Allegra and Sirena could scarce contain themselves. Everything from the skin out was new and fresh. There were chemise dresses, and tunic dresses in fine cotton fabrics, striped and watered silks. There were shawls from India, velvet mantles, bonnets, a dozen ball gowns for each of them, matching shoes and gloves. There were silk petticoats, and fine lawn chemises as well as both silk stockings and tights. Honor and Damaris were kept busy the entire day putting away their mistresses' new wardrobes.
Lady Abbott encouraged her charges to rest until the night of their first ball. 'You'll get little rest once you have entered into society. You are already invited to a number of other balls, card parties, picnics, and teas. Mr. Trent has been kept quite busy going over all your invitations. Do you not find it amusing that although no one has yet seen either of you, you are already quite popular?'
'I find it terrifying,' Allegra told her aunt. 'My invitations are based upon my wealth. I could be as ugly as sin, Aunt, and with a face covered in warts, yet J should still be a succes fou among the gentlemen. They don't know me. They don't want to know me. They just want to marry my father's heiress. Is it possible, given my circumstances, to find a man who will love me? I think not. Whatever match I make must be made for practical reasons. But I vow that while I must go to the highest bidder, he will have to be a man with whom I can get along.'
'Oh, Allegra, do not say such awful things!' Sirena begged.
Lady Abbott, however, sighed. Her niece was absolutely right in her assessment of her situation. 'I am glad you are so prudent, and cognizant of your situation, Allegra,' she told her. 'It is possible, however, to make a match with a good man in spite of your circumstances. Often, in time, love enters such a marriage, but if it doesn't, at least affection and respect will do nicely, I think.'
'That is terrible!' Sirena cried. 'To go through life unloved by one's mate? I could not survive it!'
'You had best become more practical, daughter,' Lady Abbott said. 'Once the bloom is off the rose, and you have filled the nursery with a new generation, your husband is, in all likelihood, going to return to London, and to the little mistress he has kept hidden away in a house near the park. That is the way of the world, Sirena. Not all men are like your late father or your Uncle Septimius.'
Sirena's eyes filled with tears, and her lower lip trembled, but she said nothing more. She was going to find a man who would love her forever. There was no use arguing with her mama about it. Mama just didn't understand at all. She never had.
The night of the Bellingham ball came, and at a quarter to ten o'clock in the evening Lord Morgan's town carriage drew up before the door of his house. Lord Morgan and Charles Trent emerged dressed in fawn knee breeches with three silver buttons at each side of their legs, dark double-breasted tailcoats which were left open to reveal elegant waistcoats, ruffled shirt fronts, and beautifully tied white silk cravats. Their hose were striped black and white, and their black kid pumps sported silver buckles. They were followed by Lady Abbott who was wearing a rich plum-colored watered silk gown, a large powdered wig upon her head decorated with several white plumes sprinkled with gold dust and a diamond hair ornament. Lastly came Allegra and Sirena in their new gowns. The ladies entered the coach first, followed by Lord Morgan and Mister Trent. The vehicle then moved off.
When they reached the Bellingham mansion on Traleigh Square, they found themselves in a long queue of carriages slowly snaking their way to the town house's front door. As each coach reached its destination, footmen quickly opened the door, lowered the steps, and aided the passengers in disembarking the vehicle. Once inside there were more footmen to take the gentlemen's cloaks, and maids to take the ladies' mantles. The house, Allegra noted, was quite fine, but smaller than her father's. Ascending the stairs they reached the ballroom where they again joined a queue waiting to be announced. As they reached the majordomo, Charles Trent leaned over, and murmured in his ear.
'Olympia, Dowager Marchioness of Rowley, Lady Sirena Abbott,' the majordomo boomed, and then as Sirena and her mother entered the ballroom he announced, 'Lord Septimius Morgan, Miss Allegra Morgan, Mr. Charles Trent.'
Zounds! Allegra thought to herself as her father escorted her to the reception line to greet her hosts, I have actually arrived. She was suddenly very aware of the many eyes upon her, then she caught herself, and curtsying said, 'Good evening, Lady Bellingham.'
'Good evening, m'dear,' her hostess replied, and then introduced her spouse, who smiled at Allegra.
'Pandora's gel, eh? But more your gel, I'm thinking, Septimius,' Lord Bellingham said frankly.
'Indeed she is,' Lord Morgan replied proudly, and then with a bow moved on with his daughter to join Lady Abbott and Sirena.
Allegra didn't know where to look next. The ballroom was utterly magnificent. It seemed hardly possible that a house of this size could contain such a large chamber. The woodwork was all gold and white rococo. The chandeliers were sparkling crystal with gold fittings. The beeswax tapers burning in them were scented with honeysuckle. At one end of the room was an ornate gold baroque balcony thrusting out from the wall. Musicians, garbed in dark blue velvet knee breeches and matching coats, were seated on the balcony playing. The walls were covered in pale blue silk brocade and paneled with mirrors. Before each mirror was a gilded pedestal upon which rested a large blue Wedgwood urn filled with multicolored flowers. The floors were of polished wood. About the room were rose velvet settees and small gold chairs with sky blue velvet seats. Looking up, Allegra saw the ceiling of the ballroom was filled with gamboling cherubs.
Lady Abbott led her daughter and her niece to a settee, and sat down. 'Now,' she said softly, 'we await the bees to come to the flowers displayed so prettily before them.'
'Where did Papa and Charles go?' Allegra asked.
'To drink or play at cards with other like-minded gentlemen,' Lady Abbott replied. 'Balls are for you young people.' She smiled.
About them the other mothers and guardians viewed with discreet side glances the two young women who were said to be the season's greatest beauties, even though neither had been seen until tonight.
'Well, what do you think?' Viscount Pickford asked the Duke of Sedgwick.
'Which one is she? I was not looking when they were announced,' the duke replied. 'The fragile little blonde?'
'No, the brunette with the pale skin, and the arrogant tilt to her head. God, she really is a great beauty, Quint! She'll wear the family jewels with elegance,' the viscount finished.
Quinton Hunter laughed. 'We have not yet met. I may need a rich wife, Ocky, but we must suit.'
'Come on!' the viscount said enthusiastically. 'The dowager and my mother were friends in their youth. I can use that as an entree. You get the heiress, but I want to be introduced to that delicious thing who is the dowager's youngest daughter.'
'You haven't stopped gathering gossip since we got to London,' the duke teased his friend as they walked around the crowded ballroom.
'Good evening, Lady Abbott,' Octavian Baird said. 'I am Viscount Pickford. I believe you knew my mother, Laura Beauley, when you were girls together in Hereford.' He bowed politely.
'Of course,' Lady Abbott gushed. 'May I introduce my niece, Miss Allegra Morgan. Allegra, this is Viscount Pickford. And of course, my daughter, Lady Sirena.'
'And may I introduce my friend, Quinton Hunter, the Duke of Sedgwick,' the viscount continued. Then he turned to Sirena. 'Have you room on your dance card for me, Lady Sirena?'
Sirena blushed, and perused her card, which until now was empty. 'I believe I have the third dance open, sir,' she said, quickly writing his name down. Thank you for asking.'
