Clarinda glanced at her reflection in the mirror. Her dress for tonight’s party was green, a soft green of buds in early spring, and for a moment she thought that her gown, with its tiny brilliants like drops of water, made her look like a nymph rising from the lake at Melburne.
Then she remembered that she had been wearing a green gown the night Nicholas had taken her to the caves. She gave a little shudder.
Could green be unlucky she wondered? And told herself that she was being nonsensical.
“I am very proud of you, child,” the Dowager smiled as they walked downstairs.
Lord Melburne was waiting for them in the hall, looking incredibly handsome with the decorations that he had won in the Army glittering on the blue satin of his evening coat.
Clarinda looked up at him hoping to see so
