Long Overdue
Posted: 17 Jan 2025, 05:48
Loneliness was a horrible bedfellow. Della, the Countess of Ripon, was easily seduced into loneliness when her husband was away, and nearly everyone who would dare her company returned to their respective corners of the kingdom. By January, the Countess was painfully bored. The only cure for boredom was curiosity. Della was curious about her dear friend Pippa. She had written to a mutual acquaintance of theirs, Archie, about Pippa and was warned against meddling. It would appear that Archie was not one to kiss and tell if there was any of that afoot. Della might have tried writing Pippa to fish for details, but in the process, she found out her friend had returned to London. WONDERFUL! The Countess was delighted by the news and invited Pippa to tea at her earliest convenience.
Receiving company was one of her favorite things. The Countess visited her vast collection of gorgeous gowns and delightful dresses to find just the right bit of winter attire. Della’s husband showered her with gifts as though an endless wardrobe and collection of hobbyist items would make amends for his absence. She understood their marriage was a sham. Della’s husband was painfully clear that since they had no success creating children, there was no point in going through the act. Perhaps that was why she wanted so dearly for her friends to find love matches where they could. She was deeply invested in the potential between her two friends, but Archie made it sound like there would never be anything between them beyond friendship. She could understand that. The Duke was perfectly platonic toward her, so it was not hard to imagine the same for Pippa.
She still had no idea why her husband introduced Della and Archie. It was a small kindness. Their letters helped cure her loneliness and boredom for a little while. If the rumors of him were true, perhaps Della’s dear husband was hoping Archie might warm her bed. NEVER! Della did not think of him that way. He was the brother she never had and as darling a friend as Pippa. OH YES! PIPPA! When she heard her guest arrive, Della’s maid had just finished pulling together her sapphire ensemble. The Countess scrambled to greet her with small whims of thanks on her way out before she emerged from the upstairs hallway to the top of the stairs.
“PIPPA!”
A giggling blueberry practically squealed when she spotted her guest. This behavior spurred rumors and snide comments that Della’s brain stopped growing with her body. Ditzy Della was often mistaken by strangers as a young woman or girl less than half her age when she carried on like this. She was just delighted to see a friendly face. Pippa was a breath of fresh air when she was suffocating.
“Goodness, this is a lovely dress. Is it new?”
Pippa was the lovely one. She could have worn a burlap sack and made it the most fetching attire the Countess had ever seen. It was more than beauty; Pippa had grace. Her tutors had done a stunning job raising a perfectly measured woman, or Pippa was born with a swan's grace and a princess's presence. To Della, her dear friend commanded every room she entered. The foyer of her London residence was no different. Let alone the tea room, as the women were guided there by the servants who served each woman their tea and preferred accompanying treats before making themselves scarce.
Receiving company was one of her favorite things. The Countess visited her vast collection of gorgeous gowns and delightful dresses to find just the right bit of winter attire. Della’s husband showered her with gifts as though an endless wardrobe and collection of hobbyist items would make amends for his absence. She understood their marriage was a sham. Della’s husband was painfully clear that since they had no success creating children, there was no point in going through the act. Perhaps that was why she wanted so dearly for her friends to find love matches where they could. She was deeply invested in the potential between her two friends, but Archie made it sound like there would never be anything between them beyond friendship. She could understand that. The Duke was perfectly platonic toward her, so it was not hard to imagine the same for Pippa.
She still had no idea why her husband introduced Della and Archie. It was a small kindness. Their letters helped cure her loneliness and boredom for a little while. If the rumors of him were true, perhaps Della’s dear husband was hoping Archie might warm her bed. NEVER! Della did not think of him that way. He was the brother she never had and as darling a friend as Pippa. OH YES! PIPPA! When she heard her guest arrive, Della’s maid had just finished pulling together her sapphire ensemble. The Countess scrambled to greet her with small whims of thanks on her way out before she emerged from the upstairs hallway to the top of the stairs.
“PIPPA!”
A giggling blueberry practically squealed when she spotted her guest. This behavior spurred rumors and snide comments that Della’s brain stopped growing with her body. Ditzy Della was often mistaken by strangers as a young woman or girl less than half her age when she carried on like this. She was just delighted to see a friendly face. Pippa was a breath of fresh air when she was suffocating.
“Goodness, this is a lovely dress. Is it new?”
Pippa was the lovely one. She could have worn a burlap sack and made it the most fetching attire the Countess had ever seen. It was more than beauty; Pippa had grace. Her tutors had done a stunning job raising a perfectly measured woman, or Pippa was born with a swan's grace and a princess's presence. To Della, her dear friend commanded every room she entered. The foyer of her London residence was no different. Let alone the tea room, as the women were guided there by the servants who served each woman their tea and preferred accompanying treats before making themselves scarce.