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a proper frame of mind. We simply must go shopping. I for one wish to be at the height of fashion.”
    “How right you are, Lydia,” said Lady Basinberry. “I shall accompany you myself in the morning. There are a number of shops in Mayfair that I patronize, in particular a fine modiste. You shall need a dozen new gowns. As for you, Michele, I suspect that you neglected to bring more than the requisite number of dinner gowns, since you obviously expected to dine only at home. I assure you that will not do. As my niece, you must be able to sit down with the Regent himself at a moment’s notice. Therefore prepare yourself to be put into the modiste’s capable hands.”
    “Shall we truly dine with his royal highness?” Lydia asked, her eyes round.
    Lady Basinberry waved her hand in an arrogant manner. “I have done so a score of times. I do not see why my consequence should not extend to you. I intend to rest an hour before dinner. Pray do not look for me again before the bell,” she said.
    Lydia persuaded her cousin to go to the upstairs sitting room so that she could show Michele a certain fashion plate of an extravagant evening gown. Michele agreed that it was very pretty. “But I should not care to wear such a fussy ensemble myself, of course,” she said. Lydia looked thoughtfully at the fashion plate and decided that she did not really care for it as much as she had before. She solicited her cousin’s opinion on another gown, which won Michele’s unqualified approval.
    The young ladies spent a tolerable hour perusing the latest fashions. Michele decided early on that her cousin had a decided partiality for finery beyond her years. When she diffidently pointed out that a beaded diaphanous gown was certain to prove chilly for the wearer, Lydia immediately agreed. She said brightly, “Oh, I do know it, but it is such fun to pretend to the wickedest extravagances, don’t you think?” Michele could not but laugh at Lydia’s enthusiasm.
    That evening, dinner was a relaxed affair. Michele found herself enjoying Mr. Davenport’s anecdotes and Lady Basin-berry’s acid observations. Lydia was in transports over the next day’s shopping expedition and gained laughter from Michele with her professed intention to spend every farthing that Mr. Davenport could be persuaded to part with.
    At once alarmed, Mr. Davenport cautioned his enthusiastic daughter on the evils of extravagance. But Lady Basinberry came to Lydia’s defense, recommending that her brother not stir into a matter that he knew nothing about, namely, bringing out a properly wardrobed young miss. “I shall tell you to your head, Edwin, that if you mean to cut up stiff over a few paltry bills, I shall wash my hands of the business,” she said. Mr. Davenport subsided, muttering under his breath of debtors’ prison.
    “Never mind, uncle. At least I shall not cost you more than a pence or two, since I shall have my own allowance, which Papa assured me he would arrange to be deposited in the bank,” Michele said. She was amused when Mr. Davenport’s expression immediately brightened and he was even able to enter into the spirit of the extravagant plans put forth by Lydia. When the small company parted for the night, Michele felt much more at home than she had previously.
     

Chapter Four
     
    The following morning Lady Basinberry’s confident prediction was seen to be correct. At breakfast a silver tray holding a small number of gilt-edged invitations was brought in for her ladyship’s inspection. Lady Basinberry almost purred with satisfaction as she went through the cards. “The Season has begun in fine fashion,” she declared.
    The butler offered to Michele a small posy in a filigree basket, saying that the flowers had also come that morning. Michele was startled. “For me?” She removed the card attached to the flowers and unfolded it.
    Lydia could not contain her curiosity. She craned her neck to see the script on the card, but she was unable