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loves that we most valued. Perhaps we, too, have a debt to repay because
we did not love wisely, though we loved well. We cannot be but
sympathetic to those who are still in search of what their heart demands.
Listen to your heart, Clorinda. It is a dangerous thing, but only a heart can
lead you to happiness. Good fortune, my little one," she added, and she too
kissed Clorinda as she said goodbye.
Back at Emily s house, Clorinda discovered that she had missed more
social activity. Lord Winterstoke had apparently called, and she was happy
that she had missed him. He had only stayed a few minutes when he
discovered she was not there and had barely been civil to Emily.
Lord Chiltern had then followed him, and was still there entertaining her
sister with outrageous compliments and amusing anecdotes about high
society.
Look what he has brought you, said Emily excitedly. They are perfectly
wonderful flowers.
It was a huge bouquet of scented white roses, that were already filling the
drawing room with their delicious fragrance. Each flower was only just
uncurling its petals. A large white satin ribbon tied so that it made a treble
bow held the flowers.
Clorinda picked them up and buried her tilted little nose into their blooms.
They are simply divine, she said appreciatively. But I must give them to
the butler to put in water immediately before they fade.
She had an idea. I would like to make a wreath for my hair out of them
tonight-if you would agree, Lord Chiltern. They are so perfect that they
will exactly match my new gown.
Miss de Vere, if you wear my roses in your hair tonight at the Carlton
House ball, I shall positively expire with delight. Life will have no more
exquisite pleasure for me, said Lord Chiltern. Only a twinkle in his eye
robbed the compliment of its extravagance.
You know, said Clorinda seriously, though she could not help blushing
too. I should like you so much more if you didn t say these silly things...
Lord Chiltern laughed. To most ladies compliments are not only
delightful, they are essential. Turning to Emily he said, and his eyes were
kind, Your friend is an original. I have never met anybody like her.
As Clorinda handed his bouquet to the butler, she could not help asking
him, Were there no other callers?
No, Miss de Vere, was the reply.
So the Duke had not bothered to call. Perhaps Jack had been right, and his
grace had not cared for her frankness in Hyde Park. Lord Chiltern said she
was an original, and he liked it. But perhaps the Duke cared for more
conventional beauties. Like Lady Lancaster, her heart whispered bitterly.
Lord Chiltern's flowers turned out not to be the only ones that Clorinda
received that day. As she was dressing for the ball, two more arrived. One
was a huge spray of hot house orchids, curiously shaped and in weird
colors. Clorinda was not sure if she really liked these exotic flowers,
though she knew that they must have cost a fabulous sum of money. With
them came a card which read In hope of a closer friendship and in
admiration of your charms. It was signed by Lord Winterstoke.
The other bouquet was much more simple. It was more of a posy than a
bouquet. The flowers were small wild lilies, of a kind that are sometimes
found in hidden meadows. The card with it bore just the one
word- Westhampton."
I do not think the orchids will look suitable on you, said her sister. But
either the roses or the lilies will look perfect in a wreath. Perhaps you d
better wear the lilies since they are sent by the Duke. I wonder where he
got them?
I shall wear the roses, said Clorinda promptly. "They are nicer than the
orchids, and the lilies are too fragile, I think. Besides it will be good for the
Duke to see I have not worn his flowers.
Sometimes I wonder about you, said Emily in a puzzled voice. You say
you want to make the Duke fall in love with you, Clorinda, but why?
Sometimes I think that you hate him and that it s all just for revenge.
Her sister blushed. Emi1y s words made her feel uncomfortable. It is just
that I think the Duke is insufferably conceited, she said in excuse. And
anyway I told Chiltern that I would wear his roses.
Carlton House, itself, was amazing. The Prince Regent had literally spent a
fortune on it. Over and over again he had run into debt-and a large part of
these debts had been because of Carlton House, and later his Pavilions at
Brighton.
The furniture for the house alone had cost one hundred and sixty thousand
pounds according to one estimate. The drawing room had been decorated
in Chinese fashion with Chinese furniture. The coverings for this had cost
almost seven thou sand pounds and another four hundred pounds or so had
been spent on oil lanterns to light it.
Clorinda was bewildered by. the magnificence of it all. The ballroom was
decorated with rich hangings and huge banks of flowers. Iced champagne
was available everywhere, carried by flunkies dressed in dark blue liveries
with trimmings of gold lace.
It seemed to her that she had never before seen gathered together so many
glittering people. As well as beautiful women, in every color and design of
dress, flashing with jewels in their hair, there were dashing Army officers
in the full glory of their regimental colors, exotic-looking ambassadors fro
foreign countries ablaze with medals on their chests, and eve the
occasional Indian rajah in a jeweled turban. Even Jack Robert halted for a
moment on the threshold of the' ballroom dazzled by the sight of so many
silks, jewels and other finery
Then she saw the Duke. He was simply dressed wearing a black coat,
severely plain, with only a single diamond pin the neck of his cravat. His
neck cloth indeed was innocent of lace, but, this time, of a dazzlingly
intricate, pattern so that it fell rather like a waterfall from his neck.
He was standing by some huge French windows with woman that Clorinda
could recognize as Lady Lancaster. As the Duke had his back toward her,
Clorinda could for the first time examine the face of his companion
without a mask.
There was no doubt that Lady Lancaster was a beauty of the first order. In
a mask she had looked wonderful; without one she looked even better. Her
color was marvelous. Jet black hair combined with white skin and red, red
lips-like blood on snow, thought Clorinda and could not help but shiver.
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