3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Belles Blossom

“ L ady Green, thank you so much for chaperoning us this evening. Mother and Father already had tickets for the opera tonight.” Lady Green was an attractive woman, a perfect figure, with luscious blonde hair. She had either ignored or disparaged Helen for as long as Margaret could remember. As a result, Helen was introverted and heavily attached to nature. Margaret supposed nature would refrain from bombarding her with insults. Helen had, as of late, listened to Margaret, Muriel, and Rosa’s suggestions to improve her appearance. It seemed to have done much to bolster her confidence.

Everyone noticed but Helen’s mother. Tonight, Helen looked lovely. Her gown, Margaret determined, looked almost as attractive as her own. Margaret had been grateful Lady Green had agreed to chaperon; eager to flaunt her new gown. She knew she looked attractive enough to get one of those Horsemen to dance with her. She had held a tendre for Lord Windham for many years, but through the seasons, she had seen him dance with dozens of ladies; never her. She decided to focus her effort on Lord Addams. If only it could be Lord Windham.

“You’re welcome. Tonight, I have ladies I promised to meet regarding a venture our club is working on. It should keep me occupied for the duration. I’m sure at least Lady Margaret will have enough to keep both of you busy for the evening.”

“Yes, my lady. We shan’t interrupt your meeting. We know enough people to keep us entertained.” Margaret deplored Lady Green’s treatment of Helen. They would be sure not to bother her. For Helen’s sake.

“Worry not, Mother.” Helen looked at Margaret with a silent apology.

They arrived on time, so the line of coaches was queued around the corner from the grand entrance. Lady Green complained; disgruntled by the slow-moving coaches.

“Mother, would you like to disembark and walk to the entrance? It is not very far.” Helen sat, embarrassed by her mother’s constant complaining.

“You are so foolish. Why in this world would you make such a ridiculous suggestion,” She spat out with venom. Typical of her mother. Margaret reached for Helen’s hand and gave it a supportive squeeze. Margaret’s mother did lecture about Margaret’s figure, but nothing compared to Helen’s mother. Helen’s mother insulted Helen with every utterance, regardless of her statement or opinion. As a result, for the past few years, Helen rarely offered any opinion.

At last, they arrived at the entrance. “I’m going to be preoccupied and I don’t want to be disturbed by any petty requests from you, Helen.”

“Yes, Mother. We will do our best not to disturb you.” Her head down, hands in her lap, she mumbled in response. “Don’t do your best, Helen, do not disturb me under any circumstance. You understand me.” It was not a question.

“Yes, Mother.” Lady Green exited the carriage without further ado and walked away from them. Helen looked at Margaret. “She is quite the virago. I apologize on her behalf.”

“She is worse than a virago and do not apologize for her abominable behavior. You have nothing to do with it.” Margaret took Helen’s hand and gave it another reassuring squeeze. Margaret had known Helen for a long time. She recognized Helen’s insecurity about her person and spoke positively to her when the opportunity arose. “Come, it is now time to have some fun.” She took Helen’s hand as they walked. “Shall we?” She raised her chin and made sure to swing her hips; not too much – just enough.

“Yes, we shall.” Helen studied Margaret. “You look beautiful tonight.”

Margaret felt beautiful. “Thank you, Helen. May I return the compliment?” Helen looked more than attractive. Her hair looked beautiful and her gown did much to enhance her svelte figure. “We need to take our stroll around the periphery to see and be seen.”

Helen cared little for this particular practice of Margaret’s but she loved Margaret so she placated her desire to find and attract one Lord Addams. Quite frankly, Helen failed to understand the pursuit, but Margaret seemed determined to lure Addams. She should be pursuing Lord Windham. Margaret failed to recognize she had only spoken to Henry twice on two different days. Neither qualified as a conversation. She had asked him something; he answered her, then got up and left the room. From Helen’s perspective, it did not look promising whatsoever. Lord Windham had a much more pleasant demeanor. A friendly sort; gregarious. He had conversed with Margaret and her at the McDonnell townhouse when Muriel had been severely injured. It seemed Margaret lacked the confidence to pursue Windham; more’s the pity.

