Our first party here! I thought this day would last forever and the evening would never come.” Caroline smiled as she watched Phoebe bounce on her dressing table bench while Mary attempted to dress her hair. It had been a very long time since Caroline had eagerly anticipated any social gathering, but Phoebe’s enthusiasm infected her. Her nervousness at seeing Lord Lyndon again, her apprehension that he might recognize her, was almost, but not quite, overcome by the pleasurable sense of expectation. “Now, Phoebe,” she warned, “you know that this is not exactly a grand ball. It is only supper and cards.” “That is more than there ever was at school!” Phoebe tried to turn her head to look at Caroline. “Miss Phoebe, stop that!” Mary said sternly. “If you keep fidgeting about like that your hair will be all lopsided.” “I am sorry, Mary, dear,” Phoebe answered, sounding not at all contrite. “I will sit very still now.” She finally managed to cease bobbing and face the mirror again, allowing Mary to finish twisting her curls atop her head and fastening them with pearl-headed pins and white ribbons.
