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After the final waltz, the adrenaline had worn off of Evangeline and she slinked off towards one of the lounging rooms where the older girls were lazing around. Evangeline walked quickly, avoiding the servants with their mountainous food trays before sneaking her way inside the lowly lit room.
The candlelight shone brightly on Christine’s face from where she was sitting on the high back velvet chair, illuminating her already pale face and paler makeup. The other giggling girls sat nicely on the damask chaise lounges around the mantlepiece, extravagant gowns hanging off the edges and glasses of wine held limply by their sides as they talked about the latest gossip.
Evangeline slowly made her way towards the group of girls before sitting on the edge of the couch nearest Christine, her mentor.
“And Layla’s dress! She has the audacity to show her face and then stroll in wearing that- that thing! Did you see the hemline? It was caked in mud.” Christine said, lips curling in disgust.
“What’s wrong with her dress?” Evangeline asked.
One of the girls leaned forward to speak. “You don’t show up to a debutante ball in a gown like that, guest or not. If you can even call it a gown, much less a dirty one.” The girls all laughed together like they were sharing an inside joke.
“That’s not all though,” another girl piped up, crossing her arms, “Lola’s never been one to listen to dress codes. Especially those for formal events. She only gets away with it because-”
“I think this is where we end the conversation,” Christine interjected. “All this talk about Lola is making me ill. I’m going to freshen up, follow me if you wish.” The girls watched as Christine floated away and Evangeline was left to wonder what exactly it was about Lola that raised such a strong reaction from the woman.
“She’s only mad because Layla was invited to dine with Lord Blakeney and his sister while Christine has been trying to get invited to Lady Blakeney’s tea parties for ages.” Evangeline took a sip of wine and the conversation turned back to Layla’s excursions.
“I heard Layla’s waiting for the arrival of her first. Out of wedlock too!”
“One of the other women told me that she heard from her cousin who’s close friends with Lady Blakeney that it's Lord Blakeney’s child.”
“Maybe that’s why she’s being invited over now, the rumors are spreading.”
At this one of the girls who had been minding her business interjected. “Maybe it’s all a silly rumor with no real evidence that we should all stop talking about because we’re here to focus on the debutantes!” The room went silent for a few seconds, only the music in the ballroom was heard, before it broke out into hushed whispers.
Evangeline took a glass of wine from one of the servants passing by.
“Oh to be a young girl getting ready for her debut again! I can almost remember the feeling. The etiquette training, gown shopping, and all those horrid dance lessons.”
“If I recall, you skipped out on most of the dance lessons and left me alone, Victoire.”
“If I recall, I skipped out those monstrous dance lessons and saved my feet from being stepped on by those hideous beasts you call men! You can’t judge me for preserving my lovely toes. Besides, it’s not like I was out and about getting knocked up by some random man like Lola did.” said Victoire while smiling devilishly at Genevieve. The two seemed to be holding a kind of stare-down with their eyes widening more and more before Genevieve relented.
“Look at her now. She’ll probably be getting engaged to Lord Blakeney next month. And where are we?”
“Enjoying our time at an expensive ball with no man in sight to dull the mood?”