Her mother prattled on excitedly about the upcoming ball, but Ara tuned out, staring down at her plate. She didn’t want to go to this Duke’s ball, but she simply had no choice. It would be just another stiff and dull affair, like they all were, the ton circling each other like roosters in a cock fight, sizing each other up. Everyone was so boringly polite.
She sighed deeply. And she had to try to be enthusiastic about it. She had so faithfully promised her father that she would try.
She could see by Ruth’s body language that her cousin was genuinely excited. Ruth was leaning forward across the table, staring at her aunt as if she had just descended from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments in hand. Her cousin’s complexion was still flushed, and her pale blue eyes were shining.
Ara sighed again. It was going to be madness in the Nott household in the lead up to this ball. It was going to simply be bedlam. And she must grit her teeth and endure it.
***
Her mother wasted no time. Within an hour, they were bundled in the carriage, heading towards Bond Street.
“Not just new gowns,” said Mrs. Nott, staring out the carriage window. “We must look at accessories as well. Interesting and noteworthy hair ornaments. And the jewellery must carefully match the dresses…”
“Do you have any preference for what colour the gowns should be, Aunt?” asked Ruth quickly.
Mrs. Nott took a deep breath. “You both must look like swans, gliding on a lake! Pure white, girls. It always suits both of you so well.” She frowned slightly. “However, they must be in different materials and styles. I do not want you to look identical…”
Ara tuned out again. Talk of gowns and accessories bored her to tears. A dress was just a dress, wasn’t it? They truly looked all the same to her. She simply couldn’t see the point in rhapsodising over different styles and materials, like her mother and Ruth loved to do.
I am so different, she thought glumly, for the thousandth time. Why can I not love fashion, like all other ladies seem to?
It had always been a mystery to her, why she didn’t like the things that all other ladies seemed to adore. Fashion was only one. She also hated needlepoint, and drawing, and couldn’t play an instrument to save her life. Ruth loved to embroider and was accomplished on the pianoforte.
She lived for the outdoors, and always had. When she was a little girl, she had hated rainy days when she was housebound. She had learnt to ride early and loved it passionately. If a day went by when she didn’t ride, she always felt as if something was missing. That was one of the reasons why she hated being in London so much.
Within ten minutes, the carriage was in Bond Street, pulling over in front of one of the most exclusive dressmakers in London. Ara only knew that it was exclusive because her mother had told her so. She had whispered the name of the dressmaker as if the woman was some kind of famed magician.
“Mrs. North,” she had breathed, her eyes agog. “We must go there immediately. If we are lucky, she will be able to make an appointment for fittings for us all.”
Ara stepped out of the carriage, peering down the street. It was early morning, but already it was teeming with ladies and gentlemen going about their business. She spotted tailor shops, haberdasheries, and jewellers. There were also street stalls along the dirt road, with sellers calling out their wares.
Mrs. Nott bundled them into the dressmakers quickly. The shop bell tinkled merrily as they entered.
A woman approached them, smiling neutrally. “Good morning. Do you have an appointment?”
Mrs. Nott took a deep breath. “I am afraid that we do not. We have only just arrived in London for the season, and I was hoping to secure fittings for these two young ladies and myself as soon as possible….”
The woman stared at her as if she were slightly mad, peering down her nose. “Madam, I am afraid that we do not have any spare appointments for quite a few weeks. Apart from our usual appointments, the Duke of Lancaster’s ball has just been announced, and all our regular clients going to it have booked us up entirely.”
Mrs. Nott looked flabbergasted. “You cannot squeeze us in at all? But that is not to be borne!” She paused. “Can I speak directly to Mrs. North, perhaps?”
The woman smiled condescendingly. “I am afraid not, madam. Mrs. North is busy with fittings at the moment. Perhaps I might suggest another dressmakers, if you are so desperate?”
Mrs. Nott coloured. “Well! If that is your attitude, then we shall take our custom elsewhere.” She turned to Ara and Ruth. “Come along, girls.”
They exited the store. Mrs. Nott turned to them both, her eyes glittering.
“This is terrible,” she whispered dramatically. “Do you think that we shall secure fittings anywhere?”
“I am sure we will, Aunt,” said Ruth reassuringly.
“Does it matter, Mama?” said Ara sharply. “Papa was correct, after all. We do already have gowns that are suitable for a ball. We could just wear them and be done with it.”
Mrs. Nott looked affronted. “They are simply not good enough, Ara. Not good enough at all!” She took a deep breath, staring down the street. “Come along, girls. We must stay positive. We shall find somewhere, I am sure of it.”
By the time they climbed back into the carriage, Ara’s patience had been stretched to the limit. They had been into four different dressmakers before securing appointments. That was in addition to the jewellers. They had been on Bond Street for over two hours.
Two fruitless hours, she thought. Two hours, where I could have been riding if I were still at home in the country.
She stared morosely out of the carriage window, tapping her fingers against the side of the carriage. If she had to go into another shop again, she thought she might scream.
***
That afternoon, she stared out of her bedroom window. Everyone was busy with other pursuits; Ruth was practising piano in the parlour, her mother was having her habitual afternoon nap, and her father was at one of his clubs. The restlessness she had been feeling all day abruptly overwhelmed her.
Suddenly, she remembered Hyde Park. The acres of green lawn, and the Serpentine River. She had seen swans gliding along that river. How lovely would it be to see them up close, just for a little while?
Her heart started to beat a little faster. Hyde Park wasn’t that far from here, and she knew the way…sort of. At least, she had paid attention in the carriage. It couldn’t be that far to it on foot, surely?
I could be back before anyone even realises, she thought quickly. Mama sleeps for at least an hour or two, and Ruth can practise piano for hours, as well. Papa will be at his club until evening…
She hesitated, torn with longing. She had promised her father faithfully that she would not do things like this anymore, and she was in London, not Dorset. She knew that a young lady shouldn’t walk the streets unchaperoned.
Her heart beat faster still. But if she was quick, no one would be any the wiser. She couldn’t sit in this room all day, like Rapunzel locked in a tower. The urge to stretch her legs and be in nature was like a siren’s call to her.
She took a deep breath. She would do it.
Quietly, she went down the stairs, tiptoeing. In the foyer, she retrieved her bonnet and gloves, looking around surreptitiously. Harding, the butler, was nowhere in sight, and neither were any of the maids.
She opened the door quickly, closing it behind her as quietly as she could. The next minute, she was walking down the street, her heart in her mouth. What if her mother was not sleeping, and was peering from her bedroom window?
But no one pursued her. She reached the end of their street, hesitating, looking left and right. Which way was it to the park again?
It is right, she thought determinedly. I will head that way, and simply backtrack if it proves erroneous.
Already, she felt that delicious sense of freedom. She took a deep breath. It was good to be outdoors and walking, even if the smells of London were different to the country. Even if she wasn
’t where she wanted to be.
She quickened her steps. She simply must stay aware of the time. If she didn’t, and returned late, she knew there would be grave consequences.
She felt a sudden stab of guilt. But the next minute, she heard some birds in a tree, and forgot about everything else entirely.
Want to read the rest of the story? Check out the book on Amazon!
Also, please turn the page to find a special gift from me!
Sign up for my mailing list to be notified of hot new releases and get my latest Full-Length Novel “The Lord's Favourite Game” (available only to my subscribers) for FREE!
Click the link or enter it into your browser
http://henriettaharding.com/diana
A Lady's Passion Knows No Distance: A Historical Regency Romance Book Page 30