Chapter 66
SIXTY-SIX
Ravenglass
By six o’clock, the dining room glittered with silver and crystal, Cook had everything in hand, and the staff was just about to sit down to a cold supper so that they would have time to finish with the preparations before the guests began to arrive.
Geneva hastened upstairs. It was time to get ready.
She had never before worn anything except lipstick, but she had purchased several beauty products at the department store, and, after she had taken a quick bath and Lettie had helped her on with her frock and headed downstairs to get something to eat, Geneva took the little bag out of her vanity.
She penciled in her eyebrows, tinted her lashes, then applied a little rouge to her cheeks.
She was just about to put on lipstick when Honor burst into her room.
She looked excited and upset all at once. “These earrings don’t go with my dress,” she moaned.
Honor’s dress was a deep violet, and she wore black pumps with a T-strap. A gold bracelet studded with what looked like real diamonds glittered on her wrist.
“Where did you get that?” Geneva asked.
“It’s smashing, isn’t it?” Honor said, and held out her arm. “Rose lent it to me.”
“And where did she get it?”
Honor shrugged. “I think she might have borrowed it from Aunt Clarissa.”
“Borrowed it?”
“Look, what does it matter?” Honor said with a huff. “It’s gorgeous, she let me wear it, end of story. Now, can you lend me your earrings?”
“But—” Geneva began, but Honor didn’t allow her to finish.
“They don’t go with your dress anyway. I’ll trade you for these.” She held out a pair of dangly crystal earrings that sparkled in the light from the lamps.
“Are these Rose’s as well?”
“So what if they are? She gets an allowance. She can spend it on what she likes.”
Geneva reached for the earrings and held one against her ear. She loved her amethyst earrings, but Honor was right. They didn’t really go with her dress, and the glittering crystals made her feel stylish and glamorous.
“All right,” she said and removed her earrings. “But I want these back tomorrow.”
“And you’ll get them,” Honor replied. She put them on and turned her head this way and that, admiring her reflection in the mirror.
“They look fabulous. And I love my new hair,” she gushed.
“It feels so…” She searched for the right word.
“Liberating,” she said at last. “I’m going to wear it like this all the time from now on.
Maybe I’ll go even shorter,” she mused as she patted the ends of her curling locks.
“I love it too,” Geneva admitted. “I was craving a change.”
Honor scoffed. “Haven’t you had enough changes with everything else that’s going on?”
“I meant a positive change, one of my own making.”
Geneva opened her jewelry case and took out the bangle she’d bought. Honor’s eyes widened at the sight of the elegant snake.
“That’s stunning,” she exclaimed.
“Want to borrow this too?” Geneva teased.
“Can I? Oh, please, Genny. I’ll give you this one.”
“I’m wearing it. I already lent you my earrings.”
“All right. Fine. But I’m borrowing it next time there’s a party.”
Geneva glanced at her sister in the mirror.
Honor carried on as if nothing were about to change, and it both annoyed and saddened her.
Honor still didn’t seem to grasp that in a few short weeks—a month or two at most—their father would be gone, and their lives would never be the same again.
Geneva would be married to Jesse, and Honor would be on her way to Switzerland.
When she returned, Aunt Clarissa would take over as her guardian.
Perhaps there would be parties and pretty frocks and excuses to wear her jewelry, but the life they had known would be gone forever.
Unhappy to be denied the bracelet, Honor obviously decided to make her sister cross in turn. Her eyes narrowed as she met Geneva’s gaze in the mirror. “What happened with Rory? He told me he’s leaving, and he seems to be avoiding you like the plague.”
Geneva stilled. “When did you see him?”
“I stopped by his cottage yesterday. I wanted to speak to him,” Honor said, and a sly smile tugged at her mouth.
“What about?”
Honor shrugged. “Things.”
“You can’t go to an unmarried man’s home, Honor. Think of what that will do to your reputation if anyone sees you.”
“You went to his cottage. Several times.”
