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of clothes for the poor.
Josie groaned.
“Of course we won’t be going over how to do all that.”
“My sore fingers thank you.”
“Since you’ve worked so diligently I’ll let you in on a little secret.We have a special treat later today,” Amelia said.
“Really?” Josie managed an interested smile.“At breakfast you surprised me with your friend who gave that...amazing lecture
on the language of the fan.” And an hour of practice.
Josie laid her embroidery hoop on the table and stood up, stretching, as she walked to the large parlor window that faced
the gardens.Although sheets of cold rain obscured the view, she fought the urge to go out for a walk. She wasn’t used to so
much inactivity.“Such an ugly gray day.”
Amelia came up beside her. “All this history is not really your cup of tea is it? I miss his lively presence, too.”
“That’s not at all what I meant,” Josie lied. It wasn’t as if she would ever actually need any of the useless information.
If learning outdated skills was the price she had to pay to further her research, then she would make the best of it.“What’s
on the schedule next?” she asked brightly.
Amelia gave her an understanding look and then began to pack the sewing things back into their tapestry-covered box. “Two
former colleagues of mine promised to come out this afternoon. Ian Smythe collects music from the Regency and Victorian periods,
and his wife Cecily did her postgrad work on dance through history. Quite interesting. Her theory is that major changes in
popular dances directly predate radical social change rather than reflecting it. She just received a generous government endowment
to continue her studies.”
A grant to study dancing? Josie couldn’t think of anything to say.
“Smile, my dear.This will be fun.”
Josie could hardly wait. And where was Lord Waite? Did he intend to uphold his end of the bargain?
“Dancing well was considered an essential accomplishment for both men and women,” Cecily Smythe said as she arranged armless
chairs in a line. “As being among the few opportunities to socialize with members of the opposite sex, balls, assemblies,
and dance parties were widely popular.”
Josie would have preferred helping Ian Smythe set up his portable keyboard and other sound equipment in the corner, but she
stayed in place and wondered how Cecily managed to speak without moving her lips.
“The Regency was a period of transition in dance,” Cecily continued. “The stately minuet was still danced at court until 1820
and at balls given by the more conservative of the aristocracy. Most assemblies and balls were filled with the lively country
dance, Scotch reel, and the somewhat more subdued cotillion. A couple stood up for a set, two dances, which could last half
an hour.”
Although Amelia appeared fascinated by Cecily’s droning lecture, the afternoon stretched long before Josie.
“I wish we had a few more people to set up a proper line,” Cecily said.
Josie wished for someone, anyone, even Deverell to appease the tedium.
Amelia left and returned in a matter of moments.
The sounds of a synthesized harpsichord filled the air just as the others who had been drafted to participate arrived. Cecily
arranged everyone in two lines facing each other, Ian, George the foot man, and four of the chairs on one side, and the women
on the other. Amelia curtseyed gracefully to her partner George. Josie and a giggling Emma followed suit facing their wooden
partners.
“I’ve named my chair Raoul,” Josie whispered to Emma.
“Mine is Colin,” the maid replied, giving a flirty wave of her fingers in its direction.
Cook smiled tolerantly, but Vivian folded her arms and stared up at the ceiling.
Cecily took her position at the end.“We are lined up for the longways country dance.There are also circle formations.This
type of dance can be performed by six couples or by more than six hundred couples,
Josie groaned.
“Of course we won’t be going over how to do all that.”
“My sore fingers thank you.”
“Since you’ve worked so diligently I’ll let you in on a little secret.We have a special treat later today,” Amelia said.
“Really?” Josie managed an interested smile.“At breakfast you surprised me with your friend who gave that...amazing lecture
on the language of the fan.” And an hour of practice.
Josie laid her embroidery hoop on the table and stood up, stretching, as she walked to the large parlor window that faced
the gardens.Although sheets of cold rain obscured the view, she fought the urge to go out for a walk. She wasn’t used to so
much inactivity.“Such an ugly gray day.”
Amelia came up beside her. “All this history is not really your cup of tea is it? I miss his lively presence, too.”
“That’s not at all what I meant,” Josie lied. It wasn’t as if she would ever actually need any of the useless information.
If learning outdated skills was the price she had to pay to further her research, then she would make the best of it.“What’s
on the schedule next?” she asked brightly.
Amelia gave her an understanding look and then began to pack the sewing things back into their tapestry-covered box. “Two
former colleagues of mine promised to come out this afternoon. Ian Smythe collects music from the Regency and Victorian periods,
and his wife Cecily did her postgrad work on dance through history. Quite interesting. Her theory is that major changes in
popular dances directly predate radical social change rather than reflecting it. She just received a generous government endowment
to continue her studies.”
A grant to study dancing? Josie couldn’t think of anything to say.
“Smile, my dear.This will be fun.”
Josie could hardly wait. And where was Lord Waite? Did he intend to uphold his end of the bargain?
“Dancing well was considered an essential accomplishment for both men and women,” Cecily Smythe said as she arranged armless
chairs in a line. “As being among the few opportunities to socialize with members of the opposite sex, balls, assemblies,
and dance parties were widely popular.”
Josie would have preferred helping Ian Smythe set up his portable keyboard and other sound equipment in the corner, but she
stayed in place and wondered how Cecily managed to speak without moving her lips.
“The Regency was a period of transition in dance,” Cecily continued. “The stately minuet was still danced at court until 1820
and at balls given by the more conservative of the aristocracy. Most assemblies and balls were filled with the lively country
dance, Scotch reel, and the somewhat more subdued cotillion. A couple stood up for a set, two dances, which could last half
an hour.”
Although Amelia appeared fascinated by Cecily’s droning lecture, the afternoon stretched long before Josie.
“I wish we had a few more people to set up a proper line,” Cecily said.
Josie wished for someone, anyone, even Deverell to appease the tedium.
Amelia left and returned in a matter of moments.
The sounds of a synthesized harpsichord filled the air just as the others who had been drafted to participate arrived. Cecily
arranged everyone in two lines facing each other, Ian, George the foot man, and four of the chairs on one side, and the women
on the other. Amelia curtseyed gracefully to her partner George. Josie and a giggling Emma followed suit facing their wooden
partners.
“I’ve named my chair Raoul,” Josie whispered to Emma.
“Mine is Colin,” the maid replied, giving a flirty wave of her fingers in its direction.
Cook smiled tolerantly, but Vivian folded her arms and stared up at the ceiling.
Cecily took her position at the end.“We are lined up for the longways country dance.There are also circle formations.This
type of dance can be performed by six couples or by more than six hundred couples,
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