And Then She Fell(2)
Frowning slightly, Henrietta reached out and reluctantly lifted the necklace from Mary’s fingers. Refusing it . . . wasn’t really an option. Henrietta might be older, more mature, more experienced socially; she might be taller by nearly a head, and she certainly wasn’t any weak-willed miss, but the entire Cynster clan knew that attempting to deny Mary something she’d set her heart on was a fool’s endeavor, and that was doubly true if she had a logical argument to bolster her case.
Letting the links slide through her fingers, Henrietta once again studied Mary’s face. “Why are you so eager to have the necklace now? You know I’ve had it since Angelica’s engagement ball, and that was nearly eight years ago.”
“Precisely.” Belligerently, Mary narrowed her eyes back. “So you’ve had eight years to wear it and find your hero, and instead you’ve put it in your jewelry box and left it there. That didn’t matter while I was still in the schoolroom. Even after I was presented, I wanted to look around myself, so you not wearing the necklace wasn’t a problem. But I’m twenty-two now, and I’m ready to take the next step. I want to find my hero forthwith, and start my marriage and set up my own household, and all the rest that comes with marrying. Unlike you, I don’t want to spend the next seven or more years doing other things, which means”—Mary jabbed a finger at the necklace—“that you have to wear that now, find your hero, and then pass it on to me. Only once I have the necklace can I get on with my life.”
Others might have accepted that at face value, but Henrietta knew her little sister just a little too well. “And . . . ?”
Mary held her gaze, vivid cornflower-blue eyes steady and unyielding.
Henrietta tipped her head, arched her brows, and waited. . . .
“Oh, all right!” Mary flung up her hands in surrender. “And I think I might have found my perfect hero, but I need the necklace to be sure. The necklace is supposed to come to me, work for me, and then go to Lucilla, so it seems I’m supposed to wait for the necklace before I decide on my hero, and, well, it would seem to be flying in the face of fate and The Lady to make any final hero-decision before I get the necklace, and I have to have it in the proper way.” Mary’s expression firmed; her eyes bored into Henrietta’s. “Which means you have to wear it and find your hero first.”
Henrietta looked down at the necklace, at the innocent links draped over her hand. And sighed. “All right. I’ll wear it tonight.”
Mary uttered a whoop of delight.
Henrietta held up a staying hand. “But I don’t expect it to work for me, so don’t get your hopes up.”
Mary laughed and darted in to plant a quick peck on Henrietta’s cheek. “Just wear it, sister-mine—that’s all I ask. As for it working”—eyes twinkling, Mary swung toward the door—“I’ll put my faith in The Lady.”
Smiling, Henrietta shook her head.
Mary paused at the door. “Are you joining Mama and me at Lady Hammond’s tonight?”
“No—I’m expected at Lady Montague’s.” Given Henrietta’s age, she often attended different events than those to which their mother escorted Mary. “Have fun.”
“I will. I’ll see you tomorrow.” With a wave, Mary went out of the door, shutting it behind her.
Still smiling, the necklace in one hand, Henrietta turned to discover that Hannah had put her new gown back in the armoire and instead laid out a gown of purple silk.
Catching Hannah’s gaze as the maid turned from the chest of drawers, a purple-and-gold silk shawl in her hands, Henrietta arched a brow.
Correctly interpreting the gesture, Hannah assured her, “The royal blue won’t do, miss, not if you’re wearing that.” Eyes bright, Hannah nodded at the necklace. “And if you’re going out looking for your hero, we want you to look your best.”
Henrietta inwardly sighed.
Two hours later, Henrietta joined Mr. and Mrs. Wentworth by the side of Lady Montague’s ballroom. After exchanging greetings, they stood and watched the Wentworths’ daughter, Melinda, who was dancing a cotillion.
Melinda’s partner was the Honorable James Glossup.
It was James’s motives in paying court to Melinda that had brought Henrietta there; she found herself studying him, absorbing all that his appearance and his expertise in the dance conveyed, and wondering—as she had for the past several days—why, given his transparent attractiveness and accomplishments, James had taken the tack he had with respect to finding a bride.