Clarissa perused the length of Emilia before asking, “Where did you get that gown? It isn’t as awful as the one you arrived in.”
Emilia couldn’t be entirely certain, but there seemed to be a subtle undertone of both curiosity and critique in Clarissa’s words. “Lady Roswell let me borrow some of her gowns while the dressmaker creates a new wardrobe for me.”
“What dressmaker did you use?” Clarissa asked.
“Madame Auclair,” Emilia replied.
Clarissa’s mouth dropped open. “She is the premier dressmaker in all of London. How were you able to secure an appointment on such short notice?”
Emilia had been informed of this by her housekeeper, but she took a secret pleasure in Clarissa’s reaction. “Mrs. Harvey set it up for me.”
“Of course she did,” Clarissa grumbled. “You are quite fortunate. It took me months before I was able to see Madame Auclair.”
“Madame Auclair has promised me a ballgown before I host my first ball in a few days,” Emilia shared.
“She never worked that fast for me,” Clarissa remarked.
Calvin interjected, “I do hope your ball will be a rousing success and you bedazzle theton.”
“Thank you,” Emilia said.
Clarissa let out a huff of air. “Do you require any assistance in preparing for the ball?” she asked, feigning annoyance with her own question.
Emilia understood that it must have been difficult for Clarissa and she had no intention of holding her lackluster behavior against her. “That won’t be necessary. Lady Roswell has been helping me.”
“Lady Roswell is competent, but I do believe I can assist you in ways that she cannot,” Clarissa said. “To begin with, I have decorated numerous ballrooms and I know this townhouse inside and out, including the best place to situate the orchestra for ideal sound in the ballroom.”
“I don’t…” Emilia started.
Calvin spoke over her. “We are trying here. Will you not meet us halfway?” he asked, his eyes imploring hers.
Emilia didn’t particularly want Clarissa’s help, but it would be rude to refuse it. On the other hand, she could always use another hand when it came to planning the decoration of the ballroom.
Summoning a smile to her lips, Emilia replied, “I will gladly accept Clarissa’s assistance.”
“Wonderful,” Calvin said as he leaned forward and placed his nearly full teacup onto the tray. “Clarissa shall return tomorrow to help with the preparations.”
Clarissa abruptly rose, causing her brother to awkwardly stand. “We should go,” she insisted. “We do not want to overstay our welcome.”
Calvin tipped his head. “It was a pleasure, Emilia.” He paused. “May I call you that?”
“Yes, we are family as you pointed out earlier,” Emilia replied.
Turning towards his sister, Calvin held his arm out. “Shall we depart?”
Annoyance flickered in Clarissa’s eyes as she placed her hand on his sleeve and let him guide her out of the drawing room.
Emilia sank back against the settee, letting out a sigh. What fresh torment could she expect from Clarissa when she came to call tomorrow? Emilia resolved to ensure that Anette was present during the visit, in hopes of deflecting some of Clarissa’s hostility.
Lily’s voice came from the doorway. “She hates you.”
“Clarissa?” she asked. “Yes, she most certainly does.”
“Yet you agreed to let her help plan the ball?” Lily inquired.
Sitting up straight, Emilia replied, “I thought it was the right thing to do.”
Lily didn’t look convinced by her words. “Well, regardless, it is time to change into a different gown.”