Georgie smiled and said, “La, but you are too
sensitive, Star. Why do you allow her to annoy you? She is not a
nice person and therefore, her opinion should not matter to
us.”
“Right you are. Never mind, Marigold. Are you
still going to wear that lovely russet gown?”
“That or the ivory, but Star, tell me…”
Georgie hesitated.
Star had gotten up from her bed and was
rummaging through her wardrobe. “Tell you, tell you what?”
“Star, look at me,” Georgie said.
Surprised by her friend’s tone, Star turned
and gazed at her inquiringly. “Yes, right then, I am looking at
you. What is it? What is wrong?” She went forward, sat on the bed
again and took her friend’s hands.
“I want to know if
you want him
,”
Georgie demanded.
“Star stared at her friend for a long time.
“This is not funny. What sort of a question is that? What do you
mean, do I want him—
who?”
“I am not trying to be funny.” Georgie said
gravely. “I am most serious. I want to know if you want him.”
“Georgie, again…want who?”
“Jules Stamford, of course,” Georgie said and
looked at her folded hands in her lap.
“Georgie. He is not a piece of jewelry, and I
am not
a buyer on the loose.”
“Of course not, but he has displayed a marked
partiality toward you that I find most obvious and you don’t seem
to take notice of him at all.”
“Georgie…?” Star studied her friend with a
question. The answer glared at her but she couldn’t quite believe
it.
“So, I want to know if you want him.”
Her friend could be most tenacious, Star
thought as she gave her a hard once over, “Right, so to be clear,
you want to know if I want Jules Stamford,” Star said with a shake
of her head and a quirky smile. “I rather thought you knew my mind
better than that. I thought I had made it clear already. Jules is a
good man, with wit, and a sweet disposition. He is fun and he is
any woman’s dream catch, but no, I don’t have a passion for him.”
She arched her brow. “Does that answer you?”
“Yes, it does,” Georgie said smiling
sweetly.
“Yes it does pudding. So now,
you answer
me
Miss Georgina Madison, why do you want to know?”
“Because, you ninny, if you don’t want him,
I do.”
Star stared at her friend for a long moment.
Here was a problem. Jules had been chasing after her, but she had
never thought he honestly wanted her. She considered the situation
and came to a conclusion, “Georgie…why Georgie,
it suits
. I
swear it does. Why did I not see it before? You and Jules would be
perfect together…”
“So I have thought, but he seems to be in
love with you, Star, and it has made me terribly jealous,” she
returned on a sad note.
Star snapped her fingers in the air.
“Nonsense. He came at me on the rebound from what he thought was a
tragic affair. The truth is, he wasn’t in love then and he isn’t in
love
now with me.”
She went quiet for a moment and then
offered, “I tell you what Georgie, when he looks at you, it is with
great interest. If you want him, you can’t just sit back as you
have done.”
“Indeed, what then should I do?” Miss Madison
asked on a heavy sigh.
“Well, a little more positive action will be
needed. You must make a real push to bring yourself to his notice.
You must look at him just so,” Star posed and they both laughed,
“But, the thing is you must. And you must contrive to get him into
a private conversation, where he can discover you have like minds,
for you do.” She took Georgie’s hands, “You must win his attention
just at the moment when you have managed to find yourself besieged
by another man’s notice.
You must make him aware of you as a
desirable woman
, Georgie. Men always want what other men what.
It is their way. You must make him aware that other men want you,
that other men think you are irresistible.”
“Star, that is your style, it is not mine,”
Georgie said and laughed. “I would feel a fool.”
“Don’t be absurd. It doesn’t matter if it is
your style or not. We are talking about getting his attention. Win
that—make him take notice, then be who you are, exactly who you are
and he will fall madly in love with you. How could he not?”
“I am not sure I know the knack of doing what
you suggest. I have always been so straight forward,” Georgie
pulled a face.
“Ah, you are a practical minded woman, but
you are also quite, quite lovely and should use that loveliness to
your advantage.” Star clapped her hands. “You will see!”
