The Emperor's New Clothes by Victoria Alexander

Author:Victoria Alexander
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2010-10-22T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

“I really think I’m quite recovered.” A hopeful note sounded in Ophelia’s voice.

“Well, perhaps today, dear, you may get up.” Lorelie perched on the side of the bed and smiled.

It had been two full days since her fall, and Lorelie had insisted, no commanded, that she stay in bed every minute of them. Whoever would have thought this tiny, sweet little woman had a will of iron strong enough to rule, not merely her home, but probably the entire world. Queen Victoria herself would likely meet her match in Lorelie Matthews.

“Actually, I had been thinking of an outing you might enjoy.” Lorelie’s eyes twinkled with excitement. “The Every Other Tuesday and Thursday Afternoon Ladies Cultural Society meets today.”

Ophelia sat up straighter. “For cards?”

“Cards and…other things.”

“What kinds of other things?”

“You really have missed a great deal, dear, by staying in bed,” Lorelie said with a shake of her head.

“But you insisted I stay in bed.”

Lorelie cast her a knowing smile. “And don’t you feel much better because of it?”

Ophelia nodded in surrender. She did have to admit her fall had left her bruised where she’d never imagined she’d have bruises, too stiff to move and too sore to really care. But today, at least, she seemed nearly normal.

“So tell me, Lorelie, what did I miss?”

Lorelie’s expression brightened. “To begin with The Every Other Tuesday and Thursday Afternoon Ladies Cultural Society has decided we really must improve ourselves if we are going to have a representative of the Queen visit. Goodness, if Jack is to be a count, we would hate to do anything that would disgrace him.”

“Of course not.”

“So, we’d like you to teach us proper deportment.”

“Proper deportment?” What on earth did that mean?

“Yes indeed.” Lorelie nodded enthusiastically. “None of us have the faintest idea how to act with an ambassador or a count, even though that will be Jack and I daresay being a count probably won’t change him a great deal, at least I hope not, but one never knows what a man might get into his head. Now, many of us have spent some time with you, but we’ve decided you’re an exception. You’re so pleasant and terribly”—Lorelie shrugged in an apologetic manner—“normal. The ladies have discussed it and we all agree. You’re not much different from an American, except for the accent, of course. Why, you’re not at all the way we expected an English countess would be.”

“I’m not?” Ophelia said faintly. Mild disappointment and curiosity trickled through her. “Exactly how am I not what you expected?”

“Well, I don’t know that I can put my finger on it. You simply seem to be so much more on one hand and on the other”—she shrugged helplessly—“somewhat less.”

Ophelia stared, resisting the urge to shake her head in a futile effort to understand Lorelie’s convoluted comment. “What?”

“Gracious, I’m not explaining this at all well, am I? Well, then, never mind. And you mustn’t let it worry you, my dear.” Lorelie waved her hand in a vague gesture of unconcern. “We mean it as, well, a compliment.

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