Summer of the Soldier

What the Summer brings

Summertime in Wimberley brings out the debutants, visiting guests from all around, new friendships, courtships and most of all engagements and scandals.  This Summer, I, Carolina Davenport of Wimberley, will have my very own debut into society at nineteen years of age.  My dearest friend Cecelia Castilla, or CeCe as I call her, has been the most helpful in all things society related. 

My family is of Irish decent and my long locks of red curls and fair skin make it quite obvious. My pa-pa says my eyes remind him of gorgeous emerald stones, deep green in color.  While my longest and dearest friend CeCe is of Spanish decent with a beautiful rich complexion, dark hair and eyes as brown as chocolate.  We are quite the contrast when strolling the promenade.

 As the daughter of a Duke, I am expected to debut in the most exquisite ball gowns and fashion forward head pieces, which I lack the knowledge of what is most fashionable.  That is where CeCe comes to my rescue.  Meanwhile, my sister Cora has recently turned seventeen years of age, while my youngest sibling, Elias is only ten years of age and quite rambunctious.  Cora and I are like night and day as far as personalities and she is still sulking about being unable to debut until next Season, if then.  

Most of my life, my ma-ma has been preparing for this Season.  Ma-ma has shown me how to perfect the piano forte, critique paintings and art as well as teaching me needlework and drawing.  Her life has been dedicated to caring for her children and making sure that we may survive out in society without a hiccup.  She is often anxious, over-whelmed and quite dramatic at times.  Pa-pa is very mild mannered and enjoys his time out on hunts and playing cards with members of the same social status.  My Pa-pa and I have always been very close and reluctantly he agreed to allow me to debut this Season.

Our family hosts many exceptional dinner parties, giving me an opportunity to play the piano for many people in the upper class.  My families name is highly regarded amongst our peers and our servants have the kindest of hearts and the best loyalty around our area of Wimberley.  My mothers personal chambermaid has been employed with our family for over twenty years and now her own daughter is employed with our family as my brothers' governess.

With the beginning of the Season hastily approaching, comes an abundance of tasks, such as selecting material for dresses, dress fittings, perfecting dance steps and so much more.  It can be quite overwhelming, but I am taking it all in stride, mostly to please my mother.  All the while, my sister Cora simply grunts and growls in dissatisfaction from enduring the sight of me preparing for the Season, while she will not be allowed to debut, yet.  Thankfully, Elias spends most of his time playing in the gardens or working on his lessons with his governess.

Tomorrow, I will be having tea and crumpets with CeCe before we take the carriage to town for our final dress fittings.  What a relief it will be to not hear mother being overly dramatic about the fit of my dress or what type of shoes I have selected.

Authors Note: What characters would you like to learn more about?  How is the pace of the story?  Would you like less descriptions and more conversations?