The excitement was thick in the air. It was Sunday morning; the towners, villagers, and nobles alike bore a smile upon their faces—each for different reasons.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9qG08IJOf
Two young ladies passed by Jeanette, their faces alight with cheer as they conversed excitedly about the forthcoming evening.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiqN7a5Xmi
Jeanette’s lips tipped into a smile, her thoughts pleasantly adrift with anticipation for what the night might hold. She was very much excited, if the wide smile on her lips was any indication.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS8SydZAg8
She was dressed in a mid-length blue gown, a black shawl draped over her shoulders. Her knitted bag hung loosely on her arm, and she hopped from foot to foot as she reached her destination. She knocked upon Esmeralda’s door.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiZUbaoQGX
“Esme dear, someone’s at the door,” came her father’s voice from within.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsZLE6aQXL
“Be right there!”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2jwUgRwGW
A few seconds later, the door was unlocked and opened from the inside.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJnyvygPpI
“Jean!” Esmeralda exclaimed, and the two best friends embraced warmly before she ushered her inside.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHpBnjx5KW
“Lovely morning to you, Papa and Grandpa,” Jeanette greeted the two gentlemen who were like family to her.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOEGtnKZ6M
“Oh, Jeanette darling,” Esmeralda’s Papa was first to reply, “how are you faring this fine morning?”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVgCfPefwo
The two men were seated in the parlour on separate couches. Grandpa, eyes closed, rested with his cane in hand, while Papa read from a book.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzDWCHe6TO
“Oh, I am doing quite well,” Jeanette replied with a small smile.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5FQjcb6Xl
“You must be rather excited about tonight,” Grandpa added, his voice lined with age. He was wrinkled but not frail, mostly bald save for a few tufts of white hair. His resemblance to Papa was quite admirable.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WHXLG66qX
“Oh, we are!” Esmeralda chimed in cheerfully. Stepping out of the kitchen, she approached Grandpa with a cup of water and a few pills nestled in her palm. “Time to take your medications, Papa.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTXmcc5JBZ
Once Grandpa had taken his pills, Esmeralda and Jeanette went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8edkfcGGQm
“What are we making this morning?” Jeanette asked, watching as Esmeralda bustled about gathering pans and ingredients.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXFgCLf9CC
“Madeleines. Grandpa and Papa are quite fond of them,” Esmeralda answered.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIvI5Mb3nP
“Good thing I know how to make them too.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz04cUNhTOB
In these modern times, very few women knew how to prepare a decent meal. Most noblewomen deemed it beneath them to soil their hands in the kitchen and thus relied heavily upon their maids.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSODyidGp1J
Esmeralda had been taught to cook by her father, who, honouring a promise to his late wife, had chosen never to remarry but instead raise his daughter with utmost care. Jeanette’s mother, understanding that men often favoured women who could cook, had ensured her daughter acquired the skill.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC96NgAa1K
The two ladies commenced the preparation of Madeleines, chatting all the while about the evening ahead. Jeanette had dropped her knitted bag, which held her evening gown, on the dining room chair.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhdakraUtv
“Oh, I am so thrilled. I wonder what tonight might bring,” Esmeralda squealed, her wide smile revealing her dimples.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwHvxXs3sG
“I’m certain I shall catch a wealthy man’s eye this evening,” Jeanette giggled, then sighed. “What if there are too many requesting the first dance?”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZdtTQZOCg
“There shall be many, indeed. You are a striking beauty,” Esmeralda teased, poking her nose.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wh7EQsn81
“Hearing that from someone far lovelier has me positively flushed,” Jeanette chuckled.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzSYbwNUXG
Esmeralda paused, smiling as she admired her. Jeanette was indeed beautiful, with straight blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes that could capture any man—her face alone was enough, not to mention her figure.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U5zt40vfM
“Why are you staring at me so, Esme? Is there something on my face?” Jeanette raised a playful brow.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TUmUazV5N
“Yes, your beauty. It’s radiating,” Esmeralda replied, echoing Jeanette’s earlier compliment, and both burst into laughter.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQI28onHtt
Half an hour later, breakfast was ready. Jeanette and Esmeralda set the table for four. Madeleines and grapefruit tea—it was a splendid repast.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSz0k6dr1t9
“I spoke with Jonathan. He shall arrive by the hour of six to coach the lot of you to the Duke’s mansion,” Papa announced, biting into a Madeleine.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3Yqtizd5I
“Oh, thank you, Papa. That is most kind.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZkGjBdmNu
“We shall be leaving by six then,” Jeanette added. “Fashionably late, I do like it!”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3onzVETnv
The table erupted in laughter at her jest.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fZNN5TFio
★
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChXwMVWWj5
Evening came, and the clock neared the half-hour mark to six. Esmeralda and Jeanette had completed their preparations, now looking like the most splendid ladies in all of Eldengale.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTDrMq5IfK
Esmeralda wore an emerald-and-cream off-the-shoulder corset gown that embraced her figure with elegance. The skirt flared with poise, sweeping gracefully along the ground. Jeanette’s dress was styled identically but bore the colours of magenta and cream.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr3ymdAkPT
They both wore white gloves.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiz0Cw4SDkL
Esmeralda sat upon her bed to slip into her silver wedges, then stood to retrieve her matching emerald purse. Their makeup was tastefully minimal—Esmeralda with pink smoky eyeshadow and red rouge upon her lips, Jeanette with purple smoky eyeshadow and the same red rouge. Bold, yet elegant.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnNdCBj2Iz
“I suppose I am all set,” Jeanette said as she picked up her silver purse and turned to the mirror for a final look.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI2Xx25GVV
“Very well then. We should be off. Jonathan shall arrive any moment.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEvzv7SEkb
The girls stepped out of the room, lifting their skirts with one hand and their purses in the other.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4xvaz1Ltd
Grandpa was asleep in his chamber. Papa, upon seeing them, closed his book and smiled broadly.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3AfudF76F
“Oh dear, I believe I might suffer a stroke—so much beauty to behold at once!”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlLo7o4jsw
The ladies burst into laughter, cheeks flushed at the flattery.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7365ykOVG
“Do we truly look that good, though?” Esmeralda asked, twirling her skirt as Jeanette followed suit.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8abR98DZfV
“Are you fishing for compliments, Esme sweetie?” Papa chuckled, drawing another round of laughter—cut short by the sound of a carriage drawing near.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwL8PDcjiw
“I suppose Jonathan has arrived,” Jeanette said.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N72vnQgx0
Father rose, embracing both young ladies. “Should there be any trouble, return home immediately.”
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGFzroVQ0l
“Yes, Papa,” they replied in unison.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLowx48fwFr
With a fond smile, Papa led them both to the door.
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHp5oLtSIE4
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9hJEwy7J4
92Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm7dvaTg2a
and then Add to home screen.