Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97740 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 489(@200wpm)___ 391(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
‘Your carriage awaits, Mrs Melrose,’ Dalton says.
‘Come along, Eliza.’ Mother practically twirls her way out of the drawing room, and I follow. ‘Oh look,’ she whispers when I reach her. ‘Lady Rose.’
‘She doesn’t look dressed for a soirée,’ I say, noting her lack of elaborate feathers reaching to the sky.
‘That is because she has been black-balled.’
‘What? Why?’
‘She was heard ridiculing Lady Blythe’s latest novel.’
‘Lady Rose would read such stories?’ I ask, surprised.
‘No, that is the point. She is simply being spiteful. Unfortunately for her, Lady Blythe is a patroness too and has had the Countess’s subscription revoked.’
‘Oh…’ I breathe, somewhat amused, and I can tell Mother is too. ‘Remind me to never insult Lady Blythe.’
Mother laughs, loud and over the top, taking the steps down to our carriage. ‘Good eve to you, Lady Rose,’ she sings, getting a sharp look shot her way for her trouble. ‘And will we have the pleasure of your company at Almack’s?’
I sigh, going after mother, as Lady Rose huffs off. ‘You are terrible, Mama.’
‘She had it coming, the old witch.’ She settles in her seat, patting down the puffs of her dress. ‘I see the way she looks at my family.’ Mother’s eyes narrow. ‘And hear her tone when she addresses me. She does not think we belong on Belmore Square.’
‘We don’t,’ I murmur, my eyes falling onto the Winters’ house.
I don’t feel as though I belong anywhere.
The promises of luxury and glamour have not been exaggerated, for I see the ballroom, with its spectacular, glittering chandeliers and heavy velvet draperies, is quite the example of palatial as I admire it from the top of the grand staircase. It is true, what Mother said, I am certainly underdressed for such an occasion in such a venue as this, and yet I find the elaborate, feather and frill-loaded frocks worn by many of the ladies in attendance quite over the top.
I have been left in the care of Frederick, who is a seasoned pro attending such events and yet still somehow looks so very out of place, but Mother is not far, although her attention is fully devoted to socialising and not keeping a suitable eye on her daughter who is in the company of a man, despite said man being who he is, both to society and to me. She looks so happy, and not at all out of place amid the money and status of London, while I, however, feel as though this huge, impressive building is resting on my chest. Supper has been served and it is past eleven, but it feels like the time is ticking by at a mercilessly slow pace. How much longer can I stand this circus, and, God, it is frightening to think it, but I do not simply mean the circus of this evening. I look around again and, this time, I do not see a beautiful room. I see instead bare brick and iron bars and hear not the orchestra, but the torturous sound of water dripping loudly and people laughing wickedly.
Panic finds me and cruelly makes my heart beat faster.
‘I should like to take some air,’ I say with a weak, breathless voice.
‘Oh, that is not possible,’ Frederick replies. They are the first words he has spoken to me all evening. We have stood in silence the entire time, and it does not bode well for our future as husband and wife. ‘The doors are closed at eleven.’
‘Whatever do you mean? Are you saying I am imprisoned?’ The thought makes my heartbeat quicken even more, and I am powerless to stop it.
‘It’s tradition. No one, after eleven, regardless of status, may enter.’
I blink rapidly and swallow down the growing lump clogging my throat. ‘But I don’t want to enter, I want to leave.’
‘Yes, but you will not be permitted re-entry, you see, Eliza, so you cannot leave until Mrs Melrose is ready.’
I find my mother nearby giggling with some gentlemen of undeniably high social status, if their dazzling gold buttons are anything to judge by, and I wonder if she’s already in the throes of lining up potential suitors for Clara. Regardless, she looks uncomfortably settled and quite far from wanting to leave. She will crawl out if she has to, I just know it, for she will not want to miss a moment of this glamorous gossiping gathering. I never knew of Mother’s stamina until now, and, I must say, it would be impressive if it were not irritating on occasions – namely, when I am not benefitting from her distraction and endurance. ‘I’m sure if I explain, they will understand and permit me entry again.’
‘Forgive me, Miss Melrose, but not even a duchess or a viscountess, or anyone of such rank, for that matter, would question the orders and regulations, and you are not either a duchess or a viscountess, not even close, so I am afraid it is not possible, and, frankly, I would be most unimpressed if you were to so much as enquire, for the mere fact you have asked would raise gossip and risk disrepute on my family name.’