Dragon Keepers' Cotillion (Jane Austen's Dragons Book 8) by Maria Grace

Author:Maria Grace [Grace, Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Soup Press
Published: 2021-10-27T16:00:00+00:00

The drawing room door swung open and Mr. Davies, the butler, appeared.

Elizabeth stood, jaw gaping. Miss Darcy stopped playing.

“Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Miss Anne de Bourgh.”

“Do not look so alarmed, Lady Elizabeth. I bear you no ill will for failing to formally invite us. We did not know ourselves when we would be arriving for the Cotillion until a few days ago.” Lady Catherine swept into the room, her daughter in her wake.

Tall and elegantly slender, how much mother and daughter favored one another. The same sandy blond hair, swept up in arrangements clearly crafted by the same lady’s maid. Sharp noses for looking down upon others. Small, narrow blue eyes for finding fault. And both dressed to preserve the distinction of rank. How thoughtful.

Elizabeth swallowed hard, searching for some expression that would be appropriate to the current situation.

“You are coming to the Cotillion?” Georgiana’s voice quivered as she pushed to her feet. Neither her expression nor her voice left her opinion of the matter in any doubt.

“We are.” Anne stepped beside her mother, a self-satisfied expression, like a mask firmly fixed into place. “I have not attended the Cotillion in years. I quite look forward to it.”

Georgiana blanched and slowly fell back onto the piano bench.

Elizabeth needed to find Auntie immediately after the party. Hopefully she would be willing to assist Georgiana in overcoming her disappointment. She had so enjoyed the idea that she was to be the most sought-after lady of the Cotillion.

Interesting. Lydia had never seemed to envy her for that.

“Lady Elizabeth,” Cousin Anne approached with strong, confident strides. Did she dare think she had some sort of dominance in this company? “I have heard that the Gardiners are absolutely the people to see in regards to a proper Cotillion gown at this late date.”

“They are. But you are not to be presented, are you?” Elizabeth scanned the room.

“No, technically not. But I am sure Rosings will craft an introduction appropriate to my situation. I want to ensure I make the correct sort of impression. Are the Gardiners here? Will you introduce me?”

What sort of impression was she hoping to make? No, that was a foolish question. Anne was making her debut onto the marriage mart. She would want resplendent feathers and lace and silk to announce her intentions. Lovely.

Aunt Gardiner suddenly appeared at Elizabeth’s elbow. Bless her! “Miss de Bourgh, may I present my aunt, Mrs. Gardiner?”

Thankfully Aunt Gardiner hurried Cousin Anne to the far corner of the room in time for Lady Catherine to swoop down upon Elizabeth, requiring some sort of polite conversation. “Have you been in town long, Lady Catherine?”

“We only just arrived. What is wrong with Georgiana? She looks quite ill. Where are your guests of honor? Oh, there is Mrs. Collins. I would speak with her …” Lady Catherine headed off in the opposite direction.

Thank heavens!

“Mr. Darcy’s aunt?” Lady Dressler, a harvest-gold-swathed bastion of calm and poise in the midst of the storm, handed Elizabeth the cup of tea she had abandoned on the tea table.

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