Page 15 of A Gentleman's Kiss
7
“Wake up, Miss Whitmore.”
Bright light streamed in from the windows as Mrs. Rowe threw back the curtains. Lillian opened her eyes a crack to stare out into her room, letting her eyes adjust to the bright morning light.
“Why did you wake me?”
“I have orders for you, from Her Grace. You are to be presented at court today. There will be a tea. You must awake, so you can complete your morning regimen,” the housekeeper said in a hard tone.
Lillian frowned. Tea with the queen?
“Queen Victoria?”
“Aye my lady, what other queen is there?” A sneer of disgust curled her lips.
“Will my cousins be joining me?” Lillian asked as she begrudgingly sat up in bed, stretching.
“Yes, of course. You are to be introduced at court as this is your first Season coming out. Green is best.” Mrs. Rowe riffled through her wardrobe and pulled out the green dress she wore only a couple days before—andnotone of her new gowns.
“No, I shall wear the silver gown Madame DeBourg made for me,” Lillian said with a wave of her hand.
She was tired of the grumpy servant bossing her around, and she already acquiesced to the green gown once, she would not do it again. Especially now that she had a whole closet full of new dresses. She would have the old ones thrown out. She didn’t need to see the housekeeper’s reaction to know her thoughts on the subject, her loud harrumph was enough.
Lillian smiled to herself at a small victory won.
After she helped her dress—and she did so a mite nicer than Lillian had grown used to—Mrs. Rowe left the room. However the beastly servant left her without her hair done. She supposed she was on her own to fix her hair for meeting the queen.
Perhaps that was the price to pay for picking out the silver gown. She really needed to speak with her uncle about Mrs. Rowe, she just hadn’t had a chance yet to get him alone.
Lillian twisted her hair up and started to pin it when a sharp knock at the door caused her to jump. She turned as Aunt Georgiana walked in, a deep scowl etched on her face.
She must save those looks just for me.Lillian turned so her aunt wouldn’t see her roll her eyes heavenward, and continued to pin her hair. What Aunt Georgiana was perturbed about this time was yet to be determined.
“Good morning, Your Grace,” Lillian said cheerfully, hoping to catch her aunt on a good note.
“Hmm,” the duchess said, giving her no other acknowledgement. “We shall be leaving momentarily. I assume you know we are having tea with Queen Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I will have you know that unlike your decorous cousins, your mannerisms, etiquette, language and truly your entire appearance, are not suitable for a meeting with the queen. However, your uncle insists on it.” Her aunt gave her another disdainful look, making Lillian feel more self-conscious. She wanted to shout at the top of her lungs that Tamara and Susannah were anythingbutdecorous! Truth be told her cousins did know etiquette, but they only used it when in the presence of a handsome suitor. Their appearance with over the top ribboned, jeweled, flowered and simply wretched hats were obnoxious and embarrassing. Their gowns were cut so low as to be indecent that even a woman at the closest brothel might raise a brow. She would be surprised if they ever did anything well-mannered. They were rude, intolerant of others, snobby and well, she’d tried but just couldn’t like them! They were bitter, vindictive creatures.
But she couldn’t shout all of that out. So instead she gritted her teeth and held her tongue.
“You are just as unpolished as your mother, and due to that fact, you are to say nothing. Do not utter a word to Her Majesty. Simply smile, nod, and curtsy. Donotspeak. Should Queen Victoria ask you a question, I shall answer for you.”
Aunt Georgiana paced back and forth in front of Lillian as she listed off her instructions for the way in which Lillian should curtsy, smile, nod, laugh, eat, and drink. The list went on and on, making her dizzy with the amount of information. She felt so inadequate. Although her parents roved amongst the highest social classes, American customs of etiquette were quite different.
“You are to wear these,” Aunt Georgiana said before laying a box on the dressing table and then leaving the room.
Lillian opened the box to see a matching necklace and earrings. All pearls of the most beautiful ivory color and iridescent sheen.
She may be unpolished and not what Aunt Georgiana would want in a daughter, but at least she must mean something to the woman, to have received such a beautiful gift. Lillian smiled at the thought. Her aunt was warming to her after all, despite the berating speech she just endured.
Lillian made quick work of finishing her hair with a few sprigs of lavender, then put on the pearls. She did one last check in the mirror before heading to the front hall.
Everyone waited at the bottom of the stairs, Lord Wessex included, except for Tamara.
Lillian gave Dominick an apprehensive look, but he did not return her gaze. Instead he intently studied a hunting portrait handing on the wall. But even without looking at her, she sensed he knew she was there. He was not looking at her on purpose. There had been no contact between the two of them since the few days prior when he’d spied her in Sir Trenton’s carriage. She was sure he viewed her as a harlot now. She was truly mortified he’d discovered her in such a cumbersome position. She was such a hypocrite for yelling at him only the week before, and accusing him of trying to ruin her reputation. She was doing a fine job of sabotaging it herself.
