Page 5 of Murder at Madame Chambon's
And most certainly not her fellow schoolmates, who were jealous and quarrelsome.
The first time she’d felt admired and appreciated was when the handsome young man—the mysterious William — had made it clear with his brief allusion to her bravery… and her beauty.
“Tell me more of the ladies you worked with.”It was better to think of something other than the handsome young man to whom she owed her life and whom she’d most likely never see again.London was a busy, bustling, exciting city, and she’d rub shoulders with perhaps several hundred gentlemen—potential husbands—during the balls and other society events Lady Perry had lined up for Evelina.William would have to be amongst the upper few hundred to interest Lady Perry and her mama.
But William had certainly interested her.Evelina.She recalled the torn coat and the streak of dirt across his handsome face, then accepted the reality.
Yes, it would be unlikely that Evelina would rub shoulders with the anonymous ‘William’ at any of the events to which Lady Perry had ensured Evelina was invited.Only the ‘right’ kind of husband would do for Evelina.It was what her mama and papa expected, of course; and it was what Evelina knew was the culmination of her education in Paris and Switzerland.
“Well, Miss, there were a few—” Kitty began before stopping suddenly.
“A large contingent of sisters?No doubt there was much sibling rivalry.”Evelina smiled.“I remember it well.”It was strange that she was growing sentimental over memories of her school days when she’d hated them so much.
“You had sisters, miss?”
“No, I’m referring to the school for young ladies I attended.I was sent there when I was six.Over the next twelve years, I became an expert on female jealousy, cunning, etc.There’s little you can tell me about that, Kitty.I had a school full of jealous rivals.Your family of sisters can’t have been that numerous.”
Kitty lowered her eyes and agreed in a suitably deferential tone, “Yes, miss.”
Again, that was to Evelina’s liking.She didn’t want to foster the familiarity that had existed between Evelina and Mimi.“There!I am ready.How do I look?”She stood up and did a twirl, her heavily draped pink skirts fanning about her.
“Oh, miss, like you’re a princess!All the gentlemen are going to want to marry you.”
“Well, I need only one.”
“Then this one gentleman who sets your heart on fire will definitely want to marry you.”
Evelina swallowed down her amusement.She wasn’t used to such fulsome declarations.“I haven’t met him yet,” she said, trying once more not to think of the mysterious William.
But perhaps tonight would be the night she would meet her future husband.
She had three months in London to enjoy the social whirl under Lady Perry’s patronage.Then she’d have to accompany Lady Perry to dreary spa towns in the hopes of finding the right marital prospect.A companion might suit, but really, Evelina was more than ready to make a sensible marriage and set up her own household.
Escape and independence.That’s what she’d dreamed of throughout her schoolgirl years; and, with a dowry as generous as the one her father had bestowed upon her, she knew she would have no difficulty in finding a man who’d want to make her his wife.She didn’t need to love him; she just needed to assure herself she’d be satisfied being mistress of his estate and household.
Now, as she was announced in company with Lady Perry at Lady Oxenholme’s ball, she felt the first real flurry of butterflies in the stomach.School life had hardened her resolve and her ambition and her belief in herself.
But standing on the threshold of her future was suddenly daunting.
For but a moment.
She could feel the interest she garnered in so many covert—and not so covert—gazes as she made her slow progress at Lady Perry’s side through the ballroom.Not surprising, for her gown was eye-catching and clearly cost a king’s ransom with its thousands of tiny, hand-sewn pink beads that caught the light when she moved.
A thrill of excitement nearly made her shiver, but Evelina had learned to master such frailties of emotion.
Finally, she was here, where she’d dreamed of being.
In an English ballroom at her first ball.And the people were so…
English.
“Smile, Miss Tarot.Just a little.”
Lady Perry’s admonishment was soft in her ear.Evelina obeyed.
She’d learned that fear made her appear stand-offish, but she’d learned to temper this.She’d learned a great many things, including how to appear cool and confident, though her insides might roil with anger or humiliation or terror.
So, she smiled, so that she did not appear haughty.She didn’t want to alienate the women or daunt the men for ‘an aloof and unfriendly beauty’ was what she’d overheard herself described by the girls at the convent and learning to regulate her behavior had served her well when she’d realized there were no real friends to be had amongst them.
