Lady Anne's Deception (The Changing Fortunes Series Book 4) Read Free Page B

tut-tutted over Annie’s straight, fine, red hair, and then went to work, heating curling tongs over a spirit stove and filling the house with the scent of hot hair.
    The dress, which Annie had chosen at the dressmaker’s urging, was in the new, sweet-pea color. It was made of clinging chiffon and seemed to float about her slim body. The neckline was deep, and the gown was secured at each shoulder by two frivolous bows that looked like wings. The skirt fell in beautifully scalloped layers of delicate chiffon, ending in a short spoon train at the back.
    Her only ornament was a gold locket suspended on a thin chain, containing two pictures of her pony, Arnold. Young girls were not supposed to wear much jewelry, anyway. Married ones, however, were allowed to deck themselves out like jewelers’ display trays.
    After the hairdresser had finished, Barton appeared to help Annie with her corsets and gown.
    At last it was time to look in the looking glass, time to see if she had turned into a woman. Annie had hoped that the lady’s maid would make some comment, but Barton was quick, efficient, and silent.
    She cautiously approached the long pier glass and found a stranger looking back at her. Her red hair was set high on her head in intricate swirls and loops and curls, and threaded with pearls. It was burnished like a flame. Her eyes looked enormous in her face, which had been delicately colored with rouge. The gown, padded at the bust and hips, made her tiny waist seem smaller than ever. The gown itself was like a spring symphony with the delicate pastel colors glowing in the light of the oil lamp.
    The door opened and Marigold walked in. She was attired in a fussy debutante gown of white lace. Her beautiful golden hair had been fashionably frizzed at the front, rather giving her the look of a French poodle.
    “Well, you
do
look a mess,” she said slowly, surveying Annie with hard, bright eyes.
    “Lady Marigold!” exclaimed Barton, startled into speech.
    “Every young lady, is going to be wearing white,” Marigold went on, undeterred. “And you’ll look like a freak. Whoever heard of a girl going to her first ball in
colors
?”
    Annie studied her reflection in the glass. “No, Marigold,” she said. “I’m not going to listen to you. I’ve never looked better in my life.”
    “That’s not saying much,” sneered Marigold. Then she turned on a charming smile. “Look, I really don’t want you to make a fool of yourself. I’ve got another white ball gown I can let you have.”
    “No,” said Annie, mutinously. “This is the first time I’ve looked attractive and I’m going to enjoy it.”
    Marigold gave a shrill laugh. “
You!
Look attractive! Take another look in the mirror. Oh, you’ve changed a little for the better, I’ll admit. But you’re still the insignificant little thing you always were!” She flounced out of the room.
    Annie looked miserably at the glass, waiting for Barton to reassure her. But Barton had already grasped the fact that Marigold was the favored one and she did not want to lose her position. She mutely held out Annie’s cloak and helped her into it.
    Aunt Agatha was waiting with Marigold in the drawing room. She made no comment about Annie’s appearance but praised Marigold so fulsomely that she quite restored that young lady to good humor.
    As the open landau carried them through the streets during the early evening, Annie began to feel a recurring surge of anticipation and excitement. This was the London she had expected! The air was warm and sweet with a gray-and-rose twilight glowing behind the sooty houses. People strolled by, enjoying the soft evening air, and the ladies seemed to have blossomed into all the colors of the rainbow.
    As their driver was negotiating the press of traffic at Marble Arch, a cheeky urchin shouted from the curb, “You don’t ’alf look a treat, Red!” Delighted, Annie waved and smiled, bringing an icy reprimand from Aunt Agatha down on her