She was not ashamed by her crying. Far from it. When the world comes crashing down about one’s ears, a good cry is often the only way to expel all the difficulties, and clear your head to face the aftermath. At least, that was Felicity’s theory. And at that moment, she was putting it to the test. It wasn’t fair. How could Osterley have acted so appallingly? How could he be so cruel as to take them from London just as the Season began? And the worst of it was, she was in the right! He did purchase the dress, and she did no harm in wearing it! It was the vicious Mrs. Grace’s words that did the damage, not Felicity’s. Indeed, for once her less-than-decorous reply had fallen on deaf ears. It was Osterley’s silence that had spoken volumes. And to think, mere hours before Felicity had been standing in this very room, being pinned to death by Collette, and staring in wonder at her reflection in the tall glass, as she was transformed.
