Minx by Julia Quinn

Author:Julia Quinn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3, pdf
ISBN: 9780380785629
Publisher: Avon
Published: 1996-01-02T07:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 13*

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One week later Henry was ready to be presented to society. Caroline had decided that her charge would make her bow at the annual Lindworthy bash. It was always a huge affair, Caroline had explained, so if Henry was a smashing success, everyone would know about it.

"But what if I am a miserable failure?" Henry had asked.

Caroline had given her a smile that said she did not think that was much of a worry and said, "Then you shall be able to lose yourself in the crowd."

Fairly reasonable logic, Henry had thought.

Belle came over on the night of the ball to help her dress. They had chosen a gown of white silk shot through with silver thread. "You are very lucky, you know," she said as she and a maid helped Henry into it.

"Young ladies just out are supposed to wear white, but many look hideous in the color."

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"Do I?" Henry asked quickly, panic rising in her eyes. She wanted to look perfect. As perfect as she could, at least, with what graces God had bestowed upon her. She desperately wanted to show Dunford she could be the kind of woman he'd want by his side here in London. She had to prove to him—and to herself—that she could be more than a farm girl.

"Of course not," Belle said reassuringly. "Mama and I never would have let you buy this gown had it not looked perfectly enchanting on you. My cousin Emma wore violet at her debut. It shocked some, but, as Mama said, white makes Emma look yellow. Better to defy tradition than to look like a pot of custard."

Henry nodded as Belle did up the buttons at the back of her gown. She tried to turn around to look in the mirror, but Belle put a gently restraining hand on her shoulder, saying, "Not yet. Wait until you can see the full effect."

Belle's maid Mary spent the next hour carefully arranging her hair, curling it here and teasing it there. Henry waited in agonized suspense.

Finally Belle popped a pair of diamond earbobs on her ears and draped a matching necklace around her throat.

"But whose are these?" Henry asked in a surprised voice.

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"Mine."

Henry immediately reached up to her ears to remove the jewelry. "Oh, but I couldn't."

Belle pulled her hand back down. "Of course you can."

"But what if I lose them?"

"You won't."

"But what if I do?" Henry persisted.

"Then it will by my fault for having lent them to you. Now be quiet and take a look at our handiwork." Belle smiled and turned her around to face the mirror.

Henry was stunned into silence. Finally she whispered, "Is that me?" Her eyes seemed to sparkle in tune with the diamonds, and her face glowed with innocent promise. Mary had swept her thick hair into an elegant French twist and then pulled feathery tendrils out to curl mischievously around her face. These wisps glowed gold in the candlelight, lending her an almost ethereal air.

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