They made it to the backside of the ballroom when Margaret spied Lords Windham, Herbert, and Addams. Fred had spent the most time with Margaret and Helen during Muriel’s vigil. As Margaret looked over, Fred caught her eye. He ambled over to her and she suddenly forgot about Addams.

“Lady Maxwell, Lady Green, you are both looking quite comely this evening.” Both ladies curtsied. He took Margaret’s hand and bowed over it, and repeated the same with Helen. “Margaret, would you care to dance?”

Margaret felt giddy inside; a hint of a blush spread across her cheeks. Spending a good bit of time with him at Lady Muriel’s must have been beneficial. Fred led her to the dance floor and he and Margaret lined up for the next dance.

“I believe this is a Hornpipe. I enjoy it. Nice and slow.” Fred smiled, his eyes meeting hers for the briefest of moments.

“Yes. It’s simple. I like that.” Margaret noticed Fred looking around the room. He seemed preoccupied. “Lord Fredrick, is something amiss?” She tilted her head to see his full face.

“I apologize.” He looked at her. Margaret attended a number of organizations and seemed quite active in the community. She could possibly assist in finding a specific person if indeed, it happened to be a person. “I am attempting to find out if anyone knows a person with the initials ‘S L B‘. It is quite the longshot, but might you be privy to anyone with those initials?”

“I would have to think on it. I know a lot of people that know a lot of people, as do you. Would you like me to ask around in my social circles? Is it important?” She knew her explanation regarding her circle of acquaintances sounded addled. She should have considered better wording. Margaret wanted Lord Fredrick to appreciate both her intellect as well as her turn of phrase. So far she had not been able to capture his attention.

“It is extremely important and yes, I would appreciate you inquiring among your circles.” Fred looked at her. She was pretty. More than pretty. Why had he not noticed before? Her decolletage, enough to show off large, lovely breasts. How had he not noticed those before? “Are you going to be here long?” He might get another dance with her, enjoy her cleavage, and imagine the exact color of her nipples. He had to think of something else; his cockstand pushed tightly against his already tight-fitting trousers. Hopefully, his topcoat kept it from view. If it got any worse, his topcoat would fail to cover it. He had to think of something awful – horse shite, rats, pig slop, her nipples. Damn, this is not working. Thankfully, the dance ended before he could embarrass himself. “I’m going to mingle, but I will find you later for another dance if you are so inclined.”

"Yes. Lovely, Lord Fredrick. I will be here for the duration. Lady Green has ordained it so.” She gave him a quick curtsy and watched him walk away. She had to remind herself to breathe – ecstatic failed to describe her euphoria. He had truly asked her to dance.

Fred went back to his comrades. “You have yet to mingle? Not asking about, ‘S L B‘?”

“We were waiting for you to complete your self-imposed requirement for at least one dance per ball.” John shook his head. “Why bother.” Could he be any more blasé?

“I enjoyed dancing and I particularly enjoyed imagining those large breasts of Lady Margaret’s in my face. Her body is extraordinary. Seductive.” He had to stop thinking about her bosom. He pulled his topcoat tighter over his front.

John and Henry looked over at Margaret to scrutinize her person. “I believe you are correct about her ample bosom. Why had I not noticed before?” John looked to his friends as if they would have the answer.

“I believe sometimes a woman suddenly blossoms. I happened to be smart enough to notice.” Fred gloated as he shot his cuffs.

“After we ask around, I think I will ask her to dance. I’m not particularly a bosom man, but she does look nice this evening.” Henry’s eyes were on Margaret.

“Then I feel obligated to dance with Lady Helen. She should have at least one dance.” Fred looked at Helen with a keen eye. “She looks rather pretty this evening, as well. In the past, she came to the balls looking like some kind of ridiculous tree. Drab green with shrubs all over the front.”

“Tonight she looks different. I won’t mind dancing with her.” Henry noticed Helen had long legs. Henry was a leg man.

“Henry, you may not have them all. You selected Lady Margaret first.” Fred elbowed Henry. He knew Henry’s preference for legs. “Alright gentleman, shall we mingle?”

It had taken the majority of the evening to speak with all the gentlemen present at the ball. It seemed no one knew of a gentleman with the initials, ‘S L B’. With the ball being a crush, the three men began to think the search was going to be more difficult than they had imagined. Fred would not give up. He had a quest – determination.

