“The seamstress I engaged is certain she can remake Lillian’s gowns from last year.” Mother sat at the round table in the sitting room, wire-rimmed spectacles perched at the end of her nose. “We will have to pay for new gowns for Ellie.”
“Why should she have new gowns made when I have to make do with old ones?” Lillian would have struggled to sound more offended than she did.
“Believe me, I would not have chosen the arrangement,” Mother said. “But we have funds enough for only one of you to have newly made gowns. And as Ellie has never left Shropshire, nothing of hers could possibly be made acceptable for Society gatherings, no matter how much effort a seamstress put into the task. And the two of you cannot share gowns, which prevents her from wearing your castoffs from last year’s sojourn in Bath.”
It was not a matter of embarrassment but of necessity. Lillian was reed-like. Ellie had ample curves, more than many young ladies.
“Why should the younger sister be given all the advantages of a fine seamstress?” Lillian clearly didn’t mean to give over easily on the matter of their wardrobes.
“The more expensive dressmaker and the more talented one has been engaged to remake yours,” Mother said. “We’ve found an adequate one to make Ellie a few acceptable gowns. She will not outshine you. Of that you can be certain.”
Ellie had been certain of that even before the topic had been raised. Her family’s preference for Lillian and tendency to belittle Ellie had all but guaranteed it.
Mother ran her finger down the parchment in front of her, updating Ellie and her sister, Lillian, on each item listed there. “Mrs. Clark is in Bath, as usual. We will most certainly call on her. And Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster have come also.” The Lancasters were their neighbors in Shropshire, a young couple not many years older than Ellie. “With their connections, they will be the very toast of Bath. We must make certain to call on them often.”
Mr. Lancaster was also on close terms with a brother of the Earl of Lampton, and he claimed both a countess and a duchess amongst his sisters.
“Will Their Graces be in Bath, do you suppose?” Lillian asked.
Mother shook her head. “Even if the duchess could convince her husband to come, they have an infant. I cannot imagine they would travel while their child is still so young.”
Though Ellie was in the room, she was hardly necessary to this discussion. That was more often the case than not.
“I have heard that Lord Lampton’s youngest brother is in Bath, staying with a friend of his. He will most certainly visit the Lancasters, owing to their friendship.” Mother pulled off her spectacles and set them on the table, eyeing Ellie and Lillian in turn. “We must build on the progress we made when young Mr. Jonquil last visited our neighborhood. We cannot let slip by us an opportunity for a connection to that family.”
“I tried, Mama,” Lillian said. “He did not seem the least interested.”
“Your older sister squandered her opportunity with Mr. Lancaster, preferring her penniless nobody.”
The oldest Napper sister deeply loved the gentleman she had recently married, and he loved her. Beatrice was now the happiest any of them had ever seen her. But the family was meant to have been monetarily and socially benefited by the daughters’ marriages. Mother was still fuming over what she considered to be Beatrice’s betrayal.
“I fear you are correct about Mr. Jonquil not being persuadable toward a match with you,” Mother said.
Far from looking heartbroken or offended, Lillian nodded quite matter-of-factly. She had not, after all, participated in the pursuit out of an abundance of affection.
“Mr. Jonquil’s friend is Mr. Hughes, of the Sussex Hugheses. They are quite wealthy and very important.” Mother held Lillian’s gaze. “He would be an excellent choice.”
Poor Mr. Hughes.
“And, Ellie.” Mother turned her attention. “You must set your sights on Mr. Jonquil.”
Poor Mr. Jonquil.
Poor me.
“If we can secure both these matches, we will be in fine feather, indeed.” Mother pushed out a sigh, both worry and hope in her expression. “Your sister made a disastrous match. We cannot afford for either of you to do the same.”
Ellie dreamed of a life that “disastrous.”
Lillian, as always, showed no signs of hesitation. She and Mother were two peas in a pod. “How soon can we make Mr. Hughes’s acquaintance?”
“I am not certain,” Mother said. “We will first call on the Lancasters. That is the best initial step.”
Merciful heavens, this could be a long stay in Bath.
Mother narrowed her gaze on Ellie once more. “I hope you do not plan to protest as much as you did when we were last in Mr. Jonquil’s company. I know you object to the efforts needed to forge an advantageous match, but doing so is even more important than it once was.”
Mother was not likely to be patient on this matter. Displeasure from her parent was not a new experience for Ellie; neither was it a pleasant one.
“I will behave,” Ellie vowed.
She’d learned long ago that rebellion was pointless.
Chapter Two
“I have to get out of this house.” Newton tossed Charlie a look of exasperation.
“But that would mean missing your father’s next installment of ‘Newton’s Myriad Matrimonial Opportunities and the Ways in Which He Is Tossing Away His Future.’ Please don’t deprive me of that.” A laugh twinkled in Charlie’s eyes.
“Tuck the absurd grin away, Charlie. We’re slipping free of our shackles whether you care to or not.”
“I know the perfect place to escape to,” his friend said.
“Do you?”
Charlie nodded. “Let us call on Linus.”
Linus Lancaster, a former lieutenant in the royal navy, was something of an honorary older brother to Charlie. They’d visited the gentleman a few times since his arrival in Bath. Newton liked him and enjoyed being at his home. He and his wife were kind and wasted not a single breath lecturing Newton about his plans for the future.
“Brilliant,” Newton said.
The Lancasters were letting a house near enough the Hughes’s that they were able to walk there, and they did so. The day was fine, and the weather quite pleasant. Bath was bustling, as it generally was this time of year. It was, of course, nothing compared to London during the Season. Newton didn’t mind the busyness. In fact, he enjoyed the constant push and pull and challenge of life in Town. He looked forward to being a more constant part of it in his own purposeful way.