His Forbidden Debutante by Anabelle Bryant

Author:Anabelle Bryant [Bryant, Anabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781474035941
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2016-09-25T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

It is unusual and rare to forge a strong friendship through correspondence, yet I feel in kind to the sentiments expressed in your last letter. I haven’t looked into your eyes or waltzed with you or had the ordinary pleasure of hearing your delightful laughter, still I understand as well as I know the sun will rise come morning that someday all these wishes will reach fruition and we shall be together. You live in my heart.

The day had arrived and the house hummed with excitement. Musicians tuned their instruments in the ballroom, servants bustled through the hall placing floral bouquets and polishing marble and brass, while no less than three cooks prepared sumptuous platters of plentiful food from exotic appetisers of Scotch collops, oysters with white wine, and pickled radish with caviar, to clever side dishes of Jerusalem artichokes, buttered rusks and stewed vegetables with capers. Main course selections included roasted pike with pudding in the belly, crab and salamagundy, boiled fowl and cold neat’s tongue accompanied by custard with snippets, and roast partridge with plum sauce. Livie was too invigorated to think about food, although if all went as planned she would recover her appetite by the dessert course, never one to refuse imported macaroons or candied orange peel. Dashwood had arranged for an assortment of Gunter’s ices to be available and the temptation of the refreshing treat after an evening of ballroom dancing promised the perfect ending to her new beginning.

And there was, best of all, the promise of Penwick.

No one mentioned whether the Earl had accepted the invitation Dashwood sent, but with such short notice Livie conciliated Penwick hadn’t time to respond and would show in time for a waltz as fluid and heavenly as when they’d floated across the tiles at Monsieur Bournan’s dance hall. She would save a space on her card. And then, as she’d conspired with Esme, she’d request the Earl’s assistance on the terrace with a claim she needed a breath of fresh air, for no other reason than to tempt another kiss. Her heart beat hard at the thought of the expectant happening.

Now she meandered through the dining room, admiring the colourful streamers in every shade of rose, the table linens set to complement the brilliant silverware and gleaming crystal. The centrepiece plateau included fresh orchids surrounding almond marzipan paste sculptures in miniature butterfly shapes, and beside each place-setting a tiny sugar basket rested, filled with delectable candied bonbons shaped to resemble jewelled fruit. Whimsy had worked tirelessly to create the most wonderful debut and, with a sigh of contentment, Livie realised how very loved and special she felt at this moment.

She left the dining room and hurried to the salon, anxious to thank her aunt, sister and brother-in-law for their efforts and contributions towards her day. She found them together, discussing arrangements and finalising details before guests arrived at eight in the evening, and with a quick glance to the wall clock, she noted that soon she’d need to begin her own preparation.

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