9. The Dinner Party (Part Two)
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They all trooped downstairs with varying expressions on their faces. Harriet hid a scowl, Amelia frowned nervously, and James and Clara were the only ones with hesitant smiles. Clara only hoped that their worries would be for nothing.
They paused their stepfamily came into view at the bottom of the large wooden staircase. Guests were already arriving, their chattering echoing through the room and their vibrant gowns seemed to glow under the chandelier light. Their stepmother looked livid, and Clara could imagine why. Linette never liked things to be out of her control. Linette shooed Harriet, Amelia, and James all into the parlor, and thrust a platter of food into Clara's arms.
"Stand in the corner and do not say a word to anyone," she sneered as she steered Clara into a corner of the parlor. Clara nodded in agreement. She didn't really want to talk to anyone, anyway, she'd rather observe.
As more and more guests arrived, Clara watched from her corner. Her stepmother was clearly in her element, playing the part of dignified hostess, but for all of their endless talk over the past few days, her step-sisters looked decidedly out of place amongst the guests. Clara couldn't help but overhear a number of her step-sisters' social faux pas.
Currently, her stepsisters' were conversing with three of the guests, not noticing their barely hidden frowns as her stepsisters' had literally elbowed their way into a conversation with them.
"Why isn't that hilarious? I can hardly believe my luck when I heard it from Lady Brighton just a week ago. To think that she almost married a lowly clergyman!" Edina stated, snorting as the guests looked on in distaste. What Edina didn't know was that one of the men she was talking to was the wealthier cousin of said clergyman. Clara almost couldn't bear to watch as many of Edina's and Estella's consisted of saying misheard gossip to the wrong people.
"She looks so large, I hope she's well." This was on the subject of a woman Estella didn't know was with child.
"My word he's far too somber." This was said of a man that Edina didn't realize had just lost his father.
"What an atrocious dress!" This was by far the worst instance, as it was said to the mother of the owner of the dress. Most of the night went on like this, however, Clara was distracted during the evening by a couple coming up to her.
"Are you of any relation to those three children over there, the Cordens? You look very similar to them," a man commented as he took an appetizer from Clara's tray. Clara hesitated. If she answered truthfully, it would put Linette in a bad light, but if she lied then she'd feel rather guilty. This was the first person to speak to her all night, after all.
"Yes, they are my younger siblings." The man and woman stared at her in barely disguised shock.
"You're their sister? Then why are you not over there enjoying yourself? Surely you are already out in society."
"My stepmother wanted my help with the party," Clara said trying to deflect their questions.
"So you are out then? You must be older than those two."
"I'm seventeen, sir," Clara answered, and the woman frowned.
"Well, this simply won't do. Here give me the tray." Clara didn't let go. "Relax, darling, you weren't getting anyone over here to eat them anyway, especially not with that grimace of yours." With that, the woman took the tray from Clara's grasp and swiftly set it onto a low lying table not far away, before coming back. "Alright, now, come with me."
Clara found herself being dragged along behind the woman but in the politest of ways. She was beginning to panic slightly. If Linette saw her out of the corner, she didn't know what she would do!
"Oh dear, I just realized I never introduced myself, did I? My name is Lady Margaret Stanford and that man we were just with was my husband, Lord Jonathan Stanford."
"Where are we going?" Clara asked, trying not to betray her unease with the situation.
"We're having you join the party," Lady Stanford said as she pulled Clara into a seat next to her amongst a circle of women. However, these weren't the women Clara would often see with Linette for tea, these were women of a different sort. These were the ones Linette invited in hopes of being acquainted with due to their status or their money, and now instead of Linette being introduced to them, it was Clara. This was not good, especially if Linette saw her.
"Why hello, Margaret. Now, who is this we see with you?"
"Good evening, Beatrice, why this is- oh, hold on, I never got your name?" Clara felt slightly uncomfortable under the attentive gazes of women of such higher station but then she gave herself pause. For the first twelve years of her life she was raised by her mother to be an equal to these women, now was the time to own up to it.
