Here’s another snippet from The Viscount’s Vow.
Poor Vangie. She’s quite in the dark and hasn’t any idea what’s going on. This scene takes place after the Armstrong’s Ball.
~ * ~
“Wake up.”
“Please no,” Vangie groaned. She pressed her face into the downy softness of her pillow. Sleep curled round her consciousness again.
Yvette gently shook her shoulder, repeating urgently, “Wake up, Vangie.”
“Chérie, you must get dressed,” came the muffled voice of Aunt Adélaid.
Vangie opened drowsy eyes to see her aunt’s head poking inside the wardrobe rifling through her borrowed gowns. Yvette was lifting a fresh silk chemise and stockings from the bureau. She brought the garments to the bed and held them out, dangling them from her fingertips. “Here, I’ll help you. You must make haste.” Her voice trembled.
Vangie’s gaze shot to Yvette’s pale face. “Faith, whatever is going on? Is someone ill?” She sat up, brushing hair away from her face. It hung loose, in heavy waves around her shoulders and back.
“Lord Warrick has. . .” Yvette sent a quick glance at Aunt Adélaid, “He, uhm, he has come to call.”
“At this ungodly hour?” Vangie looked to the French doors opening onto a private balcony. Muted, early morning light shimmered through the panes, crisscrossing the hand-hooked, blue and pink cabbage rose rug. Taking a sideways peek at her bedside table clock, she widened her eyes in surprise. “It isn’t even eight straight-up!”
Vangie plucked at the satin coverlet. “Can’t Uncle Gideon address any urgent matters with Lord Warrick?”
Her aunt shook her head, lines of worry creasing her face. “No, he specifically asked for you.”
“But it’s unfashionably early to be calling.” Bewildered, Vangie idly twirled a curl as her gaze shifted between Yvette and Aunt Adélaid. Tension radiated sharp and severe across their attractive features. She stopped twisting her hair. “Is something wrong?”
They exchanged anxious glances. Unease quickened through Vangie again.
Vangie slipped from the bed, then pulled off her nightgown. “Did something happen last evening?” She slipped her arms into the filmy chemise Yvette held for her. Her question met with pained silence. “I remember feeling unwell, and his lordship assisting me from the ballroom.”
Stockings came next. “I can’t remember most of what happened after I swooned.”
She shook her head when Aunt Adélaid made to assist her into the stays. “Not after last night. I can’t breathe properly in that contraption.”
Her aunt shrugged and tossed the offending undergarment on the rumpled bed.
Vangie stuffed her arms into Yvette’s yellow chintz gown and lowered it over her head. “I have a vague memory of a conversation about a tete-a-tete, but I have no memory of the details or individuals involved.”
The gown settled round her ankles, and Aunt Adélaid smoothed the mussed ruffles round the collar and sleeves.
“Was it someone we know?” Vangie asked.
Tying a sunny ribbon in her hair, she scrunched her brow, deep in thought. She tried to recall the ride home. It was a muddled memory. As were her preparations for bed. “Dash it, it’s no use. I can’t remember—not a single thing.”
There was nothing for it then, but to go below and set things straight. How was she to do that with only a minimal memory of last evening? It was an enigma, to be sure.
What if she’d seen something illicit, and she and Lord Warrick were to be called as witnesses?
Had someone’s honor been sullied?
Had there been a duel?
Good God. Had someone been killed?
Here are some fun Regency terms courtesy of the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue.
All-A-Mort – struck dumb (Ironic because mort means a woman or wench)
Blind Cupid – the backside (I don’t get it)
Fallalls – Women’s ornaments, ribbons, necklaces and such
Gentry Cove – A gentleman (But of course)
To Huff- to scold (That sort of makes sense. No need to get huffy)
Plug Tail – er … a reference to the male anatomy (Here’s another one Regency Critique partners)
Quiz – a strange looking fellow (I thought it was a short test)
Scapegrace – a wild fellow (Rogue or rake)
Snappers – pistols (Onomatopoeia I’m guessing. You know, using words to imitate sounds)
Tea Voider – a chamber pot (How sensible)
Tittup – a gentle gallop or cantor (Shame on you)
