"I'm so sorry! I do so hope you'll be able to forgive us!" Irene bit her lip. "You see, we've given the Fergus Dinner Party annually since our father was lord of Fergus House. It's sort of snuck up on us this year. I was hoping to invite you all to come anyway—trust me, a night in society makes me feel like I need a long, long bath, and it would be so comforting to have you there. Instead, you'll just be at our house already." She shrugged, smiling hopefully.

"Of course we don't mind!" Cassandra snorted softly.

Funnily enough, fine dining rooms and ballrooms had been home to her for so long, she'd almost found herself missing London's social events. There had been a few times when she was sitting beside Lavinia, who could contentedly read a book for hours, that she found herself anticipating something to disrupt the monotony.

"I shouldn't like to think we were intruding." Lavinia said hesitantly. "You'll have so many other guests to take care of, and we're certainly not the most important people you could invite. You could move us to less convenient rooms if you'd like." A slightly perturbed expression crossed her features—presumably at the idea of attending a large social event surrounded by a group of social elites. Truly, the quiet, relaxed life of a country solicitor's wife suited her.

"I wouldn't dream of it! You're the most important people to Charlie and I, and you won't be in the way. I'm sure everyone we've invited is old enough to look after themselves." Irene laughed. "I am ever so happy that you'll both be here, though. I can readily admit that I often find myself far out of my depth playing the hostess of some great party. The duties of it all are so overwhelming. I would far rather just attend."

"We'll help in whatever way we can." Lavinia smiled gently. "Although, Cassandra is far more practiced in hosting parties than I. I don't believe I even know what I should wear. . .or if I, in fact, have something appropriate for the occasion."

"Obviously, I don't want to burden of you with my responsibilities! I don't need too much help, either. Despite my sudden thoughtlessness, I have had months to prepare." Irene laughed. "I learned the hard way a long time ago that it's better to be ready in advance. Social events tend to sneak up on me." A rosy blush touched her cheeks. "And I will admit that it took me a few days to work up the courage to say something to you."

"What did you think we would do? Leave?" Cassandra said wryly, raising a brow.

"I really don't know what I was expecting." Irene laughed. "Don't worry, Lavinia: there'll be plenty of time to make some alterations to one of your existing gowns if we need to. Of course, you'll look absolutely stunning whatever you wear, and we have until Saturday." She whet her lips, looking away from them guiltily.

"Five days?" Lavinia straightened, raising her brows in surprise. "You're cutting a little close to the deadline, don't you think? What if either of us had needed a new gown?" There was a glimmer of annoyed amusement in her eyes.

"As I said, it sort of snuck up on me. I'm sorry to say I would have waited even longer if Charlie hadn't forced me to tell you today." Irene looked between them apologetically.

"I for one will welcome the challenge." Cassandra raised a brow. "I know just the dress you should wear, Livy, and I've plenty to choose from! No one here is likely to know if I've worn it to another party, and even if we look a little outdated, I don't expect the ballroom will be filled with people who know the latest styles in Parisian fashion."

For once, she would be attending a party where no one knew who she was. She wasn't entirely sure if the thought made her excited or nervous. In fact, she wasn't sure all of a sudden if she really wanted to get involved in the whole social mess again.

Unaware of her friends thoughts, Irene smiled brightly, shooting a grateful look in Cassandra's direction. She had seemed a little distracted the past few days. Somewhere, a letter was on its way to a very lucky young man. The party was bound to be a much needed distraction.

Cassandra sat up a little straighter, remembering Graham's rebuke. What did men know of these things anyway? Irene definitely deserved to be happy after what she'd gone through, and if her happiness lay with a man society wouldn't accept. . .well, society be damned.

The thought of her last conversation with Graham made her blush furiously. How could he have to audacity to say such things to a lady? Who did he think he was? The answer to that question, at least, was obvious. He was arrogant and self-focused, and she wouldn't have been at all surprised if he thought himself to be the living embodiment of God. In fact, the idea wasn't entirely absurd.

She would have been lying, however, if she said that he didn't intrigue her in some capacity. No man had ever outdone her so thoroughly mentally, and she found herself—to her utter embarrassment—having to force him out of her mind. It wasn't that she found him attractive or anything. No, it most certainly wasn't that, but there was something about him that had latched on to her mind and refused to leave her a moment's peace.

"Cassandra?" Irene's voice pulled her back into reality, and she cursed her foolish mind for whisking her out of the present so thoroughly.

"I'm sorry?" She blushed furiously under Irene's gaze.

"I was just asking if you wanted to go for a walk." Irene smiled. It was a mischievous smile. An expression that told Cassandra that the location of her thoughts had been guessed.

"Oh, well, umm, no, I don't think I should just now." Cassandra blustered.

She knew all too well that a walk with Irene would force her to bring up certain individuals she was struggling to forget, and her blundering manner of speech on that subject would only prove to encourage Irene in her belief that there was some attachment forming between her and Mr. McRoberts.

"I was just going to help Lavinia with some. . .things."

Curse that man! Even thinking about him made her mind go numb. It was almost as though she weren't the young woman whose quick wit and sharp tongue had won her a reputation throughout London society.

"Really?" Irene raised a skeptical brow, and Cassandra could only nod, averting her gaze from Irene's.

"No, Cassandra, you needn't worry about me." Lavinia said with a smile. "You should go out and get some fresh air."

"Oh, but I must help you choose your dress!" Heaven be praised, her mind hadn't gone completely dull. "Really, we don't have the luxury of waiting any longer, and I shall need to instruct Eliza on what alterations should be made." Cassandra flashed a quick smile at her confused sister.

"Of course! I can't believe I'd forgotten!" Irene smiled, and the expression told Cassandra that, though the conversation had been delayed, they would speak of Graham in the near future. Stupid, stupid, clever man. "We can all work together on our outfits. In a way, it'll be like having sisters, I suppose." Longing flashed through Irene's eyes for a brief moment before she rose with energetic ecstasy. "I've never had help before."

"Well, we'll be only too glad to help where we can. Of course, London fashion is likely different from what you see up here." Lavinia smiled, and Cassandra could see that Irene's longing had not gone unnoticed by her sister. Nothing seemed to escape those big eyes.

"Nonsense, fashion is fashion." Cassandra cut in with a laugh. "And we shall be the most beautifully dressed women in the entire county. Trust me, I know all about these things." Irene looked at them with unbridled joy, evidently thrilled to bursting with the idea of receiving some help with her wardrobe. "Just you see if we aren't."

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There you have it! Sorry for the long delay, my dears. I think I started about four or five different chapters, but none of them seemed to quite fit. I kept trying to jump too far ahead, and that only caused enormous amounts of writer's block! Well, hopefully I've learned my lesson. . .(I haven't. . .)

So there's going to be a ball/party! I must admit, I'm rather excited for the next several chapters!! I enjoy writing about parties, and I think Cassandra will finally be able to get the upper hand with Graham. . .if he's there. He's never where he's supposed to be! Do you think Irene and her young gentleman friend will find their happy ending despite society's standards? I suppose we'll have to find out. . .

Until next time (which should be sometime in the near future)! May you read many good stories and escape the fiendish clutches of writer's block!!!