Carlotta Brown (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fiery_ring) wrote2009-10-30 10:04 pm
fiery_ring) wrote2009-10-30 10:04 pm
(no subject)
At least they let her choose the dress. Carlotta feels reasonably confident as she enters the ballroom in it.
The party guests seem to be settling in happily; she doesn't recognise half of them, the ones her grandmother invited because they were local 'eligable' people. Angela is there, worse luck (she made it clear that the only reason she came was to meet eligable people). Alison and Hilary are there on more friendly terms, and she's grateful for their company. Her younger cousins Violet and Marigold have been allowed to join in, which is a step forward in family peace.
A band is playing dance tunes in the corner; clearly a great deal of planning and expense has gone into this, and Carlotta recognises it. Grandma means well. It's certainly a pretentious display though. She hopes Will will arrive soon.
Someone grinning and waving catches her eye, and she realises her two friends from her term in Ringmere are here - Victoria and Greta. She goes over to give them each a hug.
"Hallo! Didn't expect to see you here."
"Well it was your Grandma who came to the school and asked us." Victoria says, looking much less shy than she did last time they met.
"We missed you when you left." Greta says. "You reminded us that there were more things in life than social graces and marrying someone rich. Victoria and I are going on to University instead of Finishing School now, and go into careers."
"That's wonderful." Carlotta grins. "Jolly good for you."
"I say, is that Angela?" Victoria asks, peering across the room. "How did you Grandma track her down?"
"She came to St Clare's with me, worse luck." Carlotta says ruefully.
"Oh, we wondered what had happened to her." Greta says. "Her father came and made a Big Row the term after you left, withdrew her in the middle of a term! She kicked up a most dreadful fuss."
"No surprise there. We decided to operate as though we'd not met before." Carlotta admits. "But she's a real nuisance at times. She's only here to meet rich people and mock me."
"We'll take care of her." Greta promises. "Go and enjoy your party."
Then she spots Will. He looks like the perfect gentleman, which is a good start. He converses politely with a few people, and she does likewise, but they migrate towards one another as mingling allows. She stops by the band to drop in a quick request.
The music starts to play, and she takes his hand. It's time for operation Impress Grandma, and they've had a lot of practice. People start to watch them dance, impressed at the slickness and grace of the moves, which still manage to maintain total appropriateness throughout.
"Who's that dancing with Carlotta?" Greta asks Alison, curiously.
"Oh, that's Will Frances, he's her best friend." Alison says. "By the looks of things, they've been practicing."
"I'll say! They should be on stage."
Grandma watches them both dancing, with mixed feelings of disapproval. It crosses her mind that Carlotta could do worse. But also, in her opinion, she could do better.
The party guests seem to be settling in happily; she doesn't recognise half of them, the ones her grandmother invited because they were local 'eligable' people. Angela is there, worse luck (she made it clear that the only reason she came was to meet eligable people). Alison and Hilary are there on more friendly terms, and she's grateful for their company. Her younger cousins Violet and Marigold have been allowed to join in, which is a step forward in family peace.
A band is playing dance tunes in the corner; clearly a great deal of planning and expense has gone into this, and Carlotta recognises it. Grandma means well. It's certainly a pretentious display though. She hopes Will will arrive soon.
Someone grinning and waving catches her eye, and she realises her two friends from her term in Ringmere are here - Victoria and Greta. She goes over to give them each a hug.
"Hallo! Didn't expect to see you here."
"Well it was your Grandma who came to the school and asked us." Victoria says, looking much less shy than she did last time they met.
"We missed you when you left." Greta says. "You reminded us that there were more things in life than social graces and marrying someone rich. Victoria and I are going on to University instead of Finishing School now, and go into careers."
"That's wonderful." Carlotta grins. "Jolly good for you."
"I say, is that Angela?" Victoria asks, peering across the room. "How did you Grandma track her down?"
"She came to St Clare's with me, worse luck." Carlotta says ruefully.
"Oh, we wondered what had happened to her." Greta says. "Her father came and made a Big Row the term after you left, withdrew her in the middle of a term! She kicked up a most dreadful fuss."
"No surprise there. We decided to operate as though we'd not met before." Carlotta admits. "But she's a real nuisance at times. She's only here to meet rich people and mock me."
"We'll take care of her." Greta promises. "Go and enjoy your party."
Then she spots Will. He looks like the perfect gentleman, which is a good start. He converses politely with a few people, and she does likewise, but they migrate towards one another as mingling allows. She stops by the band to drop in a quick request.
The music starts to play, and she takes his hand. It's time for operation Impress Grandma, and they've had a lot of practice. People start to watch them dance, impressed at the slickness and grace of the moves, which still manage to maintain total appropriateness throughout.
"Who's that dancing with Carlotta?" Greta asks Alison, curiously.
"Oh, that's Will Frances, he's her best friend." Alison says. "By the looks of things, they've been practicing."
"I'll say! They should be on stage."
Grandma watches them both dancing, with mixed feelings of disapproval. It crosses her mind that Carlotta could do worse. But also, in her opinion, she could do better.