Lady Roberta and Lady September Mckellen were beautiful, like the sun and ice, but they were as social as Amelia was, which wasn't much. Clad in lovely striped polonaises of a similar style, both of patterned silk with belled sleeves and gathered, bustled peplums, showing ruffled, flounced white silk petticoats, but in different colors. Roberta's was an icy blue, and September's a shimmering gold.
''It's lovely to have you here, Lady Amelia.'' Lady Roberta said. She, from what Amelia could see, was the more serious, sensible one, sitting there as if she were posing for a potrait in her icy blue patterned silk and pale blonde hair wound around her head in a braid, without the tight, curled bangs that were in fashion now. (Amelia only knew they were in fashion as she had seen a great deal of women wearing them.)
''It's lovely to be here.'' Amelia replied, sitting with her hands in her lap very demurely. She wore a pretty pale pink dress with pale blue polonaise jacket edged in ribbon knots and a slim bustled skirt, her hair swept into an updo of ringlets with pale pink flowers.
''Would you like some tea?'' Lady September asked cheerily. Bright and sunny, with hair as golden as her personality, she seemed to be the exact opposite of her sister. Amelia gave a tiny, but perceptible nod. Lady September bounced up, took the tea and scones from the maid who had just come in, and set it on the table, in between all of them, her golden curls flowing down to the backs of her thighs, reminiscent of a Pre-Raphaelite painting.
''Your hair's lovely, Lady September. It matches your gown.'' Amelia commented, taking a scone daintily and biting into it, tasting the softness of the cream mixed in and the tang of the currants.
''Oh, thank you, Lady Amelia! Roberta here says it's my best feature. Roberta's best, I think, are her eyes. No one else that we know have such a pretty, unusual shade of blue!''
Amelia glanced at Lady Roberta, and nodded in confirmation. The other girl did have pretty eyes.
''So, do you have something that you like to do?'' Lady September asked, returning to her seat.
Amelia shook her head. ''I-well, I do like embroidery.''
''I do, too.'' Lady Roberta spoke. She was so calm and composed, unlike her cheerful, exuberated sister. Lady September reminded her of her mother, whom she missed dearly.
When the visit ended, she stepped into the carriage and her aunt sat across from her.
''Well, did you like the Mckellen girls?''
''Yes, I did enjoy their company. Perhaps we could visit them again.''
''Good. And tomorrow you have your social visit to Miss Kleinman.''
Yes, Amelia thought. And Papa's lawyer will be there too.
XXX
Paulina was cleaning the window when she saw that Lady Amelia had come home. She hurried downstairs to greet her, still holding her washcloth in her hand.
''You're back, Lady Amelia!'' she said happily, and Amelia smiled. She handed her gloves to Paulina, and headed inside, her pale pink skirts swishing.
Amelia went straight to her room, Paulina following, and pulled the hairpins and fake flowers from her hair, letting the rosy blonde ringlets fall down her back.
''Lady Roberta and Lady September were very nice, and perhaps Adella and I will see them at a ball.'' she announced.
Paulina nodded, and began to unlace Lady Amelia's dress, walking off to the closet, and choosing a green silk dress with ruched sleeves for her to change into.
Amelia stepped out of her dress and jacket, and slid on the green dress, and Paulina hooked it up the back. She then drew back Amelia's ringlets so that they cascaded over her shoulders, pinning them there.
''Thank you, Paulina. Oh, I have something for you.'' She went over to her bed, and reaching under the pillow, pulled out a book of fairy-tales. ''I bought it last week. I thought perhaps we could read together. Keep it hidden. Don't let Aunt or Mr Dent see you with it.'' she handed the book to Paulina.
''Oh, Lady Amelia, I couldn't. You've been kind enough to me.''
''Please, Paulina. I should like you to have it. You're a good, hardworking girl, and I should like to be friends with you, if that's alright.''
''Very well, Lady Amelia. Perhaps you should keep the book here. That way, there's less chance of me being caught with it, and no one will think I stole it.''
Amelia nodded. ''Very well.'' She took the book, and gestured to the bed. ''We could read a little now. I still have a long time left before dinner.''
She sat down, and Paulina sat down besides her. Amelia opened the book to the very first story.
''Who is the author?''
''It's a collection of fairytales. Three books. Charles Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, and Hans Christian Andersen. This is Hans Christian Andersen's.''
Amelia began to read the Snow Queen out loud, and Paulina read the next paragraph. On it went till dinner.
''That was nice, Lady Amelia. I best get you dressed, so you won't be late.'' And Paulina slipped from the bed to fetch Amelia's dinner dress.