A Terrible Beauty (Season of the Furies Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

stood across the room from them allowing herself a small, but triumphant smile. All the poor girl had needed was proper clothing, a hairdresser to teach her maid the right styles for her mistress' hair and the elimination of those infamous ruffles. Each of The Furies had donated an unworn gown from their own wardrobes; of which there were many. While their maids had worked diligently to alter the clothes and salvage what they could from Miss Steven’s own unfortunate wardrobe, Madame Marchant, the Season’s premiere modiste had measured Lucinda, taken notes and promised new gowns and day dresses within a week. Araby basked in the glow of Lucinda’s smile. Perhaps today, made up in some small way for her own dreadful treatment of Drew.
    Bennet and his friends had laughed when she’d mocked him from the cut of his coat to his dancing skills. Drew had been devastated – as she’d intended. He was all that was kind and caring. That was his problem. He’d seen too much and if she didn’t succeed in keeping him away from her, there was no telling what the Baron would do to either of them. After Drew left the ball Araby had never felt more miserable, or more heartless. Whether or not she succeeded with Iredale, she’d never forget the cost of that night and the look of betrayal on Drew’s face.
    Katherine’s voice returned her to the business at hand. “Remember, you mustn’t be hurt if Araby and I don’t acknowledge you much after tonight. We have our own consequence to consider, after all.” Katherine examined each of her fingernails, buffed to perfection as always. “We have decided to continue lending you our support – quietly, of course. You shall became a moderate success, I should think.” Araby and Sarah looked at each other and shook their heads. Katherine could be so very condescending. It was what she’d been bred to be, even though it ran very contrary to her true nature. Katherine’s mother could frighten the devil himself into blind obedience.
    “Never mind,” Sarah hugged Lucinda briefly. “I shall always acknowledge you. We’ll have that nasty Edmond Bennet begging you for a dance before the week is out,” she declared.
    “I don’t know how to thank you all,” Lucinda said in her warm, southern drawl. Tears of gratitude filled her eyes. “You’ve been so good to me and I’m...I’m just, well...nobody.”
    Araby stepped forward. She thought of the lessons she’d learned at her nurse, Gertie’s, knee – The Golden Rule. Everyone mattered and how you treated them, regardless of their rank defined you as a person. She remembered Drew’s pale face last night. She’d certainly defined herself clearly enough during the past two years, hadn’t she – sniping at girls she considered to be any challenge to her role as the Incomparable, humiliating those who weren’t if she could make herself look clever in the process. She’d helped execute the ruination of a girl of good family and betrayed an astute young man whose only sin was to offer her compassion and kindness. “You’re not a nobody, Lucinda,” she said softly.
    “Yes, she is,” Katherine replied matter-of-factly. “She has no connections other than Lady Bramwell and those are tenuous at best.” She looked at the three of them as if she were merely explaining an examination question they’d all gotten wrong. In Katherine’s mind she was and she nodded for emphasis. “Lucinda really is a complete nobody.” There was a slight pause and then the other three girls burst into laughter much to Katherine’s confusion.
     
    ***
     
    Michael lounged against a pillar at the back of the Grantham’s salon. The cut of coats might alter, the lines of dresses change, but the affectations and the petty intrigues remained the same. Only the cast of characters differed. Their hostess’ decor however, was a rather inventive recreation of Greek Revival. Unfortunately, it had lost a great deal in her particular interpretation. The