Chapter 20

The next day, the day of the ball, was enlivened by the general air of expectation that pervaded the Castle. Amongst all the bustle of final preparation, Georgie hoped that her own uncertain mood might go unnoticed – as, indeed, might the air of saintly resignation that Alice had assumed. This hope was encouraged by the fact that the party from Castle Howard arrived that afternoon, along with some other slightly less distinguished guests who were also to stay overnight because they lived too far from Northriding Castle to travel home afterwards, even by moonlight. The Duke's wooing must be suspended while he received his guests and entertained them, and this gave both ladies a respite, for very different reasons. But Georgie was sure that Miss Templeton and her mother were right in thinking that the ball itself might prove to be the perfect setting for a formal proposal of marriage. If it were successful, as it surely would be despite the feelings of the prospective bride, it would be followed by an announcement, and then by general congratulations and celebrations; what better occasion could be found?

And I am to be bridesmaid, thought Georgie. Good God, was there ever anything so preposterous? I would not believe it if I saw it in a play. I am to stand and watch a terrified, reluctant, coerced girl marry a rake who thinks she is a dead bore, a rake who came to my bedchamber in secret two nights since, proposing marriage to me, undoing the buttons on my nightgown and kissing his way…

It was a relief to her when she was obliged to push aside such perilous thoughts and pay heed to Lady Georgiana Morpeth, chief lady of the Howard party. That amiable lady was all affectionate attention to her late mother's godchild, and full of questions about the health and situation of her brother Hal, her sister-in-law and all her other siblings. There were, of course, numerous enquiries to be made in return, about that lady's interesting children (she was, she confided, increasing again), and her dear sister Harriet and her baby son. Georgie remembered Alice's piteous claim that it was impossible to keep all these noble, inter-related ladies separate in one's head, and smiled a little to herself, as she listened with half an ear to some tale of the doings of Staffords she barely knew, and with the ease of long practice made exclamations in all the correct places. By the time she went to change into her masquerade finery, she had the headache.

When she emerged from her bedchamber to join Louisa and Miss Spry, the expression on her aunt's face suggested that she too was feeling some pain. ‘Good heavens, Georgie,' she said, surveying her. ‘I had not thought you so…'

‘So…?' enquired Jane with a grin.

‘So… eighteenth-century!' said Louisa with an expressive gesture of her quizzing glass.

‘It's the dress,' said Georgiana helplessly. ‘It was a little too small for me, I fear, and it had to be laced tightly in order to fit.'

‘We heard the screams.'

‘I did not scream, Louisa! I may have cried out, perhaps. I am not accustomed to such corsetry. But I am in it now…'

‘More or less,' said Jane drily.

‘I am in it, and it is too late to wear anything else. If I am to go to the ball, it must be this.'

‘I do not say it is not becoming,' her aunt sighed. ‘It may in point of fact be too becoming for my peace of mind as your aunt and chaperon. And I suppose if you are to dance in such a full skirt and high heels, to neither of which you are accustomed, it is just as well that it is a little too short. You certainly will not catch your heels and trip. And your maid has done very well with the arrangement of your hair; it looks perfectly natural. But I am excessively glad that Hal is not here to see you in such a low-cut gown; I am sure he would blame me, and most unjustly, for I had no idea…'

Jane said, her voice unsteady, ‘The heels do make you quite tall, Georgie. I think you should be careful in your dancing partners, and make sure, if any particularly short gentleman should ask to take you onto the floor, to sit out that set, or you will look like a satirical print by Gillray.'

Georgiana glanced down at her chest, which was indeed far more exposed than had ever been the case in public before. The tight lacing of the bodice had had an extraordinary effect. She crossed the room to the cheval glass that stood in one corner, and studied her reflection doubtfully. It was, as she had said, far too late to change. It was time to go down to dinner, or they would be late.

The woman she saw – for it was not a girl she beheld in the mirror – was a stranger. Her short hair had been given the appearance of length with the aid of Lady Blanche's false curl, which nestled against her bare neck. Her bright blue eyes glittered behind the lace loo mask she wore, and her maid had set a black velvet patch beside her right eye, so that the mask did not conceal it, saying that the other abigails in the servants' hall had shown her how to do it, and furnished her with the means. Many of the guests would be attired in the fashion of the previous century, and would also be sporting patches. She had dimples, ordinarily, but they were not in evidence now, since she didn't feel she had anything at all to smile about. She shook out the ruffles of silver lace at her elbows, and took a deep breath. Louisa groaned. ‘Try not to breathe more than is strictly necessary,' she advised.

‘It is a masquerade, after all,' Miss Spry consoled her. ‘You, Louisa, are wearing a gown that is in the current mode, but most other people will not be, I dare say. Many of us will present an odd appearance. Look at me!'

‘I think it suits you,' Louisa said. ‘I agree that the bold stripes are… not quite what one is used to these days, but the overall effect is pleasing. Your hair looks well in powder, and matches the gown. And I like the fichu. At least you will be warm enough! The castle is quite draughty in parts, I have observed, and Georgie is like to catch her death!'

This seemed unjust to Georgiana, as her aunt had quite as much bosom on show as she did, and she said so. ‘I am not a young unmarried lady!' replied Louisa. ‘Our situations are quite different. Nobody is likely to attempt to draw me aside into a dark corner and seek to compromise me!'

‘Oh, I don't know,' said Jane, brown eyes sparkling. ‘I've always thought that gown most attractive, as I believe you have reason to know.'

‘I think we should go down, or we shall be late,' Georgiana said firmly. She squared her shoulders, ignoring her aunt's moans of protest, and they set off gingerly down the steep staircase.