An Unwanted Evening

“I met my husband today, Izzy!” a girl said, throwing open a small wooden door to an equally small study. “He’s so sweet, kind, and roguishly handsome, why I nearly swooned at his sight!” she said, miming a fainting spell against the doorframe.

“If I didn’t know any better, it sounds like you’ve fallen in love,” Isadora said flatly. The girl in the doorway frowned.

“Why must you sound like that?”

“Because this is the fourth time in three months you’ve thrown open my door declaring love. Pardon me if I can’t believe it.”

“Love is a fickle thing, Isadora, that one can’t understand if one hasn’t been struck by it.”

“And with how many times it has struck you, you should be dead.”

“It’s for real, this time.”

“Like it was with James? Edmund? Poor Robert? It was only a month ago when he gave you that necklace, proclaiming his intentions to court you once he returns from the war.”

“And how long will that be!” she cried. “I can’t wait forever. I don’t want to be some piteous old spinster whiling away at her studies, sad and alone for all my days,” she said, pointedly. Isadora put down her quill pen with a little more force than intended, finally looking up at the fancy girl standing in the doorway. She wore a simple gown meant for walking around town, but simple hardly meant plain. It was elegantly simple, a pale blue silk gown with lace trimming and delicate floral embroidery. Her cosmetics weren’t as bold as usual, but highlighted her features nicely. Her hair was braided and curled into a bun with a simple hat adorning it. Her sister was certainly the picture of beauty no matter what she wore, and Isadora found herself jealous of that fact. Occasionally.

“Did you come in here to brag or insult me, Adelaide, because I won’t allow you to do both,” Isadora said with a cutting tone. Adelaide always seemed to know exactly how to needle Isadora when she wouldn’t indulge in her talks of romance. It was her worst quality, but she never did it out of malice. She picked up the habit from those catty girls she tolerated in society. Isadora wasn’t sure if she thought of them as friends or just had to be cordial for appearances. Adelaide sighed.

“I’m sorry, Izzy, I just… I cannot understand why you’d want to be in here all the time whilst all the eligible bachelors are out there!” she said. “There’s a dance tonight, why not grace it with your appearance? Maybe there’ll be someone who strikes your fancy, or at the very least, you’ll show everyone you aren’t dead.”

“People don’t think I’m dead.”

“Isadora. You’re an eighteen-year-old daughter of an earl. You’ve been out in society for nearly two years and have yet to find a husband because you scarcely attend anything and keep entirely to yourself. People think you’re dead.” Isadorasighed greatly.

“What a fatuous notion. I occasionally go to the dances, I’m not a hermit, I just don’t have fun there. I’ve never once found someone who interested me.”

“That’s because your standards are too high.”

“Whereas yours are too low.”

“I have never once been taken advantage of, Izzy. I cannot help that I’ve been blessed with charm and good looks. I have so many suitors, how can I choose?”

“Ah, so you really aren’t in love right now, are you? This is just another ‘good time’?” Isadora asked. Adelaide huffed.

“You hang yourself on words and meanings so much I’m surprised your neck hasn’t broken,” she murmured. She then clasped her hands together. “Just come to the ball tonight, alright? I cannot keep receiving snide comments from those daft airheads about my charmless sister.”

“Those women are exactly why I don’t go.”

“Either you go with an open mind and a bright face, or you’ll ruin the night for the both of us. Father is insisting,” she replied flatly. Isadora groaned. Her father was becoming more insistent about these silly courting events lately. Probably because she had been to so few in the last two years and had no prospects. “Oh, don’t sound like such a wounded dog. You knew this would happen. Father just wants to see us taken care of before he dies.”

“As he steadily reminds us. He’s as healthy as a horse, you know, he just wants grandchildren.”

“Aye,” Adelaide agreed. “But why is that so horrid? You know, if you really tried, you could have fun.”

“I doubt it. Like you said, all the company that attends those balls are daft airheads. I like conversation, not gossip, bawdy prattle, and catty behavior.”

“Well, if you’d actually mingle and dance instead of hanging around the punch bowl, you’d see there’s more company than the Auderson sisters.”

“Maybe so, but… I’m just not very comfortable in those situations…” What she really wanted to say was that she got so tongue tied that she made herself out to be a fool. She couldn’t stand another silly man looking at her like she had three heads and none of them pretty. But, she didn’t want to seem so upset in front of her sister.

“Of that I am aware, but it doesn’t really matter now, though, does it? You’re going because father said so, and because it’s expected of us,” she said, patting Isadora on the shoulder. “Chin up. You’re very diligent with your studies, and you’ve been practicing! This is a good way to test your improvements, especially with dancing. You’ll never get better by prancing about with the butler.” Isadora lowered her gaze. Adelaide sighed and sat down beside her before clasping her hands.

“I know you don’t care for these things, but you’re my dearest sister. I want you to find love. Not only because you’ll be happy but because father won’t be forced to arrange something.”

“And what about you, Addy? You’re nearly twenty. Soon you’ll have to marry…” 

“You needn’t worry about me. I’ll have no trouble finding someone whom I want to spend the rest of my life with. I have more suitors than I can count!” she said with a giggle. “You’re the one we’re all worried about. Shall I call Elaine?” Isadora huffed but nodded. Since father was insisting, Isadora would need the help from her handmaid to make her presentable before tonight.

