Improper (The Phoenix Club #1) - Darcy Burke Page 0,47
help with dressing for a ball, not that she needed that again anytime soon.
Fiona and Cassandra joined Prudence at the table where she was sipping lemonade but hadn’t taken a seat.
“Aren’t you staying?” Fiona asked, reaching for a biscuit.
Prudence eyed her and Cassandra guardedly. “That depends on whether you’re actually planning to dress up like gentlemen and steal into the Phoenix Club.”
“Do you have a better idea?” There was an eagerness to Cassandra’s question and a glint in her eye that said she rather hoped Prudence did.
Setting her glass down on the table, Prudence perched on one of the four chairs. “Why are you trying to get inside?”
Cassandra sat across from Prudence. “Because it doesn’t look as though we’ll be able to attend the assemblies. And it will be incredibly diverting.”
Prudence pursed her lips and gave them a disapproving look. “Those don’t seem like very good reasons to take such a risk. I shouldn’t listen to this conversation,” she murmured, starting to rise.
“No, you shouldn’t,” Fiona said firmly. She truly didn’t want to get Prudence into any trouble.
Prudence plucked a biscuit from the tray. “I’ll leave you to your plans.” She glanced toward the door, then lowered her voice. “If it were me, I’d dress up as one of the maids and steal into the women’s side one morning—just act as if I’m going about my work. The maids wear a distinct costume of a gray gown with a dark green apron. And a white cap, of course.” She took a bite of biscuit before turning and departing the drawing room.
Fiona wanted to ask how Prudence knew so much. Also, she still hadn’t inquired as to how Prudence was acquainted with Lord Lucien.
Cassandra sat back in her chair, grinning. “You are so fortunate to have Prudence. What I wouldn’t give for a companion like her. Or any companion,” she added with a sigh.
Was she lonely? Fiona hated to think she might be. She knew how that felt, not that she’d realized that was what she’d been experiencing in Shropshire until she’d come here. Going from a small household, where it was just her and Mrs. Tucket, along with Mr. Woodson who came round regularly to help with things, to this grand house in Mayfair with its large complement of servants, plus Prudence, was just as much of a change as participating in Society.
No, she wouldn’t go back to Bitterley—not now. And if that meant marrying, then she’d find someone tolerable.
In the meantime, Fiona was going to enjoy her freedom. “Where do you suppose we can find dark green aprons?”
Cassandra blinked in surprise. “Do you truly want to do it?”
“Your brother owns the club. If we were discovered, would there be any harm? Besides, if we go in the morning, no one will see us there, save the employees of the club. We’ll just need to keep our heads down. Perhaps we need extra large caps to pull them down over our brow.”
“Oh yes,” Cassandra said with a warm laugh. “I think perhaps it’s time for our shopping trip to Cheapside. I’ll arrange for Aunt Christina to take us tomorrow.”
“Will she be available on such short notice?”
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. “She owes me a favor after all but abandoning me the other night at the ball. If I told my father, he’d cut off her allowance.”
“Your father gives her an allowance?”
“He compensates her for acting as my chaperone.”
Fiona kept the next question to herself—why would family need to be compensated for helping and supporting one another? She feared the answer as well as how it might make Cassandra feel. Fiona was beginning to realize things about her friend. She seemed so fortunate on the outside, with her family, wealth, and privilege. But if she was lonely and her family was as cold as Fiona was beginning to grasp, it was no wonder Cassandra had grasped on to Fiona and looked for entertainment. Again, Fiona wondered about Cassandra’s mother, whom she now knew had died, but Cassandra never wanted to talk about her.
“Then I suppose she’ll have to escort us to Cheapside,” Fiona said with a smile. “I will not invite Prudence. That way she has absolutely nothing to do with this.” Fiona froze, and she stared at Cassandra. “Are we actually going to do this?”
Eyes dancing, Cassandra faced Fiona. “I think so. You were right—no one will see us and even if they did, what harm would be done? We’ll go on our merry way.”