Danse de la Folie by Sherwood Smith

Author:Sherwood Smith [Smith, Sherwood]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: sherwood smith, Regency, mobi, ebook, silver fork novels, nook, romance, comedy of manners, historical, book view cafe, kindle, epub
ISBN: 9781611381931
Publisher: Book View Cafe
Published: 2012-08-22T05:13:05+00:00

EIGHTEEN

“I do not want to go to another soiree,” Amelia said, pouting. “Not if it is all talk, and worse, poetry.”

“The least attractive quality in a girl is to be choosing among her invitations as if she were a fine lady,” Mrs. Latchmore began in a scolding voice.

Lady Chadwick said calmly, “Lady Badgerwood would like to see you there, Amelia. Hetty told me that her mother-in-law invited Charles DuLac in especial to meet you, at the encouragement of his cousins. He is recently come down from Oxford, before he goes to York to take up his living.”

“The girls have mentioned their Cousin Charles.” Amelia wrinkled her nose. “He’s the clergyman, isn’t he? I remember him, I think. He was come down from Eton for the holidays, and he was horrid to us. He called us simpletons and lackwits for not knowing Latin.”

Mrs. Latchmore made a scandalized noise. “I take leave to remind you that the DuLacs are as wealthy as the Athertons, if not very likely more.”

Lady Chadwick added calmly, “In any case, you are not going across the street to get married, only to listen to a few poems, and meet this fellow now you are all grown up.”

“But I don’t like Charlie DuLac,” Amelia muttered, when her aunt was out of the room. “He has a head like a hayrick on fire, as well as a horrid tongue. This soiree is probably his idea. I trust they do not expect me to know a poem.” She turned to Kitty. “You have better things to do than read horrid poetry, do you not, Lady Kitty?”

Kitty gave Amelia a sympathetic smile, but shook her head. “I must confess I like poetry very much, but you must remember I live in the country, and there is not much to do besides read.” She opened her hands in a plea. “Besides, the poetry I like is funny, or full of love. The horrid stuff we had to copy out as children is not what I think of as poetry, even if it did scan and rhyme.”

“Love?” Amelia stated, askance.

“Oh, some of the poems from before our grandmothers’ day was scandalous. They had a different taste then, and they were not so nice. If you look in some of the older books in any library, you might be surprised,” Kitty said.

Amelia did not want to scoff, or retort that she would never look into any book, especially an old one—not to Lady Kitty, who was so pretty, and always friendly, ready to accompany one on a walk even when one’s own sisters were being selfish. So she abandoned the subject as Kitty went on to sift through the invitations at her plate.

“Look, two balls... and a masquerade! I have always wanted to go to a masquerade.”

“A masquerade ball?” Amelia started up.

“You are invited, too,” Clarissa said, smiling. “My grandmother is holding it. Your name is included in the family’s invitation.”

When Amelia’s transports had subsided, and she and Eliza began considering wild ideas for costumes, Kitty reached the last of her letters, then sighed.

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