"Oh it's quite alright, my name is Clara Corden. I am the eldest daughter of Katherine and Samuel Corden."A handful of the ladies smirked, while most of them smiled as if they had already known.
"Well, it's lovely to meet you, Lady Corden. Can I just say that you look just like your mother? Except for the hair and eyes of course," one of the women said.
"You knew my mother?"
"We all knew both of your parents. I'm sure you don't remember most of us, but we used to come to have tea with your mother. I believe it was before the birth of your younger brother."
"Wait. You called me Lady Corden, I am not a lady." Lady Stanford, beside her, frowned.
"What do you mean you're not a lady-" she was cut off by a particularly loud and shrill cry. All of the women in the group turned in their seats to see Clara's stepfamily coming towards them. Most of the women stood up, while Lady Stanford stepped a little in front of Clara, hiding her partially from her stepmother's view.
"What is she doing with them? Mother!" Edina cried, pointing to Clara. "It's not fair!"
"I was wondering the same thing, dearest. Tell me what you think you are doing?" Linette directed the question at Clara but was looking at Lady Stanford.
"I invited her to come sit with us," Lady Stanford answered. "She is, after all, your eldest child is she not?"
"She is not mine," Linette said through gritted teeth. "Go to your room, you ungrateful chit." Many of the women gasped. Such words as Linette's were not said in any polite company, let alone the presence of many high ranking people. Clara moved to obey, but Lady Stanford grabbed hold of her wrist to stop her.
For a moment the full attention of everyone within the room was on Clara, and she didn't know what to do. Linette was glaring at her, trying to get her to obey, but the stares of the women behind her indicated that they didn't want her to. However, before she could do anything, Clara saw Linette's gaze flicker to her siblings.
Clara followed her lead, seeing how they were sitting quietly together, holding onto each other's hands. Clara looked back at Linette to see a dangerous glint in her eyes. That was when she remembered Linette's warning. These women might have sway within the court of the King but not within the court of the Lady Linette. Clara knew what she had to do, even if it made her feel slightly ill.
She carefully unfolded Lady Stanford's hand from her wrist, instead taking it between her two hands. Clara then steeled herself, before looking at all of the women, smiling at each of them in turn.
"Thank you so much, Lady Stanford, for looking out for me but I better follow my mother's directions," Clara said, trying not to linger over calling Linette, of all people, mother. "I am feeling terribly tired, so perhaps it is for the best. It was wonderful to see you all again," Clara said referencing the tea times with her actual mother.
Lady Stanford gave her a calculating look before smiling and nodding stiffly, "It was wonderful to see you as well and if you ever need anything, dear, remember none of us are too far." Clara could tell that she was more than serious and all of the other women looked as if they agreed with her.
Clara then bowed her head, gave a curtsey and walked as steadily as she could past everyone and out of the room. She didn't pay attention to the glares of her stepfamily as she left the room and started up the stairs.
Oddly, she didn't feel any urge to cry, she didn't even feel empty. Once she reached her room, she simply sat down on her bed, waiting for the punishment that had been promised.
She couldn't help but give a bitter laugh to the empty room. She'd warned her siblings not to do anything, but it had been her that had caused the trouble. At least she could find solace in the idea that after tonight none of the respectable company invited would ever attend one of Linette's parties again.
Her stepfamily had gone too far. Any member of good society would have seen that. Clara guessed that by midday tomorrow anyone of high standing would have heard of the disastrous dinner party and everything that came with it.
It seemed like she waited for hours for Linette's inevitable appearance, but when the attic door burst open, it was not Linette who came in. It was her three siblings. Amelia and James were crying, while Harriet was scowling and Clara immediately rushed over to them.
"What is it? What'd she do?" She asked while trying to comfort Amelia and James. It was Harriet who answered.
"She didn't do anything to us."
"Then why-"
"She told us that we won't be using our rooms anymore. We'll be living in the attic, too."
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So there we are! What do you all think of Lady Stanford? Do you think she will play an important part in the future? Any predictions of what will happen with Clara and her siblings all sharing the attic? Tell me them in the comments!