(Untitled)

[sweet_and_fair]

A pretty, young woman enters with a frown and a muttered expletive. She is small by modern standards, delicate looking and wearing a gown that went out of fashion somewhere in the 1770s. She seems about to tell everyone exactly what she thinks of the service here and would do so if not for a last minute attack of manners. She went to court and

Comments

[keeptothelight]

"I cannot," Louisa Strange replies. "And no one else seems to be capable of giving a proper answer when it comes to this place."

[sweet_and_fair]

"Really? Whyever not? What are you wearing?"

[keeptothelight]

"What am I wearing?" Louisa repeats, appalled. "Why, I might well ask the same of you. I believe my grandmother had that very gown."

[sweet_and_fair]

"Your grandmother? She must have good taste. This the latest from Paris."

[keeptothelight]

"Are you mocking me?" Louisa asks suspiciously. "That most certainly is not. No one has dressed like that since before I was born."

[sweet_and_fair]

"What do you mean?"

[keeptothelight]

"I mean what I said."

[sweet_and_fair]

"That is ridiculous. I demand to know where I am."

[keeptothelight]

"I have already told you, I do not know myself."

[sweet_and_fair]

Prudence sighs and counts backwards again. After a moment, she looks up and curtsies. "Amarantha Jones."

[keeptothelight]

"Louisa Strange." She curtsies in return.

[sweet_and_fair]

"A pleasure to meet you. May I ask where you are from?"

[keeptothelight]

"Shropshire. I was on my way to London with my brother when I came here, instead."

[sweet_and_fair]

"Really? I am from Somersetshire but I was only going out into the hall when I arrived here."

[keeptothelight]

"How odd!" Louisa takes after her father in this-- any slights can be forgotten in light of something strange or interesting. "Henry and I arrived by carriage, but you just walked through the door?"

[sweet_and_fair]

"Yes. Your brother came with you?"