77. Co-ordination

An invitation arrived for a garden party at General Bradley's house on the other side of Hyde Park. I asked Helena to respond as soon as she could, which, apparently, she did.

It is a measure of how complex the whole social season, and our involvement with Elizabeth and Arabella, had now become, that the Rogeringhams were now secretly co-ordinating our social calendar with that of the Dorringtons. Arabella and her mother wanted to know which invitations we were accepting so that they could accept the same ones. It was a note from Elizabeth Dorrington that started the next chapter.

"Just wondering why you chose the garden party at Sir George's and not that of Lady Hampton?" the note from Elizabeth read.

After checking, it was found that Lady Hampton's invitation had been received at the same time as Sir George's but the General's was opened first and responded to first.

"We can always excuse ourselves from the general's party and attend the ball." Margaret suggested.

"No." I told her firmly. All of the heads at the table - Louise and Margaret's, Hermione's, Charlotte's and my mother's turned to look at me.

"We shall not do that." I explained. "We accepted the invitation; we shall attend the garden party."

"But Lady Hampton's ball will be ... everybody will be there!" Louise said.

"Everybody, bar ourselves and the Dorringtons apparently." I corrected her.

"It is quite simple," I explained, "What would it say of our manners, if having said that we will attend, we were to pass up the General's event and then be seen at another?"

"It would be very bad form indeed." Helena said, "I agree with William, and it is an important principle of life, having accepted an invitation, one must make every effort to honour it, even if a more prestigious one arrives later. After all, one never knows when the next invitation will come."

"Besides," Charlotte laughed, "All the very best people will be at the general's house."

"Oh!" said Margaret, "Who would that be?"

"Why, us of course!" My eldest sister laughed. "When news of William and Arabella being seen at the general's gets out," she went on, "People will be sick with envy at not being able to bask in the light from their glory."

"There is that of course," I added, dismissively, "The general's youngest daughter is counted to be the queen's favourite, so yes, all of the most desirable people will be there. Even you and Louise." I teased Margaret.