The Price of Forgetting

Chapter 14

"Lily Dear, you simply have to give me the name of your seamstress," Belle Montgomery said, admiring Lily's pale purple dress and attempting to sound sweet.

Shortly after we arrived at the Schaffer's garden party, Lily was surrounded by people all trying to gain her attention by saying something clever or funny or flattering. It was amusing. Lily hadn't been shy about criticizing Society's many flaws, but she was clearly the one these people looked to for approval. I had assumed that the Grahams were pretty important, but watching everyone fall all over themselves made me think there were few families who ranked above them. At least at this party. I knew that Lily didn't really care for all the attention, particularly from the artificial people like Belle, but she was also totally at ease. As if she felt that the game was silly but she would play it anyway, and win.

Lily smiled and I fought the urge to laugh. I'd been introduced to dozens of people in such a short period of time. I doubt I'd have remembered Belle's name at all if Lily hadn't told me how determined she was to learn who made her dresses. Lily said she asked practically every time she saw her and became more annoyed each time Lily refused her request. But she also couldn't risk appearing ungracious, so she was forced to behave as though it was inconsequential.

"I'm afraid I'm sworn to secrecy." Lily did a decent job of appearing sympathetic, though I could tell she was amused. "She's my aunt Charlotte's find. I was only granted the privilege of using her services if I vowed never to reveal her identity to anyone. What I know, at least. I wasn't even given that much information myself."

"Oh come now." Belle's attempted conspiratorial tone was marred by her irritation. "It would just be for an event or two. Surely your aunt can't object to that. And you're obviously allowing a few others the pleasure..." Belle glanced meaningfully at me.

Taking Lily's suggestion, I'd chosen a few of her older dresses to have Helen alter. I currently wore a pastel yellow dress that made me think of warm sunshine, which I thought was fitting for a garden party. Lily told me the dress was several years old, so it was a testament to Helen's skill with a needle that Belle apparently thought it was new.

"You can't honestly expect the rest of us to be content with such outdated rags while you have so many gorgeous works of art," she tried.

Too many people were watching for me to roll my eyes the way I wanted to. Granted, even with my limited knowledge of fashion, I could see that mine and Lily's dresses were nicer than many of the others, but they were hardly rags. Belle was probably just not accustomed to being told no.

Lily laughed. "You've clearly never seen my aunt when her rules are ignored. Besides Ella is family."

I smiled at the declaration and then wanted to laugh at the scowl that appeared on Belle's face when Lily turned away to answer a question about her opinion of the music coming from the nearby string quartet.

Not wanting to be Belle's next target, I turned away and found myself face to face with a man with dark hair and dark eyes. He was among the people Lily introduced me to, but I'd forgotten his name.

"How are you enjoying the party, Miss Mitchell?" he asked genially.

I would never get used to the formality here. "Call me Ella, please," I said and then glanced quickly at the fairy land around us. Like the grounds surrounding Lily's home, this place seemed to extend for miles. Everything looked deliberate and manicured, and I was sure that no weed would ever dream of growing here. There were hundreds of flowers and topiaries, and even something that looked like a maze made out of hedges. There were plenty of unnatural but beautiful decorations too - ribbons, lanterns, a gazebo, and little jewels that sparkled in the sun.