Read Online When the Splendor Falls by Laurie McBain - Free Book Online
Authors: Laurie McBain
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be at all surprised if he isn’t in trade. It will be quite the scandal and I dare say the Cawleys will never be invited to Royal Bay again.
“I do believe Libby St. Martins thinks she’s going to wed that Matthew Wycliffe,” Julia continued, casting a curious glance at her quiet friend, but Leigh had her face slightly averted and Julia couldn’t see her expression. “Not that I’m interested in him, even if he is one of the wealthiest gentlemen in the Carolinas, because I’m only going to marry a handsome, titled Englishman. Oh, Leigh, I’ve just got to be engaged by Christmas. I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m not. Grandmama was married by the time she was seventeen and she was in the family way before she was eighteen. I’m almost eighteen, and so are you, and I haven’t even received a proposal. At least not one I’d accept. I’ll just die if Libby St. Martins gets engaged before I do. Mama didn’t marry until she was almost an old maid. I won’t wait that long, I just won’t!
“Leigh! Did I tell you about my gown for the party?” Julia cried out as she suddenly remembered the package that had arrived at Royal Bay just the day before. “Why, it just took my breath away. It arrived yesterday—and unfortunately so did Adam—and from Charleston! I told Mama upon my arrival home that I insisted on keeping that French dressmaker or I would never leave my room! And she knew I meant it. Even though I’ve had to return to Virginia, at least I will still be dressed in the height of fashion. Blond lace, Leigh,” she told her friend with a widening smile, her light gray eyes wide with the wonder of it all. “Yards and yards of it! And it is quite décolleté. Scandalous, even. Cream satin, flounced all around the skirt and draped with bunches of blushing pink satin rosebuds and ribbons! And I’ll be wearing my necklace of pearl beads that I got for Christmas last, and I’ll have my hair arranged à la—oh, and you’ll never believe what Adam said when he saw me yesterday eve! I had to try on my new gown so Mama would have time to sew the alterations if need be, but Simone is such a fine seamstress that not an extra stitch had to be taken, although I was quite despairing that Mama was going to add an extra inch of lace to my bodice.
“And Adam, standing there with that grin of his, well, he can say the most outrageous things! I’ll have you know I had ol’ Bella check my linens before I got into bed last night. Well, I was close to tears worrying about what trick he had up his sleeve. I dare say he’s lurking around here somewhere right now waiting to pounce on us. He threatened as much. You will remember.”
Blythe glanced over her shoulder, hiding her yawn as Julia continued with her usual patter about anything and everything that came and went in her head. In the last few days, Blythe had come to the conclusion that she’d liked Julia far more before she and Leigh had gone off to finishing school in Charleston—especially since Julia had returned wearing one of the roundest steel-hooped crinolines Blythe had ever seen, and if that was what Adam Braedon had jested about, then she could certainly understand. Julia hadn’t even been able to get through the front door of Travers Hill. Poor Stephen would never be the same, Blythe thought, remembering the expression on his face when Julia had gotten caught half in and half out of the doorway, her crinoline flying high in back and baring her pantaloons for all to view. And trying to share a small seat with Julia, fashionably dressed in her prized crinoline, was anything but pleasant, Blythe thought as she pushed down the wave of striped muslin, fluffy petticoat, and rigid crinoline that spread out around Julia and threatened to engulf the cart.
Leigh, however, had come home from Charleston the same beloved sister who’d left, and still wearing the same unfashionable crinoline she’d left home in, much to Stephen’s relief. Although, for the
“I do believe Libby St. Martins thinks she’s going to wed that Matthew Wycliffe,” Julia continued, casting a curious glance at her quiet friend, but Leigh had her face slightly averted and Julia couldn’t see her expression. “Not that I’m interested in him, even if he is one of the wealthiest gentlemen in the Carolinas, because I’m only going to marry a handsome, titled Englishman. Oh, Leigh, I’ve just got to be engaged by Christmas. I don’t know what I’ll do if I’m not. Grandmama was married by the time she was seventeen and she was in the family way before she was eighteen. I’m almost eighteen, and so are you, and I haven’t even received a proposal. At least not one I’d accept. I’ll just die if Libby St. Martins gets engaged before I do. Mama didn’t marry until she was almost an old maid. I won’t wait that long, I just won’t!
“Leigh! Did I tell you about my gown for the party?” Julia cried out as she suddenly remembered the package that had arrived at Royal Bay just the day before. “Why, it just took my breath away. It arrived yesterday—and unfortunately so did Adam—and from Charleston! I told Mama upon my arrival home that I insisted on keeping that French dressmaker or I would never leave my room! And she knew I meant it. Even though I’ve had to return to Virginia, at least I will still be dressed in the height of fashion. Blond lace, Leigh,” she told her friend with a widening smile, her light gray eyes wide with the wonder of it all. “Yards and yards of it! And it is quite décolleté. Scandalous, even. Cream satin, flounced all around the skirt and draped with bunches of blushing pink satin rosebuds and ribbons! And I’ll be wearing my necklace of pearl beads that I got for Christmas last, and I’ll have my hair arranged à la—oh, and you’ll never believe what Adam said when he saw me yesterday eve! I had to try on my new gown so Mama would have time to sew the alterations if need be, but Simone is such a fine seamstress that not an extra stitch had to be taken, although I was quite despairing that Mama was going to add an extra inch of lace to my bodice.
“And Adam, standing there with that grin of his, well, he can say the most outrageous things! I’ll have you know I had ol’ Bella check my linens before I got into bed last night. Well, I was close to tears worrying about what trick he had up his sleeve. I dare say he’s lurking around here somewhere right now waiting to pounce on us. He threatened as much. You will remember.”
Blythe glanced over her shoulder, hiding her yawn as Julia continued with her usual patter about anything and everything that came and went in her head. In the last few days, Blythe had come to the conclusion that she’d liked Julia far more before she and Leigh had gone off to finishing school in Charleston—especially since Julia had returned wearing one of the roundest steel-hooped crinolines Blythe had ever seen, and if that was what Adam Braedon had jested about, then she could certainly understand. Julia hadn’t even been able to get through the front door of Travers Hill. Poor Stephen would never be the same, Blythe thought, remembering the expression on his face when Julia had gotten caught half in and half out of the doorway, her crinoline flying high in back and baring her pantaloons for all to view. And trying to share a small seat with Julia, fashionably dressed in her prized crinoline, was anything but pleasant, Blythe thought as she pushed down the wave of striped muslin, fluffy petticoat, and rigid crinoline that spread out around Julia and threatened to engulf the cart.
Leigh, however, had come home from Charleston the same beloved sister who’d left, and still wearing the same unfashionable crinoline she’d left home in, much to Stephen’s relief. Although, for the
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