Lady Whitehaven said nothing for some minutes, her eyes roving thoughtfully about the room, as though she were trying to form some sort of answer that would satisfy Merry. Eventually, however, she let out a long sigh and shook her head.
“You have never been this honest with me before now, Merry,” Lady Whitehaven began, bringing a slight flush to Merry’s cheeks. “Had you been, I would have been able to assure you that you are not at all as plain as you believe yourself to be.”
Merry, who had been passed over many times for her sisters, did not let this enter her heart. “That is kind of you to say, Mama,” she replied with a quick smile. “But I would not—”
“And I would set you a challenge, my dear,” Lady Whitehaven added, before Merry could finish speaking. “I would have you go to the ball this evening, dressed in the gown that I have chosen for you and with your hair done according to my specifications.”
This time, it was Merry who narrowed her gaze. “To what end, Mama?” she cautiously asked. “Why could you wish this for me?”
Lady Whitehaven smiled broadly, no hint in her expression of the anger that had been there before. “To prove to you that you are wrong.”
“Wrong,” Merry repeated, still looking at her mother with confusion. “You wish me to do as you ask, so that you may prove to me that gentlemen will not look me over nor disregard me, as I believe.”
Lady Whitehaven nodded as a small smile settled on her lips. It was as if she expected to be victorious in this, even though Merry was quite certain in her belief that she would not be so. The challenge in her mother’s voice had Merry’s suspicions rising. “You cannot pretend that you would not spend the evening going about the gentlemen of your acquaintance and sending them in my direction,” Merry replied, carefully, seeing her mother blush. “That would only prove your point, I know, but it would not be fair.”
“And what if I promised I would not?” Lady Whitehaven asked, spreading her hands. “Surely you can trust that I would keep my word?”
Merry shook her head, passing one hand over her forehead and wondering why she was allowing this to take hold of her mind. “And if I prove to you that gentlemen do not seek introductions nor ask to dance with me, then what will be my reward?”
Lady Whitehaven smiled, her expression growing calculating. “If you remain as you have done at every other ball, then I shall not force you to wear whatever gown I choose or the like for the rest of the Season.” Merry smiled broadly and was about to speak, when Lady Whitehaven held up one hand to silence her. She clearly had not yet finished. “However,” she continued, carefully. “If you are approached by a single gentleman who makes it plain that he is eager to further an acquaintance with you – that is, either he had sought out someone to introduce you to him, or he has asked you to dance – then you shall grant me the opportunity to ensure that you are well turned out for each and every society event we attend.”
“You mean that I shall have to give up my determination to dress as I please,” Merry replied, feeling a twist of anxiety in her heart. “I shall have to do as you ask and wear the gowns you choose and sit for a good hour as the maid dresses my hair.”
Lady Whitehaven smiled but lifted one eyebrow. “Yes, that is it precisely.” Her smile remained fixed as silence grew between them, her challenge hanging in the air over Merry’s head.
Merry did not know what to say nor how to respond. She looked at her mother and saw the gleam of triumph in her eye. Irritated with how her mother believed herself to be the victor of the situation already, Merry found her stubbornness rising up within her, ready to accept the challenge presented in spite of the warning in her mind not to accept.
“Very well, Mama,” she found herself saying, seeing the way that her mother’s delight grew almost at once. “I shall do as you ask, but I must have your word that neither you nor Titania, nor any of your friends and acquaintances will involve themselves in this situation.” She held her mother’s gaze steadily and saw the slight flush come to Lady Whitehaven’s cheeks. Had she secretly been expecting to use one of her friends in order to push a gentleman to Merry’s side?
“You have my word,” Lady Whitehaven replied easily, although the way her eyes darted away from Merry suggested that there was slight feeling of guilt i
n her heart.
“If the situation arises that a gentleman does approach me, Mama,” Merry continued, “then I shall make quite certain that you have had no hand in it. If it comes to light that you have done as you promised you would not, then I shall immediately be considered the victor. Is that fair, would you say?”
Lady Whitehaven laughed softly. “And you would then have to say the very same for yourself, would you not, Merry?”
Merry did not flinch. “Indeed, I would,” she agreed, wholeheartedly. “I shall not hide myself in the shadows nor ensure that I am well hidden from the ton.” She lifted her chin a notch, seeing the flare in her mother’s eyes. Evidently, she had not expected Merry to give such a promise. “Then, are we agreed?”
Lady Whitehaven hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to see if there was some other chink in the agreement that might render Merry the victor, only to nod and smile in Merry’s direction. Immediately, a nervousness settled in Merry’s stomach, making her realize that despite her own certainty that such a thing would not occur, there was the slight chance that her mother might be proven right and that, if she was, there would be a good deal for Merry to handle thereafter.
But no, Merry determined, as her mother got up to ring the bell for tea, she would not allow herself to think in such a way. She was quite certain that this evening’s ball would go just as poorly as any other, especially since Titania was to be in attendance. Titania was bright and vivacious and clearly enjoyed society, and that was almost something of a relief to Merry, for it meant that she would not have any attention whatsoever thrust in her direction. No, she determined, turning back to the window and letting her gaze settle on the scene below. No, she would win this wager. Her mother would have to let her be free to dress as she pleased, and the rest of the Season might go a little more smoothly thereafter.
She was certain to win.
Chapter Two
“Goodness, you look vastly altered this evening, Merry!”
Merry did not respond, turning her face to the crowd of guests that swirled before them.
“I think the color looks very well on you, I must say,” Titania added, clearly not put off by Merry’s lack of response. “And your hair looks very fine indeed.”
“Did Mama ask you to say such things?” Merry asked, turning to Titania and seeing her sister’s eyes widen. “Did she ask you to encourage me in this way?”
Titania’s forehead wrinkled. “No,” she replied, sounding confused. “She has said nothing to me. However, you cannot expect me not to remark on your changed appearance, Merry, since it is vastly different to what you usually wear to occasions such as these!” She chuckled and put one hand on Merry’s arm. “Now, there are many gentlemen of my acquaintance that I simply must introduce you to.”
Merry jerked her arm away at once, looking at her sister’s surprised expression and wishing that she and Titania had more in common than what was currently apparent. “That is not at all what I wish for, Titania,” she told her sister plainly. “I shall behave as I have always done at events such as these and would be most grateful if you did not interfere.”