1. A Compromising Marriage


    Date: 9/7/2015, Categories: Historical, Author: curvygalore, Rating: , Source: LushStories

    had thought that under different circumstances she might have enjoyed Bath, despite it having fallen out of fashion with the highest of society who followed Prinny’s inclinations for seaside watering places. She admired the elegant, flat-fronted facades of the golden stoned terraces gleaming in the early spring sunshine, and found Mrs Warner’s modest home which was tucked in a side street behind the Theatre Royal both comfortable and conveniently placed. It was within walking distance to the Abbey, the Pump Rooms and even the Assembly rooms; all the more vital since that worthy lady could not afford her own carriage. Helena learned from a welcoming Mrs Warner that due to the close proximity of the London season everyone who was anyone would be repairing to the capital within a matter of weeks. In Mrs Warner’s experienced view, this made time an important factor and so Helena was thrown into the social whirl as soon as she was declared presentable. Her clothes were looked over carefully to assess what could be re-trimmed or refreshed. As her wardrobe was lamentably short of occasion wear, inexpensive but pretty muslins were bought from the market and made up by a local woman, who no doubt had much of her regular custom from Mrs Warner and her charges. Despite it falling from high fashion, Bath, and especially the Pump Room was still was popular with the ailing and those who imagined themselves to be so; and amongst them were powerful dowagers who could make or break a young ...
    woman’s reputation and entrée into society. Mrs Warner was careful to be on the best of terms with these ladies and due to her influence Helena had passed muster in the Pump Rooms, that watering place that was the hub of Bath gossip. Although privately Helena found the waters disgusting to taste and the company dull, she fixed a polite smile on her face and let herself enjoy the elegant proportions of the room and the sound of the violins as the musicians performed in the upper gallery. When she made a passing comment to Mrs Warner about the music the subject had turned to the one defect in social Helena’s armour. “You can’t dance!” She exclaimed as though Helena had suddenly sprouted two heads. Helena explained patiently that her years when she should have taken up such accomplishments were occupied with caring for her ailing mother until her passing. Mrs Warner clucked sympathetically, but her face showed her alarm at this deficit. However, her eyes flicked over the Pump Room crowd and on finding her quarry she took off into the scrum and within seconds she was talking animatedly with someone that Helena could not quite see, so great was the press of people there. The mission must have been successful as Mrs Warner came back to her side wreathed in smiles. “We are blessed by good luck indeed! The best dancing master in town and he is free!” As Helena said what was appropriate she hoped that her aunt’s dwindling supplies of money would be well spent. However when he arrived at ...
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