"We should buy new dresses. I bet the other families are contacting the best tailors of England to look for the most exquisite fabrics," Sharron commented, rolling her eyes.
"The King will lay his eyes on just one of you. So I want you girls to accept the fact that in case he chooses one of you the others should be glad and not let it ruin your precious relationship." She stated, gazing at all her daughters.
"It's all yours!" Shirlyn said as she rolled her eyes at her sister's obsession with the King.
"Don't pretend you are not interested. Or are you still going to reject every flatter you receive?" Abigail teased, raising her eyebrow, but Shirlyn shrugged not to give her any satisfaction. During the years she learned that ignoring her sisters' jokes was way better than talking over them.
She walked in front of the mirror.
Kathy, her maid, walked behind and stared at Shirlyn's reflection through the mirror for a few seconds, examining which dress she could make her wear for the ball.
That's all their days consisted of preparing and then going to balls and banquets. Not many other things could fill their days rather than that. It seemed like nothing else crossed their mind, like if they couldn't afford to dream big or they didn't care at all to do so.
Shirlyn, on the other hand, wished she could do more different things and experiment. She didn't feel the urge of having a man by her side. Books taught her enough about romantic love and warned her enough about the consequences it involved.
"This one?" Kathy asked, holding a long dress handmade in pink with a sewed collar filled with white lace and some pearl and floral details on its puffed short sleeves.
"Hmmm," Rose showed an expression of distaste as her nose scrunched.
They had to attend a tea with the Darington and had to be introduced to their sons. Such a perfect coincidence that they were exactly three brothers, just like them.
"Shall we tell them about the King's invitation?"
"No way! We can talk about it just with the people we meet at the castle. But girls, don't forget that each one of the ladies out there is potential competition, so never reveal too much."
They all nodded to assimilate their mother's wise tip.
"That one." Shirlyn pointed at a dress that she peeked from under the opened wardrobe.
Kathy's gaze followed the direction pointed, then whispered: "You wore it two months ago."
"There are few news ones. Try to satisfy your desires with what we already own. We must save to buy new fabrics for the ball."
"That one is excellent, then," Shirlyn said as she nodded to the dress she first rejected.
Kathy slipped the dress through Shirlyn's body and shaped the corset from her back, pulling it enough to give her the best hourglass figure possible.
Shirlyn held her breath to fit it better and released air just once it was completely laced up.
Kathy then went to tie her long hair in a lateral braid that kept it all together in a classy style, with the help of a tiara.
"May I ask you to style my hair like that too?" Sharron asked from the opposite side of the room.
"Braids suit Rose's face better since it's diamond shape and her hair is longer," Abigail commented.
They knew Shirlyn was prettier than them and was beautiful enough to be chosen by most suitors. If it wasn't for her tumultuous personality, she would be already married to one of the richest men of Edinburgh who asked for her hand. This is the reason her sisters didn't think she would ever marry, at least not before them.
"Girls, hurry, we don't have time to squander."
They went to wear their pumps and they got on the carriage and led to the Darington.
Sharron and Abigail cleared their voices and stood in a still position waiting for the door to be opened.
After a few minutes the servant went to open the door and in the hall stood the Darington.
The three girls walked toward them to bow down in front of each one of them.
They smiled and took a few seconds to check them out. Then the first guy spoke. "Welcome to our palace. You all look delightful. We're glad you accepted our invitation. Indeed, can we proceed to reach the table, perhaps it might be nice to have some tea?"
"Of course, Lord Thomas." Replied Sharron. He smiled at her and proceeded on taking her by her arm.
"Shall we?" Lord David walked closer to Shirlyn while he was leaning out his arm, waiting for her to take him arm in arm.
Shirlyn nodded, flaunting a fake smile.
They reached the table, which was filled with sweets of every kind and herbal teas.
"What do you look for in a man?" Lord Ferdinand questioned staring at Abigail, so she replied with her usual answer "I look for love, passion, and dedication."
Did it even make any sense? Shirlyn wondered as she tried not to roll her eyes.
"What about you, Lady Sharon?"
"I want a man who can take care of me and protect me. I want to fall in love but at the same time have the certainty that I can live a satisfying life."
Lord David gazed at Shirlyn, but before he asked anything she already replied: "I don't look for a man. Nor love. But I seek happiness, rather than falling in love with the filled pockets of a man I barely know, and I don't think a man can guarantee happiness."
Sharon coughed, hearing Shirlyn's answer, and silence fell in the room.