St. George's: "Easter Sunday", 4/14; am: Everyone

[George Hackett (Rose)]

George tried not to smile at Miss Hutchinson's guile free naivety. And yet she had a point. Lady Emerson must be a very welcoming person to invite people of a distinctly lower social status such as the Hutchinsons. Or perhaps they had connections she was not aware of. Perhaps Mr. Stapleton or Lady Louth, neither of whom he knew, though he knew Lord Louth a little. Stapleton was a friend of Linley's, he believed.

"I cannot see the point of fancy dresses at a ball, so I am sure you will look very pleasing whether you resemble a flower or not." He glanced down at her. She had a fresh and pretty face, though lacked the sophisticated beauty of some of the ladies of society. He spoke naturally without particularly intending a compliment, merely a statement of fact.

"I hope I will have the honour of dancing with you," he asked after a pause. He was yet to ask any ladies to dance and he rather surprised himself with his request. Miss Hutchinson was altogether unsuitable to be added to his list of potential wives and he really should restrict his dancing partners to those ladies, but yet she was amiable and could do with help from the highest members of society if she wanted to advance and, he answered himself rather defensively, there really was no reason not to dance with her.

[Benjamin Hutchinson (Amy)]

Innocent as they were, Lord Selwyn’s remarks gave Ben pause. A man of such high standing reserving a dance with Sukey prior to the commencement of the ball? Such notice was apt to turn his sister’s head, Ben lamented—indeed, it already had—and though he had no doubt of Lord Selwyn’s good intentions, he considered whether he ought to put in a word privately. The gentleman was no doubt accustomed to associating with a set of ladies more worldly-wise than Sukey, more accustomed to harmless flirtations, less awed by titles and impeccable manners. He could not know what pain he might inflict upon a girl whose dreams were so much grander than her dowry.

He heard Sukey respond in the affirmative, her words more subdued than he expected. “Yes, of course”—quiet, and measured, with no profusion of thanks, merely a sweet smile. It perplexed him. Perhaps the suggestion that her appearance was pleasing had caused her some uneasiness?

The silence that ensued certainly caused him some, but Ben struggled to concoct anything to say that would not seem a non sequitur or, he conceded reluctantly, an intrusion.

OOC: Once again, I’ve left you without a prompt: this time completely. I hope you will forgive me. Sukey has just learned that sometimes, less is more, and Ben is being his usual socially-awkward self. I’d be perfectly happy with more of George’s inner monologue if he can’t think of anything to say either. Perhaps, after a pause, Ben could find his tongue. Or, we can wind this down if you like and skip off merrily to the ball. Thoughts?

[Mary Tibbord (Amy)]

Polly felt her employer’s discomfort and mentally willed him to break the awkward mood that had descended. When he failed to do so, she gave a little huff of frustration. Really! Why must he be so tiresome? It was not as though she could speak to Lord Selwyn herself—that would be most inappropriate. But when she looked to her left and saw Mr. Hutchinson’s frown, she decided that something simply had to be done. Reaching into her slim purse unseen, she extracted the first coin that came to hand, then halted abruptly and bent to search the grass. Straightening, she held out the coin in her palm and called “Miss Hutchinson!”

Sukey turned and found her maid hurrying forward to meet her. “I believe this dropped from your reticule, Miss,” said Polly with a curtsy.

“How odd!” exclaimed the young lady, retrieving the coin. “I did not recall that I was carrying money today. But thank you, Polly, thank you very much. I should have missed this, I am sure.”

Ben recognized his opportunity, and seized it. “Polly is quite a wonder,” he praised. “She sews, dresses hair, gives dramatic readings, locates lost possessions, and makes a top-notch pot of tea.” Sending the maid a grateful, if curious smile, he echoed his words of a few mornings before. “I would not be in the least surprised to discover that she is a conjurer, but whatever she is, we are very lucky indeed to have her.”