Standing before the room’s large walnut armoire—its double doors thrown wide—her abigail held up two evening gowns, each garment as lovely as the other.Eliza considered both dresses with a frown. “I don’t know. What do you think, Lucy?”“Hmm? If it was up to me, I’d wear the rose one. Then again, this jade green is awfully smart, sure to catch the eye. On the other hand, the rose is very pretty and will put lots of color into your cheeks. It’s a frightfully hard choice, isn’t it?”Eliza sent the other young woman an amused yet exasperated smile. “Lucy, you’re even more hopeless than I, and that is no compliment to either one of us.”Studying both gowns again, Eliza dithered between the two.Just pick one, for heaven’s sake, she thought. What possible difference could it make? Especially since most of the company coming to Raeburn House tonight would be family. Most, but not all, and that was what had her worried.At this evening’s gathering in celebration of Violet and Jeannette’s birthday, Eliza would perforce be expected to speak, to carry on—or at least attempt to carry on—an articulate conversation with the other guests before and after dinner, and with those on either side of her during the meal.But in spite of her recent lessons, was she ready?
