Page 51 of A Lady’s Fairytale Come True
“Now, there is the issue of Gemma to discuss. All has been arranged for her to attend as well, but I know that she shall inform father. We are fortunate that he is going to be away over the weekend, but he is likely to hear the truth and I do not wish to keep it from him. He will not be happy, but he cannot stop us from going,” Olivia remarked.
“He leaves in the morning, does he not?” Louise asked.
“Indeed,” Olivia replied.
“Then you may tell her after. She cannot inform him until he returns. Of course, then all three of us are going to be in a great deal of trouble, but I never said that I would not support you,” Louise remarked.
“I think it best if we try not to worry about it just yet. We are doing nothing wrong. Father doesn’t understand yet, but he will,” Olivia said.
That evening, when Olivia was alone in her room, she opened her box.
The gown was greater than anything she had ever imagined. The two in her closet that she had had made recently when the earl had taken her into town both remained flawless. She had been looking forward to wearing the gown to a grand event, but this one that had been ordered for her was evidently what she had to wear this time.
She did not mind that at all.
The earl had noted her love of delicate lace and had made sure that this gown had an abundance of it. It made the fabric feel even richer and more exquisite.
Each time she looked at it, her heart began to pound and, finally, she tried it on.
Everything fit perfectly to her form. He must have had it made at the same place where they already had her measurements. Nothing was amiss on it and Olivia thought she might cry tears of happiness. Not just for the beautiful gown, but for a man who truly cared for her. A man who knew that these gestures were kind and generous, just as they were unnecessary to obtain her affections.
Olivia knew in her heart that she was falling in love with him.
Finally, Saturday arrived. She spent the entire day preparing herself. It was as though a dream was coming true.
Olivia’s family was not the sort that had ever been invited to a ball. They were not of such a status that they would ever be considered for such a thing. Even the town hall dances were few and far between. And while those were nothing so grand as a ball, they were the best she could ever have hoped for, until now.
The greatest shock was that the earl had not only invited Olivia, but also her sisters. He had sent exquisite dresses for each of them.
It was true that Gemma was too young to attend, but as she had read in the letter, Olivia had been assured that a governess would be provided for her for the evening to ensure that she too had a wonderful night.
Louise and Gemma helped Olivia prepare for the evening. While they each wanted to pamper themselves, everyone knew that Olivia was the star of the evening.
Louise did her hair as she was so talented and skilled at doing. Olivia was grateful, seeing how well it turned out and the way that it flattered her face. Gemma, on the other hand, spent her time trying to encourage her older sister, although she did not understand what it was all about.
The whole day felt like a dream. Olivia could hardly imagine how the evening was going to turn out when the day itself had been such an enjoyment.
A twinge of anxiety twisted in her gut. Despite her excitement, there was also the fear that she would be woefully out of place. In fact, she knew that her sisters would feel the same upon their arrival.
None of them had ever been to a proper ball before. This was new for each of them. It would be a strange experience, although it was likely to be an exemplary one.
“Do you think he is going to propose to you this evening?” Gemma asked, wearing her pale pink pinafore.
Olivia’s eyes widened. She hadn’t even imagined that this could be the night. But if it was, she knew that she would say yes, unabashedly.
“Oh dear, that could certainly be it. Olivia, do you think it is so?” Louise asked.
“Certainly not,” she laughed, nervously. Olivia didn’t wish to get her hopes up, although now that the thought was in her mind, she could not escape it.
“It must be. Why else would he go to all this trouble?” Louise pressed.
“Because it is a ball and that is what noblemen do. Really, it does not mean anything more than that. I am certain he simply wants us to enjoy the evening and thought that this was the best way to ensure it,” Olivia replied.
“I don’t know about that, Liv. It could happen. Don’t count it out. Be ready, just in case,” Louise urged.
Olivia couldn’t stop thinking about that possibility now that it had been said aloud. If he was truly going to propose that evening then she would have to be ready and she didn’t know if she could be. It seemed too incredible to be real that she might be able to have a hope for this.
The Digby sisters continued to get ready, preening themselves with excitement and looking forward to everything the evening held ahead for them. It was going to be very new and Olivia wondered how she might prepare Louise and Gemma for that.
