L&A: 16

The day of Rose and Albert’s engagement party could not come fast enough for Lily; she couldn’t wait to be with Archibald in public and to dance with him. She knew his trepidations and felt sure she was prepared to meet them. He would have nothing to fear—these were her parents, her parents’ friends, and local society. He had twice as much money as the richest of them, so even if they didn’t desire his company generally, they would show him nothing but respect. And while fear or respect for wealth was not what Lily wanted for him—or them—she knew that it was at least a start.

“This dress is lovely, Mary,” she said to the family seamstress that morning as she and Rose attended their final dress fittings. “You’ve really outdone yourself with this.”

Emma ran her hand approvingly over the sapphire silk. “It goes so well with your complexion. I’m sure Mr. Craven will like it.”

“Beauty wasted,” Rose grumbled from the corner, where Carrie was adjusting her bustle. “No one will notice Lily, they’ll be too busy staring at him.”

“Rose.” Emma’s voice was a warning. “Leave your sister alone.”

“He’ll be the talk of the evening, coming into society after all these years at my party,” Rose prattled. “He’ll probably not even have proper clothes.”

“He’s not a heathen,” Emma said. “I’m sure he’ll look fine. They did spend several seasons in London, you know.”

“Turn a bit, Miss Lily,” Mary instructed, her mouth full of pins. “A few more places…”

Lily turned, holding her arms chest-level before her so Mary could pin the waist. “I’m sure we won’t do anything to embarrass you, Rose.”

Rose turned and glared at Lily. “Just his presence is enough—“

“Mary? Carrie? May we have a moment?” Lady Spencer asked. The women nodded and left the sisters and Lady Spencer.

Emma seized Rose’s upper arm tightly and Rose flinched. “Listen to me, Rose. This berating of your sister’s choice has gone on long enough. Mr. Craven is a good man, a fine man, who loves your sister and whom your sister loves in return. There is nothing the matter with him or his manners and Lily has made a fine choice. I will not hear another word against him. Is that understood?” Rose nodded mutely. “Now you will be civil to her. And you will apologize.”

Rose muttered something. “I’m sure Lily didn’t hear that,” Emma said. “Do it properly.”

Rose’s eyes met Lily’s square on, and her intense dislike was evident in her blue eyes. “I’m sorry, Lily, for second guessing your romantic choice,” she spat.

Emma closed her eyes and sighed. “That’s enough of that. I’m going to call the girls back in, and lay down. I can’t handle this baby’s gymnastics and your constant bickering.” Lady Spencer left the room and the sisters were silent for the rest of their fittings.

As soon as Carrie unpinned Rose, she flounced down off the dais and slammed the door behind her. Lily flinched, but, to their credit, Mary and Carrie pretended not to notice Rose’s ill humor.

* * *

“You would think she would be happy since this is all about her,” Lily ranted to Richard as they walked about the grounds. After the fitting, Lily needed to get out of the house and clear her head.

“I told you she wouldn’t willingly accept your choice of Archie. She thinks he’s beneath you. The fact that he is going to be at her party sends her into paroxysms,” Richard said. “There’s nothing to be done.”

“She needs to grow up,” Lily growled. “Days like this, I cannot wait for her to be in India. I wish I could be with Archie right now, married and at Misslethwaite. Alone.”

“It will come soon enough,” Richard said. “Peace, Lily. You know it will.”

“I know that I will miss Rose. But today--I cannot help but wish she was far away with Albert already.”

“Rose has never learned to keep her tongue.”

“She needs to learn. Or at least…” she turned to her brother, fiddling with her bonnet strings. “I would never insult a suitor of hers. And she’s been with some pretty stupid ones, if I may say. But I would never do that to her. She’s my sister.”

“She thinks that as your older sister she has a responsibility to you. That includes screening your suitors.”

“Screening!” She gave a derisive laugh. “You mean trying to scare away the ones that don’t meet her standards.”

“Well, yes. Good thing Archie is older than her and not afraid.”

“There are things he’s afraid of, but Rose isn’t one of them,” she murmured.

Richard looked at her, puzzled. “I can’t imagine him being afraid of anything.”

Lily didn’t answer Richard. Instead, she put her hand on his arm. “We should head back. I’m sure Rose will want us dressed and ready so we can help her greet the guests.”

Richard didn’t comment on her brisk change of subject, and the two walked back toward the house.