Fina tended to worry. This, she knew, was one of her signature accomplishments in life. Though she was only twenty-one years old, she had learned through bitter experience that sometimes, one’s worst fears really did come true. But she had survived and even thrived. Ruby, while also introspective – and someone who had already survived tragedies in her life – did not tend to worry, or at least not as much as Fina did. Early-life calamities had shaped their personalities in quite contrasting, yet oddly complementary ways. Both were loyal to a few people, and mistrust ruled much of their actions. Ruby turned this outward – she trusted almost no one but herself. Fina, however, turned it inward – she mistrusted herself. This was one of the reasons she was drawn to Ruby. Despite her other faults, Ruby trusted herself.
“Ruby, I’m anxious. Do you think we’ll get caught?”
“Of course not, Feens. And that gown is divine. You look positively delicious in it,” Ruby proclaimed. Admiring her curved reflection in the mirror, Fina smiled. She had to immodestly agree with her friend – just this once.
“You’re not too shabby yourself,” she told Ruby. By custom and by trade, Ruby looked stunning in her figure-skimming blue tulle satin dress. Subtle sequins sparkled along the vertical lines of the dress. Her hair was perfectly coifed, of course, and she wore her pinprick opal earrings that made her skin glow.
“Charlotte has definite ideas about what she wants, but I am thrilled she has ordered so many new pieces.” Arranging herself on the overstuffed settee, Ruby said, “But let’s talk about the important news. Tell me – I’m dying to know what you’ve found out so far.”
Fina recounted her adventures faithfully, omitting the hurtful words of Leslie Dashwood. She didn’t want to be consoled. At least not yet.
“Hmm… I wish I’d seen those financial papers,” said Ruby. “Are you sure they weren’t about Lavington’s?”
“Positively. The name on it was quite different, and I didn’t see anything about sugar.”
“I’d think they weren’t important,” mused Ruby, “if it weren’t for that note written so urgently across the top. Someone may be planning drastic action – perhaps even this weekend. I don’t like the look of it, frankly. Perhaps we’ll know more once we find the Bluegate papers.” She rose and went to the dressing table, where she opened a tiny pot of eyelash-black and began to apply it carefully. “What about the photograph – do you think you’d recognize the child in it as an adult?”
“Perhaps. I’m not sure if the child is one of the current family – such as Edgar, Granville’s brother – or if he’s some other member of the family. In any case, we can confirm it is Edgar’s room by the type of clothes he wears tonight.”
“Why? Are they as divine as your dress?” giggled Ruby.
“Hardly. Rather drab and boring – though expensive, of course. Speaking of the opposite of boring, what is our plan for tonight?”
“We’ll have to search the study tonight, perhaps quite late. Let’s gather as much information from all the guests as possible. We should suss out their connections to the Sykes-Duckworths as well as the Earl and Countess of Snittlegarth. Wendell is expecting a full report, as well as finding the Bluegate papers. I’m counting on your photographic memory to come through for us.”
“I hope it will.” Fina paced in front of the fireplace. “I’m nervous.”
“Yes, I am too. A couple of cocktails – though not too many – should do the trick. Try to enjoy yourself!” With that, the drinks gong sounded from below. Ruby signalled to Fina that they should strut their way downstairs.