoy being squired about the room on his lordship’s arm.Strangers complimented Lord Dunstable on his exquisite eye, and her beauty.They lavished praise upon her gown, the way she carried herself, the glossiness of her ringlets and braids.
Then Captain Blackheath intervened and danced a Viennese waltz with her until Evelina was breathless and laughing at his wicked asides—something that never happened with Dunstable and which the captain pointed out, saying, “You’re surely not going to ally yourself with a man who has no sense of humor, are you, Miss Tarot?Not when I make you tremble like a blancmange at my mere proximity.”
“Well, you’re not asking, and Lord Dunstable is eminently eligible.”
Captain Blackheath’s nostrils quivered.“A fine set of clothes and such slick assurance may hide many flaws.On what authority would you make the assumption that he is eminently eligible?”
Evelina drew her breath in sharply as she dropped her hands before the dance music had died away.“My father is satisfied—”
“And has he done his due diligence?”Captain Blackheath’s good humor had suddenly fallen away.“You’d do well to make your own enquiries, Miss Tarot.Lord Dunstable is—”
“Is the man I intend to marry, and your jealous meddling is only determining me upon it,” Evelina declared before she spun on her heel and hurried back to Lady Perry, who was conversing with Dunstable.
His smile melted her indecision.For a lonely girl who’d been brought up in a convent, his attention was intoxicating.And the warmth emanating from Lord Dunstable’s smart evening clothes as he held her close during their next waltz together made her feel, for the first time, valued.
When he steered her to a dim alcove just outside the ballroom and cupped her cheeks with his hands, Evelina was quite happy for what was to come next: the kiss.
His lips were soft and his mustache smooth and tickly.
“You have made me a very happy man, my dear Evelina,” he murmured.“Tomorrow morning, I will discuss those finer details of the marriage contract with your papa.After that, I shall make my declaration with all the pomp and circumstance it deserves.”With a smile, he gently pinched her cheek.My dear mama is very much looking forward to meeting you.”
Evelina swallowed.“And mine is very much looking forward to meeting you and your mama.”She wanted to ask Lord Dunstable where he was to meet her father--but was too ashamed.All she needed was to be patient and her father would make contact.
“All in good time, dear heart.”He looked fond.“My mother is so very accomplished at arranging lavish affairs.No need to trouble your dear mama.”
Evelina was surprised at his words, but also relieved.There was something a little … odd… about her mother and she wasn’t quite sure she did want Mrs.Tarot to be introduced to the illustrious Dowager Lady Dunstable until their marriage was upon them.
She cleared her throat and said, nervously, “My father—” She should bring up the subject now.Was her father indisposed?An invalid?
Strangely, Lord Dunstable seemed to know all about Mr.Tarot.