“How long do I have?” she asked, voice tinged with regret.

“The ball starts at ten,” Adelaide responded. “Find a way to sound like you’re going to an event by then, not the gallows, alright?” With that, Adelaide stood up and left. 

***

Five hours later, Isadora was bathed, dressed, primped, powdered and otherwise prepared for the coming ball. Elaine, her sweet and stout handmaid, was still messing with her hair even though it was more than done. She preened her black tresses like a bird would her own feathers. She was blinking back tears, which was a normal occurrence for her.

“Elaine! Quit fussing before you begin to ruin what you’ve done! I look fine,” Isadora groaned.

“I just want to make sure you look perfect, my lady!”

“I do! Maybe if you weren’t gazing at me through blurred eyes you’d notice.”

“Oh, I know…” she said, taking her hands away from Isadora’s hair and wringing them. “I don’t mean to be… Well, you’re simply so beautiful, my lady. The very spit of your dear mother.” Isadora looked down, gazing at the tiled floor through her lashes.

“Don’t… flatter me. I’m nothing compared to my sister.” Elaine shook her head.

“Lady Adelaide is gorgeous, second to none outside these halls, but you stand on equal footing. You and Lady Adelaide are beautiful in entirely different fashions, so don’t compare!” she chided, walking to the other side of the room. She returned with an elegant hairpin. It was a glass rose, blue with gold trimming, as was her family crest. It was the most beautiful accessory that Isadora owned, so she hardly wore it. She cherished it too much for anything to happen to it. “You both turn heads everywhere you go. If I only had a drop of your beauty, well, maybe I’d have a husband of my own.”

“You are pretty, Elaine.”

“Bah! If someone did to me what I’m doing to you, it’d be like putting pearls on a sow’s ear. I’m not upset by it though! I’m blessed to have a place in your home, to be able to dress such a lovely young woman. It’s a shame you don’t attend these soirees more often. And I’m shocked no one has snatched either of you two up.”

“Well, you know Adelaide. She has far too many options and wants to sample them all.”

“Lady Isadora!”

“Not like that!” Isadora huffed, growing red in the face. “You know it’s not like that, you know how she is with all of her suitors. She says I have too high of standards, but I don’t know what she’s looking for.”

“Maybe she doesn’t know either.”

“Well, she thinks she does. She comes calling to me nearly every week with new stories of love, then when I push her for details, suddenly it’s old news. I stopped asking for her tall tales after a while,” Isadora said with a humph. Elaine affixed the accessory to Isadora’s hair and then brushed over the sleeves of her evening ballgown. It was an equally lustrous dress, matching the colors of the rose with designs of gold trailing, spinning, curling, all along the bodice and the trim. She was a little hot now, due to the humidity of the night air mixed with her corset and petticoat. She gazed at herself in the mirror, surprised to be happy with all her adornments. She then sighed.

“My lady?”

“Sorry, I just… I just wished she had found real love by now. All the books I’ve indulged in about romance during my free time… They just seem so ridiculous now. And the reason I’ve never come home with a suitor is because I’m equally ridiculous.” Isadora yelped as Elaine swatted her on the shoulder. She glared over to see her handmaid glaring back.

“I will not have anyone speak ill of my lady, even if it be you. You may have some troubles with the… practical aspect of your studies, but you’re not ridiculous. You have a good heart and grand wishes. I’ve been privy to them ever since your excited ramblings as a wee girl.” Isadora’s ears tinged with red.

“Elaine—”

“And never once were those ramblings ridiculous! Maybe long winded and lofty, but never ridiculous. You needn’t settle, but do at least try to meet someone who meets your dreams.”

“I… appreciate your words, Elaine. Thank you.” Elaine and Isadora both looked to the door when a voice rang out from downstairs.

“Dear sister! The carriage is here! Be quick about it!” Adelaide yelled. Elaine looked back at Isadora who now felt a slight tremor course through her body. Elaine’s features softened.

“Now now, don’t worry, okay? Relax and have fun. You’ll be struck by cupid tonight, I can just feel it.”

“I wish I held your optimism…” she responded, exiting her room. She looked over the railing of the second floor to see Adelaide impatiently tapping her foot with crossed arms. Isadora took in a deep breath and then exhaled before crossing over to the stairs. As she descended, Adelaide lit up with pride and astonishment.

“Look at you! Your hair, your dress! I’ll have to shake Elaine’s hand for turning this lump of clay into a sculpture!”

“I can’t decide if that was a compliment or an insult.”

“It’s just been so long since I’ve seen you dressed in your finest! This night is going to be so much fun!” she said, grasping Isadora by the hand and dragging her to the carriage. 

The night air clung to her despite the breeze, but it wasn’t unbearable like during the day. Once summer vanished, she’d appreciate the extra layers she was forced to wear. Even so, she loved the night in her city. The saltiness of the sea carried in the wind, the palms swayed gently with soothing ‘whooshes’, and the lanterns that lined the cobblestone road to their estate reminded her of fireflies. If only she wasn’t signing this away for a night of appearances. 

Once they climbed inside, a loud ‘hyah’ lurched the vehicle forward. Soon the rhythmic jostling of wood on cobblestone switched to smooth dirt as Adelaide mused about the event they would soon arrive at. Isadora slowly tuned her out, staring out the window at her home which was steadily fading away. 

“I guess there’s no going back now…” she thought.