Virtue and Vanity: Continuing Story of Desire and Duty Read Online Free PDF

at it than I am.”
    John moved on to acknowledge Sarah. “It is good to meet you again, cousin.”
    “Thank you,” Sarah replied as she curtsied.
    Andrew seemed a little stiffer as he repeated his brother’s greeting.
    The group moved into the embassy entrance. Sir Thomas said, “We have an authoress among us. One of Sarah’s poem will soon be published.”
    Maria went to congratulate her cousin, when Laura said abruptly, “It is not good for a woman to appear to have a mind and a heart. If you show yourself too clever, no man will ever want you.” Then, turning to Georgiana, she asked, “Do you not agree, Auntie?”
    “I beg to differ, my dear Laura. A woman may be accomplished in whatever she wishes.”
    As the group followed their hosts upstairs, Sarah was vexed with her older sister. Laura was vain and almost cruel at times. It was displeasing to see Maria and Laura on such intimate acquaintance. Maria evidenced her mother, Elizabeth’s liveliness; yet, she did not seem to have inherited either parent’s good sense. Sarah hoped that being in close quarters with Laura for a prolonged period would not adversely affect Maria.
    Maria then asked her aunt, “Is there to be an embassy ball tomorrow night?”
     
    “Yes, just a small one to welcome you to Paris.”
    Maria and Laura then said in unison, “I cannot wait for it.”
    Laura added, “To think, my first ball in the city of romance. How exciting. I brought the most enchanting dress, Auntie; but, I shall certainly want to meet with a Parisian seamstress later in the week to order more sophisticated gowns.” She paused before the small mirror as they climbed the remaining stairs, “Indeed,” she murmured, “with the right gowns to accent my fine attributes, the gentlemen of Paris will not be able to resist.”
                 
    The next evening, the embassy ballroom was once again brightly lit. Madame Duval stood with Laura, Maria and Sarah as the arriving guests were greeted by the Staleys .
    Madame Duval said, in nearly accent-free English, “I am afraid, girls, that there will be few beaux for you to entice tonight.”
    Maria had readily warmed to Madame Duval, because of her friendliness and constant talk about the opposite sex. She wished to hear more and asked, “Is anyone coming we would be interested in?”
    “I am aware of a handsome young French officer, Lieutenant Fabry who will come as an aide to my cousin. Then to Maria she added, “You must not look so eager, my young friend.”
    Maria blushed, “Oh, but I would like to dance with him.”
    “Be assured, I will introduce you.”
    “Now, for you Miss Laura and Miss Sarah, I have not heard of any other. However, there are two handsome young men approaching us now.”
     
    Andrew and John neared the group. Laura said, in a voice loud enough to be heard by the brothers, “Oh, they are just country bumpkins. I wish to meet the quality men of Paris.”
    “If that is so, you may have to wait for another night,” was the elder woman’s reply.
    Andrew bowed and asked Laura “Would you favor me with the first dance?”
    Laura haughtily replied, “I am sorry, but I believe I will not dance this evening.”
    Without any change in his expression, he turned to Sarah. She looked down, but her hand automatically reached up to make sure her hair was pulled forward correctly.
    “Would you, Miss Sarah, favor me?”
    Sarah smiled and nodded affirmatively.
    At that moment, the group turned to see two officers, dressed in French blue, striding towards them from the reception line. The lieutenant approached Madame Duval. He, and the officer with him, stopped to bow. “Madame Duval and company, allow me to introduce my comrade, Captain Wiley.”
    As Madame Duval introduced the young women, she brought Maria forward. Lieutenant Fabry , with a flair , then asked Maria, “Would the lovely young English woman favor me with the first dance?”
    Maria tried to act as though she had done this