Esther sat on the edge of the bed what felt to her like forever after her mother and sister left the room. Why was she so shocked and Rowena seemed to take it with stride and move on so quickly. Ester supposed it was one of her own short comings that made her worry so. Then again Rowena's personality was so much more like their mother's, and it seemed the older she got the more Row mirrored her. After gaining a bit of composure, she stood and went to her room how time flew. She could hear the commotion going on downstairs, familiar voices conversing one distinctly being her mothers and one being distinctly Eliza's. However Esther just decided it was best if she just started getting ready for the party. She didn't feel confident enough yet to greet everyone without breaking down into tears and making a terrible scene of things. She found the maid who was down the hall trying to peer down at the people in the foyer.
Esther walked over and tapped her on the shoulder then whispered in her ear so to not alert anyone downstairs to the fact she was donning her undergarments. "Katy.... come here I need help with my corset". The young woman snapped out of her own little world when she heard Esther's voice.
"Sorry Miss, I was just looking to see who was all here, of course I'll help". Katy followed Esther to her room and closed the door behind her.
"Your sister should be getting ready as well, but I think she's gone down to greet Miss Eliza". Katy helped Eliza slip her day dress up and over her head after unhooking a few buttons.
"That's quite alright I'm sure she'll come up when she's ready, I'll help her cause I'm sure Mrs. Cuthboard is going to need you in the kitchen". Katy nodded as she helped slip the corset on next.
Esther leaned against the post of her bed, bracing her hands as Katy started to tighten the laces. Now neither she nor her sister wore their corsets terribly tight. But enough to look nice under their gowns was sufficient, Esther had heard from many girls how theirs were so tight it made it hard to breath. She never understood such a thing, she was never they type to sacrifice her own comfort for something as silly as the fashion. Once the laces where tied, Katy made her way to Esther's wardrobe.
"Which one is it going to be tonight Miss?". The maid asked.
Esther was in a mind to wear the funeral gown in protest of the whole situation, but she didn't want to be scolded again by her mother, and possibly embarrass her parents any more than they already were by being difficult.
"The newest one I have I suppose...". Esther sighed as Katy nodded and pulled out one of the
gowns hanging.
The dress had come from her grandparents over Christmas holidays, both she and Row had gotten a lovely new gown as a present from their grandmother. The colors were definitely more for the winter than spring, but Esther wasn't really concerned about that. She was more worried about her father and Mr. Nash. After helping her into the dress, and quick pin up of her hair, Esther felt she looked acceptable for the evening. She hooked a lovely satin bag onto her wrist that held her fan, gloves, and a small book. Just in case she found herself bored out of her mind in a corner somewhere, this was something that typically happened to her at balls, and parties.
"Thank you Katy, you can head to the kitchen if you like". Katy nodded and respectfully curtsied then stepped out the door.
Esther gave another sigh as she looked out her window to see who all was coming up the walk. She managed to see Mr. Nash, go up the front walk and the head with a quick stride towards town. For a fleeting moment Esther felt that maybe he wouldn't accept her invitation to the ball. However as quickly as that thought crossed her mind the reality of the truth set in, if Mr. Nash was not returning... then he would have taken his horse.
"I guess he is coming to the party after all..... enough of that now Esther..... whats done is done. Lets just get tonight over with and then you can work on finding a way out of this mess tomorrow. Been going to these sorts of things for a while now, if I haven't found a husband by now I'm certainly not going to find one now. Can't expect a man to just fall in my lap and save me like in the books... now can I". She sighed again and sat down on the bench in front of the window.
"It will work out.... you're smart enough... straighten your back... chin up". Esther stood up again and made her way through her door to the stairs to try to encourage her sister to come and get ready.
Thomas sighed after Mr. Nash had left, running his hands through his hair in frustration, he decided it was time to put his face despite everything that had just happened. Between his wife and his girls, sometimes he felt like he really didn't have charge of anything around here. Sometimes he felt the only one that understood him was the stable boy. He got up from his chair and made his way towards his room to clean up and dress for the evening. He could hear they commotion beginning to brew downstairs that signaled that guests were beginning to arrive. After he felt he was ready he made his way out his bedroom door towards the stairs. There he spied his daughter Esther leaving her room as well, she looked somewhat solemn for some reason. But terribly lovely, how she favored her mother he thought.
"Essie you look beautiful dear". He said with a smile.
Esther gave a weak smile "Thank you father". Thomas smiled and offered her his arm as they started to walk down the stairs.