government arrive tomorrow afternoon. I have my room prepared and my maid servant is settled in."
"I am glad you have had the time to acquaint yourself with your granddaughter. If she looks like her grandmother, I would like to meet her as well." He smiled at her and her heart set off at a treacherous stuttering gallop. She looked at his beloved face and wondered if he saw the reflection of his eyes and coloring in any other face in the room.
* * * * *
Lady Alice Violette de Lacey leaned her dainty capped head out the coach window as they passed the quiet village of Bar_____, and made their turn up the gentle slope to the domain of the Marquess of ______________. "Elle, I am quite sure I do not know why I let you talk me into going with you all this way. I, too, loved the Marquess and his family as well, but my darling, to leave London now in midst of the little season, well, I am sure I shall be full of ennui and desperate for gaiety when this so sad funeral is over." Alice waved her gloved hands about as she spoke, making her oldest cousin and friend's lips turn up slightly.
Lady Eleanor Lillian Blackwood, turned her tawny head "Well dearest one, for one thing, you will be among the creme de la creme and in your element which you know is something we need in place. For another, you will get to see Rosy and I know how you have missed her since she departed London."
"Ah, but Elle, my old bones grow so stiff, and you know how I hate black bombazine! So itchy, so dull, so unbecoming, and so thin! It requires so much furs to keep warm while traveling and it wrinkles so badly."
"Oh Tante Alice, do not fret so! You look as elegant as any Parisienne pattern card I have seen recently, and while I am here, Maman has made certain I have seen many," Estaria spoke from the opposite seat, her green eyes alight with laughter. "And what is this about 'old bones'! Surely you are not a day over thirty."
"Turning me up sweet are you? Well my bones may be old, but they are very good bones." You should be happy, Estaria, you have the same good bones. Maybe, with a little good skin care," and here she cast a condemning eye on the suntanned duo before her, "you too can belie your age."
"Thank you, Tante. I know Italy has done little more to help my skin than to kiss it golden. I look forward to your educating me on the care of skin, English style."
"Oh, you naughty girl, to laugh at me so! Now look out the window, Surely you can see the flambeaux at the doorway from here." Ladies Alice and Eleanor as well as Estaria began to rustle around in the carriage, pinning up stray curls, straightening their bonnets, removing the traveling furs and brushing away wrinkles. Allie stifled a yawn and smoothed her gloves. "Look lively, my dears! We have arrived."
*********
"I am glad you have had the time to acquaint yourself with your granddaughter. If she looks like her grandmother, I would like to meet her as well." He smiled at her and her heart set off at a treacherous stuttering gallop. She looked at his beloved face and wondered if he saw the reflection of his eyes and coloring in any other face in the room.
* * * * *
Lady Alice Violette de Lacey leaned her dainty capped head out the coach window as they passed the quiet village of Bar_____, and made their turn up the gentle slope to the domain of the Marquess of ______________. "Elle, I am quite sure I do not know why I let you talk me into going with you all this way. I, too, loved the Marquess and his family as well, but my darling, to leave London now in midst of the little season, well, I am sure I shall be full of ennui and desperate for gaiety when this so sad funeral is over." Alice waved her gloved hands about as she spoke, making her oldest cousin and friend's lips turn up slightly.
Lady Eleanor Lillian Blackwood, turned her tawny head "Well dearest one, for one thing, you will be among the creme de la creme and in your element which you know is something we need in place. For another, you will get to see Rosy and I know how you have missed her since she departed London."
"Ah, but Elle, my old bones grow so stiff, and you know how I hate black bombazine! So itchy, so dull, so unbecoming, and so thin! It requires so much furs to keep warm while traveling and it wrinkles so badly."
"Oh Tante Alice, do not fret so! You look as elegant as any Parisienne pattern card I have seen recently, and while I am here, Maman has made certain I have seen many," Estaria spoke from the opposite seat, her green eyes alight with laughter. "And what is this about 'old bones'! Surely you are not a day over thirty."
"Turning me up sweet are you? Well my bones may be old, but they are very good bones." You should be happy, Estaria, you have the same good bones. Maybe, with a little good skin care," and here she cast a condemning eye on the suntanned duo before her, "you too can belie your age."
"Thank you, Tante. I know Italy has done little more to help my skin than to kiss it golden. I look forward to your educating me on the care of skin, English style."
"Oh, you naughty girl, to laugh at me so! Now look out the window, Surely you can see the flambeaux at the doorway from here." Ladies Alice and Eleanor as well as Estaria began to rustle around in the carriage, pinning up stray curls, straightening their bonnets, removing the traveling furs and brushing away wrinkles. Allie stifled a yawn and smoothed her gloves. "Look lively, my dears! We have arrived."
*********
