He bowed and gave a smile of apology as I brushed by him.
I pushed the door open into the morning light. The sky was a blaze of gold, the sun lifting itself above the clouds. Last night, I remembered, the sky had been streaked with crimson. Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. I repeated the well-known saying to myself without a second thought, hurrying along the path.
By the time I returned to the castle, there was a flurry of activity taking place. Furniture was being moved from room to room, and rugs were rolled back. I had a suspicion tonight’s ball would be the very picture of extravagance.
I paused outside the breakfast room and momentarily considered going in but quickly decided against it. My stomach was already filled with nerves; there’d be no room for something to eat.
Lady Margaret and Ellen walked out as I turned to go.
“Miss Graham, we hoped we might find you.” Lady Margaret greeted me with a warm smile.
Ellen nodded her agreement. “Ah yes, we’re trying to decide what to wear this evening, and you must join us. Come upstairs; we’ll start with Lady Margaret.”
Lady Margaret led us up to her room, and I couldn’t help but notice that she had been given a much larger view, and on the warm side of the castle. She opened her wardrobe, where hung a multitude of dresses, all of them in different shades.
She removed three—a pale green, an ivory, and a lavender one with pearl beading—and laid them on her bed. “I am trying to decide between these three, but I can’t seem to make up my mind.”
Ellen looked them over, tapping her lip in consideration. But I knew instantly which one I would choose for her. “The lavender one,” I said quietly. “It will make your hair look a little darker and bring out its natural shine.”
Ellen picked up the lavender dress and held it up to Lady Margaret. “She is right about your hair. You must wear the lavender.”
Lady Margaret smiled, and a light blush stained her cheeks. “Now that you say so, I believe it is the one I wanted all along.” She laid the dress out on the bed. “Well, if that is settled, who is next? Lady Ellen?”
I had to laugh at the time it took us to cross three different corridors to Ellen’s room. “It’s no wonder you stay so slim,” I teased, “in a castle of this size.” Ellen and I exchanged a look, and I knew she was thinking it wouldn’t be her home for much longer.
When we arrived at her room, she said, “I look better in whites and creams, but I am open to other suggestions.” We debated over her dresses for a few minutes before settling on a cream satin gown lined with gold rosettes.
Next it was my turn, but I felt some hesitance as we walked down the passageway. The scant few dresses I’d brought were hardly grand enough for tonight’s ball. Ellen and Lady Margaret moved down the corridor, but I lagged behind.
Aunt Agnes stood at the top of the staircase, angled so I could see her profile, and I paused as she handed a letter to one of the footmen. “See that this is posted immediately,” she instructed. He bowed his acquiescence and made his way down the stairs. She turned a bit and caught me staring. The color on her cheeks heightened, almost as if she were discomfited, but I couldn’t imagine what about. I gave her a slight nod of acknowledgment, then hurried on my way before she could detain me.
Ellen and Lady Margaret waited for me at the door to my room. I turned the handle and cracked it open only to see a thin, paper-sized parcel tied with twine that had been slipped under the door. Curiosity nearly got the better of me, but I had no desire to examine it under anyone else’s scrutiny. I quickly scooted it behind the door with my foot as I stood aside for them to enter.
In no time at all we were sorting through my wardrobe with its limited offerings. I ran my bottom lip between my teeth. “I think I’ll just wear the green one I wore the other night. I don’t really have another that’s suited for such an event.”
Lady Margaret pulled it down. “No doubt it’s a good color for you. And it must be quite difficult finding gowns since your hair color is so . . .”
“Red?” I supplied.
She blushed. “Well, yes. It’s very beautiful, but—”
Ellen interrupted her. “What she means is that it’s not in any way neutral. But I quite envy you. You’ll draw attention wherever you go.” She took the dress from Lady Margaret and held it up to me. “No, you can’t wear this again. But I may have something . . . it is a dress Mother bought for me in London last year. But when I put it on, Mother said it made me look as though I were ill.” She laughed. “Needless to say I haven’t worn it. But it may be just the thing with your coloring. You stay here; I’ll be right back.”
I returned my green dress to the closet. For a moment, as Ellen exited the room, my eyes flicked to the spot behind my door, where the mysterious parcel lay.
“Do you think Lady Ellen and your cousin will be making an announcement tonight?” Lady Margaret asked.
“It seems a good possibility.” I had no wish to give away Ellen’s secret if she hadn’t told Lady Margaret herself.
She bit her lip. “Mother and Father will be dreadfully disappointed when there’s no announcement for me.”
The ends of my fingertips began to tingle. I couldn’t speak, afraid I’d give my own feelings away.
Lady Margaret, however, needed no encouragement from me to continue. “My parents have held on to this impractical hope of a union between the duke and me for far too long. He has no wish to marry, and it’s time they accepted it,
