Free Unconquered by Bertrice Small Page A

before the fire, and slowly dried herself.
    Her mind was beginning to clear. This afternoon had been quite a revelation, although she would never, ever admit it to Jared. Thank God the wedding was still six weeks away! Howdid women fight the feelings men caused in them? Would giving in to those feelings mean losing one’s own self?
    “I will not belong to anyone but myself,” she said softly. “I won’t!”
    Naked, she walked across the room to the bed where fresh clothes lay, and dressed in white lawn drawers, white silk stockings with lacy garters, vest, and petticoat. All of the undergarments were edged in dainty, hand-made lace. She recalled the shocking new Paris fashion. French ladies had dispensed with undergarments, and were nude beneath their silk gowns! Some were even wetting their gowns so that they clung to their bodies!
    Her dinner gown was of apple-green shot silk, which appeared silvery in certain light. Its neckline was square and low, its waistline caught beneath her breasts in the Empire style, its sleeves were short and puffy. She smiled, pleased with her image as she stood before the mirror and fastened a strand of pearls around her neck and matching pearl bobs in her ears. Pulling the pins from her hair, she brushed it vigorously, braided it, and affixed the braids neatly in a coronet atop her head. It was a severe style, but Amanda’s confection of curls, the latest fashion, simply did not suit Miranda. Lastly she dabbed on essence of distilled stock flowers and, slipping on her heel-less apple-green silk shoes, left her room.
    Knocking on her twin’s bedroom door, she called out, “Are you ready, Mandy?”
    “Meet you in the hall,” Amanda called.
    Amanda was dressed in her favorite pale pink, and together the sisters descended the main staircase of the house and entered the family parlor where Jared and their mother waited.
    “Lord,” murmured Amanda softly so only her twin could hear, “he is devilishly handsome … our guardian, your betrothed.”
    Then both girls chorused, “Good evening, Mama! Good evening, sir!”
    Dinner was announced, and Jared took Dorothea’s arm while the girls followed behind. The meal was a relatively simple one beginning with a thick cream of vegetable soup, followed by a ragout of breast of veal, a platter of partridges and quails stuffed with apricots, prunes, and rice, another platter of whole boiled lobsters, a soufflé of autumn squashes flavored with maplesyrup and cinnamon, a bowl of late peas, and one of a whole cauliflower, the top of which was sprinkled with buttered crumbs. The second course consisted of apple fritters sprinkled with sugar, caramel custard, and almond cheesecake. Red and white wine were served with the first course, and coffee and tea with the second.
    After dinner the four retired to the main parlor, and Amanda sang, accompanying herself on the pianoforte. Jared sipped an excellent brandy. Finally he put his snifter down after complimenting Amanda, and said to Dorothea, “I want you to plan Miranda’s wedding as if Tom were still alive. Spare no expense, and invite whom you please.”
    “I don’t want a large wedding,” protested Miranda. “Can we please be wed quietly? Amanda’s wedding will be the social event of the season, and that should be enough for us all.”
    “Amanda’s being married in London, and none of our good friends and neighbors, as well as many of our relatives, will be able to come. You cannot deny so many people the chance to see one of you wed,” said Dorothea.
    “It’s silly, Mama! This is a marriage of convenience, not a love match. I shall feel very foolish surrounded by a horde of people all burbling nonsense, and wishing me happiness.”
    “Because it is a marriage of convenience is no reason you cannot be happy,” replied Dorothea sharply.
    “Oh, do as you please!” snapped Miranda. “You will, anyway!” She stood up, and moved through the French doors out onto the terrace that