Chapter
Ten
GEORGINA SPUN AROUND in a circle for Star to
have a good look at her and in an anxious voice inquired,
“Well?”
Star examined her friend from head to foot.
Tawny curls were neatly arranged. Hazel eyes were bright. Dainty
ears were adorned with delicate pearls. The gown of ivory satin
with lacey draping short sleeves and lace trim at the high waist
was perfect as were the matching ivory slippers on her feet.
“You will break hearts tonight,” Star said at
last and with great conviction. They had rushed with the Berkley
wagon to Georgie’s home and collected everything she needed. They
looked in on her mother who was sitting to tea with a friend and
contentedly waved them off, before they returned to Berkley Grange
where they had spent the rest of the afternoon sprucing up their
gowns.
Star stuck up her long white gloved hand for
dramatic effect and asked, “And I?”
Georgie smiled ruefully. “Your hair swept
away from your face with the flaxen wisps at your forehead suits
you brilliantly, Star. Perfect for your tiny face.” She touched the
small diamond studs in Star’s ears and said, “These are lovely and
compliment your gown…silver so completely suits your coloring. And
this material just shimmers...” she sighed and added, “I do think
your bodice cut a bit low for your full breasts though.”
“Do you?” Star dimpled. “Wonderful, we are
after all, all grown up and it is the acceptable mode of fashion
these days, even here in the country, Georgie.”
“Yes, I know, but Star…” she pointed at
Star’s bodice.
“Oh, it isn’t that bad. Just popping out a
bit,” Star returned and laughed.
“Well, if I am going to break hearts as you
say, you are going to smash them into dust! You are exquisite.”
Georgie sighed. “I shall
never
get Jules to look at me with
you there.”
“Nonsense. I am
not
what he wants. He
is forever talking about ‘when my hair grows’ and I shall make it
clear that I don’t mean to allow it to grow—ever. Also, he thinks I
shall outgrow my impulsive behavior. I shall show him that
impulsive is who I am. When he rejects me it will be because he
finally sees me. And then he will realize that the woman he wants
is you
.” Star glanced at the clock. “Oh faith! Look at the
time! They will be arriving any moment.”
“Yes, yes they will. What will this modern
woman do when Jules looks her way?” Georgie asked sardonically.
“You know very well, Georgie, so don’t be
coy. Use your eyes to speak to him and you will have him in your
pocket.”
Georgie laughed but Star waved her hand
nervously, “We will have to go downstairs. I am sorry, but first, I
promised Vern we would look in on him…do come.”
A few moments later, they left Vern chuckling
and made their way downstairs, as Star heard the scraping of the
coach wheels on the front drive. “Cook and her husband Bankes are
asleep, so there is no one to answer the door. Thus, it is up to
us,” Star said looking at her friend. “I am so sorry…do you
mind?”
“What sort of snob do you put me down as, you
miserable girl? Do I mind? Indeed!” Georgie said on a huff and
laughed. They heard the door knocker and glanced at each other for
a moment.
“Calm, we are calm, it is only a dance and
they are men…only men,” Star laughed.
“Yes, but not quite ‘just a dance’, but a
ball. The ball of the season and the men on the other side of that
door are not just men, but such extraordinary men!” Georgie said
practically.
“Now you have gone and done it, you twit,”
Star wagged a finger. “I was succeeding in shooing away my
butterflies and you have brought them right back and they are
taking over my stomach.”
* * *
The ball proved to be everything a young
woman could wish for. Star was rapt as she gazed around and thought
everything and anything was now possible.
As predicated, she and Georgie did in fact,
most certainly turn heads when they were announced, and they kept
those heads turned in their direction for some length of time. Star
could not help but notice the appreciative stares directed their
way.
Star sighed with great pleasure as her white
gloved hand fluttered toward the profusion of colorful flowers set
around the room. “Aren’t they lovely…” she said to her friend.
Georgie answered, “Yes, yes, but do you see
the mamas looking our way?
Envy,
my friend, those are the
faces of undisguised envy. We have three of the most eligible
bachelors in all the county at both our sides.”
