Sonia looked at him with a piercing gaze and then went to her room. She stayed there for a little over an hour looking at some dresses that needed to have the hem fixed and gave them to her maid to repair. They were beautiful and practically new, but she always damaged the hem of her dresses. Her mother told her that it was because she didn’t walk like a lady. After an hour, her brother sent for her and the two of them left to visit their cousin Horatia and her husband the Viscount of Exeter
They had a beautiful house in Mayfair but Edward had told her that they only used it for the months that the Viscount had to be in London. The house where they lived most of the time was in the country. A footman opened the door and led them to the blue room where they would meet their cousin. Five minutes later they were hugging Horatia.
“By God, Sonia, you look splendid.” Horatia looked at her from head to foot.
“Thank you so much, cousin. You look great, too. The time you’ve been married has agreed with you.”
“No, dear. What has agreed with me is the country air. Very soon I would like for you to come and visit my house in the country.”
“Thank you, Horatia. It will be a pleasure to visit you there,” Edward said.
“And your husband?” asked Sonia. She was eager to meet the man that her cousin fell in love with.
“He’ll be here later. I told him that you would visit, and he told me that he would come for the four o’clock tea. Right now he’s very busy with political issues, but I’m sure he will be on time.” Horatia sat next to Sonia. “Tell me how my aunt and uncles are doing.”
“Mama is very well. Beautiful as always.”
“I really miss my aunt. She always has a kind smile and is ready to help everyone. And my uncle? Is he as bad-tempered as ever?” Horatia said with a laugh.
“He’s the same, cousin. You know he doesn’t change. At home we do what he says and nothing else.”
“Don’t be so exaggerated, Sonia. You only say that because you didn’t like his decision to send you here to get married, but he only wants the best for you.”
Sonia rolled her eyes. “If you say so,” she replied to her brother, but she looked at Horatia. She was familiar with Edward’s demeanor.
“And speaking of that ... I have many things to tell you. We have to go to several places. You must go to the dressmaker to have a new wardrobe made for the occasion.”
“I brought a lot of clothes. I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“I’ll have to see them. You know that fashion is not the same and although American’s believe they wear the latest fashions. Here American fashion is often out of date. And if there is one thing that is unforgivable in a young lady who is presented to society it is that she wears old-fashioned dresses.”
“You know more than I do,” Sonia looked at the exquisite dress that Horatia wore.
“Don’t worry, my dear.” Horatia patted Sonia’s hand. “When you make your debut in front of the prince, you will be more than ready.”
Edward stayed with them a little longer and then said he would leave them alone to talk about women’s things. Meanwhile, he would take advantage of the time to arrange some business, but that he would return for the tea at four. When he would meet the viscount.
When he left the two cousins who had always maintained a good friendship via correspondence they had more time to get comfortable and talk about things that they couldn’t speak about in front of Edward.
“My dear cousin. It’s been so long. How long has it been since we last saw each other?”
“More than eight years. We were little girls when you were last in New York visiting my parent’s.”
“Oh, yes. That’s true. Time flew by. I still remember them taking us to the doll stores and buying us everything.” They both laughed, remembering that time.
“It’s nice to see you here and know that if you marry a nobleman, we can see each other much more often,” Horatia said excitedly. “I confess that sometimes I feel a little alone. Father and Mother are a bit far away from London. Even from our country house. Selina lives in Edinburgh. Which is a little closer but is still too far for us to see each other frequently.
“Your husband doesn’t keep you company?”
“Oh yes! Ralph is a very attentive man and spoils me. He tries to spend as much time as possible at home when we are in London, but his political affairs in the House of Lords, occupy his time quite a bit. I have some acquaintances that I see regularly. We have tea. We talk about things without importance and gossip, but nothing else. They are superficial friendships. It’s not like talking with family.”
“I understand. I have a very good friend in New York. The rest are just social acquaintances.”
“Then we won’t have to worry about that.” Horatia smiled.
A girl arrived at that time and brought them a tray of tea and biscuits. Horatia thanked her and poured her a cup of tea next to a plate of different types of biscuits. While she placed one in her mouth she looked at Sonia for a moment. “You are not very enthusiastic about the idea of getting married, are you?”
Sonia was surprised. “Why do you say that?”
“I don’t know ...” she explained it a bit more in detail. “Perhaps, because most of the debutantes have a certain look in their eyes. Their cheerful gestures show how much they are excited to meet the gentlemen and how much they want to find their prince charming, but in your case, that isn’t true. You haven’t spoken about it at all. You have not asked me where we can go or what
