The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(22)
Jane leaned in closer to the looking glass and eyed her freckles. She’d tried to scrub them off like bits of dirt when she was a child. Other children had teased her about them. Now they’d faded into small flecks beneath her wide brown eyes but they still remained, mocking her. Reminding her she would never be a beauty. It was just as well. As if the fact that she’d been a large child hadn’t been enough to drive the other children away or cause them to make fun of her. “Plump” was the word her mother had used. Thank God she’d shed the extra weight as she’d grown into a young woman. Her mother had been relieved, but Jane had never divested herself of her love of sweets and teacake. She might not be the plump little girl she’d once been, but she’d never be the willowy thin thing that Cass was or have Lucy’s diminutive shape. Mrs. Langford’s goddesslike perfection? Hardly.
Jane had spent her childhood telling herself she didn’t care that the other children didn’t want to play with her. She’d always been more interested in reading and learning and going to galleries and museums than making herself up and going to parties. She gazed down at her gown, a gorgeous ice-blue concoction that made her look more—ahem—voluptuous than she’d ever looked before. Her breasts were about to make their own debut. Lucy’s maid had spent the last two days taking out the seams to make the gown fit Jane. On Lucy, it had been a bit flowy. On Jane, it was anything but. In fact, the effect was quite a difference from anything she’d ever worn before. Despite its scandalousness, Jane had little doubt her mother would adore this gown. If Mama believed Jane had a chance at finally attracting a suitor, she’d no doubt add more rouge to Jane’s cheeks and suggest even lower décolletage.
Jane straightened her shoulders. She’d stared at herself long enough. It was time to go. She reached for the matching ice-blue domino mask Lucy had procured for her. It looked quite decadent with a large white feather sweeping across one side. Domino masks and spectacles did not mix. Jane took one last look in the mirror and pulled her spectacles slowly down her nose. She blinked at the blur of pale skin and blue fabric and brown hair reflected in front of her. Her eyesight was hopeless. She could barely see her hand in front of her face without her spectacles.
She stood and carefully made her way to the door. At least she thought it was the door. It was the big blur of brown in the middle of the wall with the gleaming golden blob in the middle. This would not do. She had to use her spectacles. She hurried back and pulled them from the tabletop. Then she held them up as best she could in front of her mask and made her way down to the ballroom. Just outside the entrance, she folded the spectacles and tucked them into the white satin reticule that swung jauntily from her wrist. Funny how being without her book made her feel shy, vulnerable. It was a first for her. Tonight she would stay, and dance, and attempt to have a grand time. At a ball. She shook her head. Who was she becoming?
No doubt Upton would have some impertinent comment to make about the fact that she wasn’t holding a book for once. She scowled. Why was she thinking about Upton of all people? Upton would probably be so distracted by Mrs. Langford, he wouldn’t spare Jane a second thought. What did she care?
Upton.
Why had she challenged him last night with her vow to find out why Mrs. Langford had followed him? Other than the fact that he’d angered her the day before, telling her how to run her life. She wasn’t a fool. She knew Lucy’s schemes could end up causing trouble. She’d been around for the last two, hadn’t she? As long as she kept Lucy’s imagination from running wild, they might manage a small, simple, controlled scandal. But Upton had been so certain of himself. She’d wanted to take down his smug demeanor a notch. After all, how did he like it when someone meddled in his affairs?
Enough about Upton. Jane had more important things to concentrate on, like not tripping and falling flat on her face in front of a ballroom full of the ton’s best. She lifted her chin. Tonight the entire ballroom would see a new Jane Lowndes. One who wore beautiful ice-blue gowns with daring décolletage, and feathered domino masks, and elegant chignons, and was sans both book and spectacles. Tomorrow she would go back to being the bluestocking spinster they all knew she truly was.
Daphne Swift was the first to see her when Jane hesitantly entered the ballroom. The younger woman squealed. Truly squealed. “Jane, is that you?”
Daphne was a lovely blur of yellow silk, her golden hair piled high atop her head. She gave Jane the impression of a glowing candle. “Daphne, is that you? I cannot be certain without my spectacles.”
Daphne’s tinkling laughter followed. “Yes, it’s me, Jane.”
Jane nodded. “Very well. I would be ever so grateful if you would point me in the direction of Lucy and Cass.”
Daphne laughed again and entwined her arm through Jane’s. “I’ll take you to them.”
The two made their way through the blur of the crowd. Jane was ever so glad for the assistance. This was why bluestocking spinsters who wore spectacles did not attend masquerades with domino masks. Incidents might occur. Embarrassing ones like talking to a plant all evening or tripping and falling headlong into a duke. Though, to be fair, she believed Derek Hunt was the only duke in attendance and he would no doubt be forgiving, but still, the entire prospect was fraught with peril. Though that might be just the sort of scandal she was looking for. Hmm. Perhaps talking to a plant wasn’t scandalous enough. Not to worry. A scandalous opportunity would present itself when the time was right. She was certain of it.