Page 12 of Presenting Miss Letitia (Once a Wallflower 1)

Brandon opened the door and climbed inside. His soiled clothes might carry a whiff of horse, but the smells emanating from the dirty squabs surpassed him. He sat back in the corner where he was less likely to be noticed as the jarvey urged the horse on.

Chapter Five

Two days before Aunt Edith departed for Cumbria, they received a visitor. Lady Arietta Kendall entered their parlor like a whirlwind, brightening the dreary room. Letty tried not to stare, while her aunt, reclining on the sofa, raised herself from the cushions. “Oh, it is you, Arietta,” she said faintly.

“’Tis I, Edith. And this must be Letitia. How do you do?”

Lady Arietta was lovely with creamy skin and fine features. A dark straw bonnet, adorned with curling feathers, covered her golden locks. She wore a purple velvet spencer which featured cream epilates, over a lilac walking dress with an elaborately patterned hem. Extracting a small hand encased in lilac kid from a huge cream muff, she offered it to Letty.

Letty dipped the slightest curtsey as excitement gripped her, and she shook the lady’s hand. “How good of you to sponsor me, Lady Arietta.”

The lady, somewhere close to forty years in age, but might be older, looked Letty over quizzically with intelligent, bright blue eyes. “Mm, we have much to do,” she said with a wave of her hand. She sat on a chair near her aunt. “I am sorry to find you unwell, my dear. I do hope that the long journey north wo

n’t be too fatiguing?”

“I shall endure,” Aunt Edith said. A crease marred her forehead. “I trust you will take very good care of my niece. Letitia is new to London.”

“We must all begin somewhere,” Lady Arietta said. “There is nothing like experience to teach one.”

“I hope it will be an enjoyable experience, but also one where Letitia will learn how to conduct herself in society.” Her aunt plucked at her shawl. “I have no option but to leave her with you, with the hope you will be instrumental in finding Letitia a good husband. I know she is in safe hands,” she added, more out of politeness, Letty felt, rather than a firm conviction.

“I shall do my very best.” Lady Arietta smiled at Letty. “Fortunately, this young lady shows great promise. Best we begin this very afternoon. Are you prepared to leave, Letitia?”

“Yes, all packed, Lady Arietta.” Letty had no idea what her new sponsor had in mind, but she was eager to find out.

“I will send for tea.” Her aunt reached for the small bell on the occasional table beside her.

Lady Arietta stood and shook out her skirts. “No thank you, Edith. We must go.” She bent to kiss Aunt Edith’s cheek. “I’m sure the country air will soon restore you to health. I’ll tell my footman to fetch Letitia’s trunk.”

Letty was grateful to Aunt Edith. She had done her best, but had no understanding of nineteenth century ways. When she bent to hug her aunt, Letty became entangled in the lavender-scented shawl over her shoulders and the lorgnette hanging around her neck. “I promise to write to you and Uncle Alford,” she said, extracting herself. “I pray you will soon feel better.”

She’d barely said her goodbyes, when Lady Arietta ushered her through the door. Outside in the street, a stylish town chaise the color of chocolate, drawn by a pair of grays, awaited them.

They were assisted inside, then Letty’s trunk was strapped to the back by the groom. He leapt up to join the coachman who told the horses to walk on.

“We shall visit my modiste,” Lady Arietta said as they turned toward Piccadilly. “We have no time to lose to fit you out with a proper wardrobe, as the Season will soon be in full swing.” She cocked her head, her observant blue eyes twinkling. “And I suspect there is nothing in that trunk of yours worthy of our consideration. I do look forward to dressing you. I always wished for a daughter, but it was not to be.”

Letty wondered briefly what befell her husband for Aunt Edith had made no mention of it, but she did not like to ask. As the carriage drew up in the street outside the dressmaker’s establishment, Letty had great hopes that any gowns Madame Rochette produced would be a far cry from Mrs. Crotchet’s. After all, the modiste had dressed Lady Arietta, whose outfit was in the first stare of fashion. Letty smiled at her benefactress, hardly able to believe her good fortune.

Some hours later, Letty felt as limp as a wet glove when they left Madame Rochette’s salon. It was as she’d guessed, a far cry from Mrs. Crotchet’s establishment with the reception room walls covered in enormous gilt-framed mirrors and curtained areas in which to change. Seated on velvet couches, they’d sipped coffee while exquisite fabrics, furs, feathers, beading, and braid were brought for their consideration. Both the modiste and Lady Arietta seemed in accord. Their knowledgeable discussion of styles and fabrics made Letty’s head whirl.

Lady Arietta’s carriage deposited them at her London townhouse, an elegant dwelling that overlooked Hyde Park. Footmen assisted them from the carriage before it was whisked away to the stables. Lady Arietta, talking all the time, led her through the impressive entrance hall, across a floor of marble tiles like a checkerboard, and up the sweeping staircase. They sat on a cream and gilt satin sofa in the elegant small salon while a footman brought glasses of madeira and placed a plate of wafer biscuits on the table before them.

“We shall stay in tonight,” Lady Arietta announced. “You must be fatigued, Letitia. It’s been quite a day, hasn’t it, being pulled this way and that?” She lifted her slender shoulders. “Unless you have something suitable to wear to Mrs. Fountain’s musicale?”

“I’m afraid not.” Letty wished she could answer in the affirmative. Regretfully, nothing she had was stylish enough for a musicale, which she imagined would be an elegant affair.

“I would lend you a gown if you were not taller than me.” Lady Arietta patted her hand. “Best we don’t go. Even though you’ve attended two balls, no one is likely to remember you. And you must make a suitably dramatic entrance. It’s a pity there’s no time to organize your come-out ball. But we shall do nicely. The streets are beginning to fill with carriages. Everyone who is anyone returns to London.” She smiled at Letty. “We have the Longtree’s ball on Saturday, and Madame Rochette has promised to have your gown ready.”

Letty hoped Lady Arietta was right that no one would remember her; although a certain gentleman might. Of all the fabrics and styles finally settled upon, the ball gown stood out in her mind. It promised to be very different to the one she’d been wearing. “I can’t wait to see it!”

“I promise you, it will be beautiful. Gentlemen will be lining up to dance with you, my dear.”

Letty rather doubted it, but she smiled and hoped it was true. It would be thrilling, but more than that, she was eager to justify all the time and effort this kind lady was prepared to spend on her.

“And tomorrow, we simply must shop the day away. You have need of a great many accessories to go with your new clothes.”

Letty bit her lip. “The expense, Lady Arietta…”

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