Encounter with Venus by Elizabeth; Mansfield Read Free Book Online Page A

things that can cause difficulties between a man and a woman, size was the least important. “As to his being short,” she said, jumping up and urging the girl gently out the door, “I’m certain that he’s as tall as I am, and you know, Beatrice, that I stand at least an inch over you.”
    A few moments later, as Katie was tying the strings of her corset, Felicia realized that her cheerful mood had evaporated. She was troubled about her conversation with Beatrice. She hadn’t meant to encourage the girl’s feelings for Algy. After all, the fellow had shown himself to be rather milk-and-water toward his brother. Was he a mollycoddle? And if so, was that the sort of man she wished for her friend?
    Before she could frame an answer in her mind, there was another tap at the door and Elaine burst in, carrying two gowns over her arm. Without preamble she held up the first for Felicia to see. “Which one?” she asked. “This, the blue silk? Or this, the lilac brocade?”
    Felicia blinked. “I don’t know. They both—”
    Elaine held the lilac up to her neck and then substituted the blue. “There. The blue accents my eyes, but the lilac has more sweep, don’t you think? Which one do you think he’d prefer?”
    “He?” Felicia peered at her curiously. “Who?”
    “Who do you think?” Elaine asked in disgust. “Your brother, of course.”
    “Oh.” Felicia glanced uneasily at her abigail. “Katie, would you please go to fetch my ... er ...”
    “You needn’t send her off,” Elaine said. “I shan’t stay but a moment. Just tell me which is more likely to attract your Georgie.”
    “My ‘Georgie’ doesn’t usually pay much attention to ladies’ gowns,” Felicia said.
    “Nonsense. Of course he does. All men do. Let’s be frank, Felicia. I believe your brother has shown a bit of interest in me, you see, but not enough. I intend to heighten that interest tonight. So tell me, my dear, which gown I should wear.”
    Felicia had been uncertain in her advice to Beatrice, but in this case she had no uncertainty; she did not want to offer Elaine any encouragement at all. She knew her brother well enough to recognize the difference between real attraction and mere politeness. George was behaving politely toward Elaine, that was all. “Both gowns are lovely,” she said evasively.
    “Hmm.” Elaine held them both up and studied them. “The blue, I think. It’s softer and has a deeper décolletage. The other may be too dignified.” That decided, she nodded and started to the door. “Thank you, Felicia, I’m glad you made me decide for myself.”
    As soon as the door closed, Felicia sank down upon the chaise. What have I done? she asked herself. Because of her benighted plans, Beatrice might find herself betrothed to a mollycoddle, and Elaine was surely heading for a painful rejection. She couldn’t help wondering if she’d done some harm to Livy, too. But no. Thank goodness Livy—her very best friend, and the last person on earth on whom she would wish to inflict pain—had too much sense to succumb to the attentions of the overbearing Horace.
    However, as soon as she was dressed, she went down the hall to Livy’s room to make sure her assessment of her friend’s state of mind was correct. To her utter astonishment she found Livy sitting at her dressing table applying blacking to her eyelashes. “Livy!” she cried. “I thought you detested that sort of artificiality.”
    “I do.” Livy grinned at her in the mirror and continued to apply the blacking. “But I must do something. I’m tired of looking like the spinster aunt you always invite to your parties out of pity.”
    “Oh, bosh,” Felicia objected. “Spinster aunt, indeed. Who could possibly think such a thing?”
    “Your brother, for one.”
    “Georgie? He wouldn’t—!” But a sudden memory made her stop short. “Oh, dear. Leyton did say that Georgie was rude to you when you were introduced. Did he say something dreadful?”
    “Not