Callie clapped her hands together gleefully. 'A tea party with a countess! Can I come? Please, Hayley?'
Hayley shook her head, completely confused. 'No, darling, I'm afraid not.' She turned her attention back to the liveried footman. 'The countess is expecting you to return with my reply?'
'Yes, Miss Albright. Should you consent to the countess's invitation, a carriage will be sent to pick you up and escort you home.'
'I see.' Hayley looked at Pamela. 'What should I do?'
'I think you should go,' Pamela said without hesitation.
'Me too,' piped in Callie.
'After all, how many chances does one have to share tea with a countess?' Pamela asked with an encouraging smile. 'It will do you a world of good to get out. Besides, aren't you simply dying of curiosity to see who your mutual friends are?'
'Yes, I must admit I am.' Hayley reread the invitation one last time, still not quite believing it was meant for her. 'Very well,' she said to the footman. 'You may tell the countess I'd be delighted to accept her invitation.'
'Thank you, Miss Albright. The countess's carriage will be here at eleven o'clock tomorrow.' The footman bowed, then left. Hayley, Pamela, Callie, Grimsley, and even Winston crowded around the window, noses all but pressed to the glass, and watched the elegant coach disappear from view.
'Tie me to the mainsheet and wave me in the breeze,' Winston huffed. 'I ain't never seen such a fancy rig in all me life.'
'Indeed,' Pamela agreed with a laugh. 'Goodness, Hayley, what on earth will you wear?'
Hayley stared at her sister, nonplussed. 'I have no idea. I don't own anything the least bit appropriate.'
'What about the pale aqua dress-'
'No.' Hayley's sharp reply cut the air. 'I mean, it is much too fancy for afternoon tea,' she amended hastily. She didn't want to even think about that dress. If she did, then she'd think about Stephen and the night she'd worn it, and she refused to do that.
'You could borrow one of my dresses,' Pamela offered.
'That's very kind of you, but I'm much too tall for anything of yours,' Hayley said. 'I shall simply wear one of my gray gowns.'
'You'll do no such thing,' Pamela said firmly. She grabbed Hayley by the hand and dragged her toward the stairs. 'Callie, please find Aunt Olivia. Tell her to fetch her sewing kit and then come to my bedchamber.'
Callie ran off on her errands, and Hayley allowed Pamela to pull her up the stairs. 'What are you doing?' Hayley asked.
'We are going to find you something to wear,' Pamela replied, throwing open the doors to her wardrobe. She pulled out several gowns, surveying them critically before tossing them on the bed. 'No, none of those will do,' she said, reaching in again. 'Ah ha!' she said, her face lighting up with triumph. She held a pale peach gown out to Hayley. 'This will look lovely on you.'
'But it will be much too short,' Hayley protested, shaking her head. 'Besides, that is one of the gowns I bought for you so you could look your best when Marshall comes calling.'
'We can correct the length,' Pamela said firmly. 'We'll simply fashion a ruffle and sew it onto the bottom. Ruffles are very popular now.'
'But what about Marshall?'
'He hates the color peach,' Pamela said, but her blush told Hayley she wasn't being truthful. Tenderness flooded Hayley at her sister's attempt to please her.
Aunt Olivia and Callie appeared in the doorway, and before Hayley knew what was happening, her plain brown gown was gone, and the peach gown was lowered over her head. Pamela explained to Aunt Olivia about the tea with the countess and the lack of suitable attire.
The gown fit Hayley quite well, except it was a bit snug in the bodice and about six inches too short. Pamela and Aunt Olivia walked around Hayley, pulling material here, pinching material there, discussing options. When a course of action was finally decided upon, the dress was quickly removed and the three women set to work.
They worked the remainder of the afternoon, pausing only long enough to eat dinner. Nathan and Andrew were properly impressed with Hayley's invitation to tea. After dinner, the three women worked into the dark hours of the evening, chatting companionably, sewing and stitching. Callie stayed with them, along with Miss Josephine, until the child could no longer stay awake. She fell asleep on the settee in the drawing room, her arms wrapped around her doll.
'There! I think that about does it,' Pamela said, standing up and stretching. She glanced at the mantel clock. It was nearly midnight.
'Try it on, Hayley dear,' Aunt Olivia said.
They assisted Hayley, settling the gown over her chemise. Aunt Olivia had cleverly inserted a lace panel into the back of the dress, so the bodice fit perfectly. A cream ruffle surrounded the bottom of the gown, the material taken from an old gown of Pamela's that no longer fit.
'It looks beautiful,' Pamela enthused, walking all around Hayley. 'Absolutely perfect.'
'The countess will be most impressed,' Aunt Olivia predicted with a smile.
'Provided I don't do anything to disgrace myself,' Hayley said.
'I'm sure she'll love you,' Pamela said, helping her remove the gown. 'Just as everyone does.'
A wave of sadness washed over Hayley.
An elegant black coach, its lacquered doors emblazoned with the Blackmoor family crest, pulled up to Albright Manor at precisely eleven o'clock the next morning. The entire Albright household, including Pierre, escorted Hayley to the door. She hugged them all, promising to relate every detail about her day when she arrived home later that evening.
A liveried footman helped Hayley into the carriage, and they were off, amid shouts from the children and much hand-waving.
Once her family was lost to her sight, Hayley settled back and surveyed the inside of the coach. She'd never been in such an elegant conveyance before. She ran her hands over the thick burgundy velvet squabs, her fingers sinking into the softness.
With a sigh she sat back, watching the countryside roll by. Once they reached London, she watched the scenery change as they left the rundown sections of the city and entered the more fashionable district. Hayley looked at all the well-dressed ladies and gentlemen strolling along, and the elegant shops and town houses. The carriage finally drew to a halt in front of an impressive brick town house. The footman opened the carriage door and assisted her down.
Walking slowly up the steps, her gaze took in the lovely structure, from its aged rose-colored brick to the small but lovely flower garden. Just before she reached the top step, one of the huge double doors opened.
'Good afternoon, Miss Albright,' a dour-faced butler intoned, standing back so she could enter the foyer.
'Good afternoon,' she replied with a smile. She stepped into the foyer and caught her breath. A multi-tiered crystal chandelier, the largest Hayley had ever seen, hung from the ceiling. A majestic staircase curved upward to the second floor. The foyer floor was dark green marble, and so shiny, Hayley could easily see her awestruck reflection in it.
'May I take your wrap?' The butler's voice jerked her attention back to him, and she surrendered her shawl.
'Thank you.'
'The countess is in her private sitting room. Please, follow me.'
Following the butler down a long corridor, Hayley gazed about with interest, trying not to gawk. Glossy mahogany tables ran along the hallway, each containing huge arrangements of fresh flowers. She admired the flowers, mentally naming each individual bloom as she past. Several gilded mirrors graced the pale ivory silk- covered walls. She surreptitiously checked her appearance and was satisfied that the coach ride had not disarranged her coiffure.
The butler stopped abruptly in front of a door, and Hayley nearly plowed into his back, so intent was she on