“Oh, my…Georgie…that group looks as though
they could strangle us.” Star said on a laugh. She thought about
it. How lucky they were. Miles, Jules and Sir Edward were hovering
about them and they were indeed, three most desirable and eligible
bachelors. After many of the snubs and snide remarks she had
sustained after her father’s death regarding hers and Vern’s
financial woes, this struck her as funny. She couldn’t help but
laugh out loud.
The evening was sultry and Star fanned
herself as she watched many of the dancers, waltzing toward the
double doors and the flagstone patio outside.
All at once, Star found her hand in that of
some fine young buck’s as he pulled her onto the dance floor. As
the dance movements took them around the floor, she could not help
but notice Sir Edward watching her intently and wondered what he
was thinking.
Suddenly, she saw him moving toward them and
she knew he was going to cut in. Her heart fluttered with
excitement. She was about to feel his hand on her waist. She was
about to be in close proximity to him.
Oh faith!
Miles, however, had evidently the same notion
and Star’s eyes opened wide as she saw the two converge on her and
her dance partner.
Sir Edward’s smooth maneuvering brought him
to her first and he tapped the young man on the shoulder to say,
“Off with you, puppy. The first waltz was promised to me.” He took
Star’s waist firmly in hand and maneuvered her away from Miles who
had been trapped between the dancers on the floor.
“I know I have already told you that you are
stunning, but I must say it again, Miss Berkley. Your eyes…are
alive and in their depths, I see such a flames, enticing flames
therein. There isn’t a man here who doesn’t want to look into them
and unclothe their mystery.”
Star laughed, “Very prettily said.” She
looked at him and arched a brow, “It isn’t easy to mind my steps
and keep up conversation, but I shall try and not step on your
feet.”
He choked back a laugh, “Are you…minding your
steps?”
“Indeed! You see, I was only able to practice
with Vern and Georgie as the waltz is relatively new here in the
country and only recently sanctioned. So before tonight I haven’t
honestly really done much practicing.”
“Well, I would not have known it. You are
light and graceful. I would have thought you have been doing the
waltz all season.”
Star smiled warmly at him and asked, “So
then, are you beginning to enjoy country life, or are you missing
London—or was it Brighton you just came from?”
“It was Brighton, though most of the time I
am found in London and no, I do not miss either place, because yes,
I find country life, country hours, country simplicity
completely…refreshing,” he said softly.
She dimpled, “Indeed, I have always thought
it was so, but it is not very exciting. I am sure, for someone used
to the bustle of…”
“On the contrary,” he offered, cutting her
off. “Country life is proving to be quite…intriguing. And you know,
I find country manners most relaxing.” He looked at her intently
for a long moment and added on a low, husky note, “As to
excitement, I find myself…at the edge, in your company.”
Star felt her heart go thump in her chest. A
smile quivered and she looked past his shoulder, if only to recoup.
However, she saw Miles waving at her and giggled setting herself
back at ease once more, and said. “You know sir… it wasn’t
nice…what you did.”
“What did I do that wasn’t nice?”
“Cutting poor Miles off earlier. He is my
brother’s dear friend and I am sure…”
Again he interrupted, “Not nice, but
expedient.”
“Do you always do what is expedient
regardless of whose toes are stepped on?”
“Certainly, as long as the toes are not
mine,” he answered, giving her one of his most charming smiles.
“You should not,” she admonished, but
amusement curved her lips none the less.
“So I have been told, but at least I am
honest and if nothing else, entertaining,” he returned easily. They
were outdoors before she knew it. He had without her realizing it
guided her toward the fresh summer breeze at the open patio
doors.
Star was immediately thankful as he led her
outdoors and took in a long gulp to say, “Oh, but this is
delightful. It was getting stuffy indoors.” She looked around at
the brightly burning torches and the handsomely decorated garden
furniture. Couples laughed as they strolled through the maze of
evergreens and flower beds and Star sighed happily.
“Yes,” she said suddenly. “You
are
entertaining…and honest, I think. Am I right? Are you honest,
sir?”
“I think I am, but,” he answered. “I am more
interested in what you think.”