Now, because she was aware that her first meeting with the Marquis was an important one, she had taken a great deal of trouble.
Whilst she had liked one of the other gowns that had come from London on approval, the one she decided to wear was the one her mother had said at first sight was quite unsuitable and should be sent back immediately.
It was made of a blue material shot with silver and reminded Elmina of the darkening sky when the first stars brought a glimmer of light – interspersed amongst the blue were silver ribbons.
They caught the light every time she moved and seemed, tonight at any rate, to echo a touch of silver that appeared in her hair in the light from the candles.
The Queen had set the fashion for large skirts with a multitude of petticoats underneath them and a ver