“Nothing happened,” Geneva protested and inwardly cringed at the lie.
“Nothing happened with us either.”
“Are you telling me the truth?”
“Do you always tell me the truth?” Honor snapped. “You didn’t tell me that he proposed or that he gave you a ring.”
“Do you see me wearing it?”
“No, but you still have it.”
“And how do you know that?” Geneva exclaimed. “Were you the one who went through my things?”
Honor looked taken aback. “No. If I did, I would have seen that gorgeous bracelet.” She looked at the bangle enviously.
“Then how do you know about the ring?”
“Rory told me. I think it’s only right that you should give it back to him now that you’re to be the Countess of Gosforth.”
“I am going to, tonight. Although I rather hope he doesn’t come.”
“Oh, he will, if only to ruin your evening. You hurt him, and he wants to hurt you back.”
“Did he say that?” Geneva asked, a jolt of alarm shooting down her spine.
“He didn’t have to, did he?” Honor cut her eyes at Geneva. “I’m not as na?ve as you imagine me to be. I can read a man.”
“Really? Can you?” Geneva retorted.
“I can, and cozying up to me will make him think he’s getting back at you.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Let me wear the bracelet, and I’ll tell you.”
Geneva grabbed the bracelet off the vanity and handed it to her sister. “Here. Take it.”
Honor smiled happily and slid the bracelet over her hand, then held out her arm to admire the effect.
Geneva looked at her sister, and her expression in the mirror turned pleading. “Look, Honor, tonight is not going to be easy. Please, can we present a united front? I just want to have a nice memory for when…”
Her sister nodded. “All right. Tonight should be all about Father. And you, since this is to be your engagement party.”
“So you’ll try to keep Rory away from me?”
Honor nodded, but her gaze wasn’t on Geneva. It was on the tube of mulberry lipstick. She held out her hand, and Geneva passed it to her. Honor carefully outlined her mouth, then filled it in before smacking her lips.
“I look marvelous,” she purred. “Here, put some on. You’re pale as a ghost.”
They both turned at a knock on the door, and Rose came in. She was wearing an outmoded lavender gown, and her newly cut hair was pinned to her head. She looked deeply upset, and her eyes filled with tears when she saw Geneva and Honor in their beaded frocks and glittering jewels.
“Mother made me wear this and said I had to pin up my hair. I look dowdy and plain,” Rose said angrily. “It’s probably for the best that I can’t stay for the music. No one would ask me to dance anyway.”
“I would,” a male voice said from the corridor.
Jesse stepped into the doorway and smiled at the girls. He wore tails, and his hair was neatly brushed and held in place with pomade. He was clean-shaven, and his teeth looked very white in his tanned face.
“Ladies, you look stunning.”
“I don’t,” Rose whined.
“It’s not what you wear, Rose, but how you wear it,” Jesse said. “What makes a woman attractive is confidence.”
Honor instantly preened, and Rose looked at Jesse as if seeing him for the first time.
“You’re very confident,” she said.
“Tonight, I’m on top of the world.” Jesse’s gaze met Geneva’s, and he smiled a slow, intimate smile.
“So am I.”
Jesse stepped aside to reveal Douglas, who was also in his tails and looked better than he had in weeks. He smiled at the young people indulgently.
“I mean to see this year out on a positive note,” he said. “Now, finish getting ready and come downstairs. Our guests will be arriving shortly. Jesse, if you would help me down the stairs.”
“Of course, sir.”
After the two men and Rose left, Geneva took one last look at herself in the mirror, then turned to Honor.
“Give me Rose’s bracelet,” she said. “My wrist looks bare.”
Honor surrendered the bangle, and Geneva slid it onto her wrist. She was so nervous, her insides quivered like jelly, but it was as Jesse had said. It was all about confidence, and, even though she didn’t feel it, she had to project it, at least tonight.
“Come on. Let’s go downstairs,” Honor said.
“I’ll be down in a minute. You go on.”
Honor walked out of the room without another word. And then the image faded to black.