“I noticed throughout the evening both Helen and Margaret were dancing. I see neither on the dance floor at the moment. I’m going to ask Lady Margaret for a dance.” Henry walked away from Fred and John, targeting Margaret.

“I suppose I will go ask Lady Helen. Which leaves you without a dance partner, John.” Fred poked him.

“I think I will survive. I will be here when you are done making fools of yourselves.” John had his hands in his pockets, jingling his coins.

Margaret and Henry enjoyed each other’s company as they danced through one of the longer musical numbers. Henry must have said something humorous as Margaret began to giggle delightedly. John watched Fred and Henry dance, enjoying their dance partners. John knew how to dance. He enjoyed dancing. He refused to waste his time dancing with someone he had no interest in.

“Shall I collect a beverage for the two of you?” Fred wanted something to drink as well.

“Champagne would be nice,” Helen spoke up. Margaret looked at her; pleasantly surprised.

“Yes, two, please, Lord Windham.”

Champagne, it is.” Fred gave them a nod and a smile and disappeared into the crowd.

“Helen, you spoke up. And you smiled. I do believe this is your first coming out.” She looked at Helen like a proud mother. Helen needed a boost.

“After wasting two seasons past, this may be the first true season for both of us.” Helen and Margaret could have counted their dances from the last two seasons on one hand with fingers left over. And that was counting four hands.

Fred returned with champagne. “For the two loveliest ladies in the room.” He handed them the flutes and raised his glass. “To Lady Margaret and Lady Helen.” The ladies raised their glasses as well, in amazement at his flattery. “Thank you, ladies, for the dances.” He bowed to them and left.

“I told you. Lord Windham is much more amiable than Lord Addams.” There was something about Addams that somewhat confused Helen.

“He danced with me! He must have admired something about my person.” Margaret had a permanent smile for the remainder of the ball. She would think about their dance all night, feeling beyond giddy. She had finally danced with Lord Fredrick.

“He danced with me as well, Margaret and I doubt he has any interest in me whatsoever.”

“Alright. So, perhaps they were being polite, but he did dance with me first.” She rocked her body from side to side. Lord Fredrick had danced with her.

“Are you ready to leave now? We have accepted all the dance offers we will likely receive.” Helen began to tire. As Margaret deliberated, Lords Gifford and Elliot approached. “Lady Margaret, Lady Helen. You both look radiant this evening.” They bowed to the ladies.

Helen and Margaret curtsied and thanked them.

“Would you ladies care to dance the next set?” Gifford asked.

“Yes, please, if you would. We would be most honored.” Elliot added.

“Yes, we would love to,” Margaret spoke, then looked to Helen.

“I would be pleased to dance the next set.” Helen’s ears suffused a lovely pinkish tint. She hid her utter amazement at the number of times she had been asked to dance.

They danced. Helen enjoyed Lord Elliot’s company. Margaret even heard her laugh. Margaret had an equally nice dance with Lord Gifford. After the dance, the men escorted them from the dance floor.

“Would it interest you to change partners for the next dance?” Lord Gifford asked.

“That would be lovely,” Helen replied. Helen recognized the beginning signs of her blossoming. Pardon the pun. Helen had to smile to herself. No more green!

“This is the last big event of the season, but there shall be other smaller ones before most of the peerage leave for the summer. I hope you both will attend.” Said Lord Elliot, looking at each of the ladies.

“I heartily agree. Please say you are staying until the season is completely over.” Lord Gifford insisted, the largest smile to both of them.

“Yes, we usually always stay until the season is completely over,” Margaret replied.

“Yes, and my family often stays longer.” Helen looked down as she answered.

“That is wonderful to hear. We will look forward to seeing you both at the next ball.”

“Thank you, ladies. Good evening.” Lord Elliot bowed to Helen and then to Margaret. Lord Gifford followed suit.

“Margaret, do you think our dancing with the horsemen has anything to do with Lord Gifford and Lord Elliot asking us to dance?”

“I care not one whit for their motives. I’m thrilled to be dancing for a change, would you not agree?”

“Indubitably.” Helen held the sweetest grin.

“Excuse me, ladies, Lady Helen, would you honor me with the next dance?” Oh, my, Lord Lade.