“You asked to see me, Lady Rosamunde?”
“Audrey will be attending a tea on Thursday afternoon. Please make sure her wardrobe and her behavior are suitable.”
Fear slithered through Audrey. Her stomach rolled like a heavy, oiled ball. She thought of the shiny black beetles Eve had taught her to hold, and tried to summon the courage to face this new challenge.
“Of course, ma’am,” Miss Blake replied. “And are there any social events scheduled for tomorrow?”
“Mr. Clarkson and I have a dinner to attend in the evening, but Audrey won’t be going.”
“In that case, I wondered if Miss Audrey and I could tour London in the afternoon.”
“Not in this dreadful weather!”
“Only if the rain stops,” Miss Blake said. Audrey tried not to bounce on the chair with excitement at the prospect of seeing the city with Eve. She could keep her promise to take her to the Unknown Warrior’s tomb.
“Don’t tire her out,” Mother said. “I don’t want Audrey drooping like a wilted flower at her first tea—or worse, dissolving into hysterics. That will be all.”
Audrey and Miss Blake were dismissed. On her way upstairs, Audrey asked the butler to send Eve Dawson up to her room the moment she and the other servants arrived.
Eve bounded into Audrey’s room a few hours later, barely pausing for breath as she described her train trip and how huge the London train station was and how crowded the streets were. “I’ve never seen so many enormous buildings in my life!”
Audrey was bursting to tell Eve the news. “You’ll see even more of London tomorrow. I’m taking you to Westminster Abbey and the Unknown Warrior’s tomb.”
Eve backed up a step and sat down on the edge of Audrey’s bed. “Really? Am I really, truly going to see it?”
“Yes! My parents have dinner plans in the evening, so you’ll have the afternoon off from cooking. Miss Blake is going to take us.”
“I can’t believe it!”
Audrey eyed Eve’s baggy gray uniform and stained apron. “Do you have something nicer to wear than that?” she asked.
“Well . . . I have my Sunday dress . . .”
“I know! You can borrow one of my dresses!” Audrey bounced to her feet and flung open the doors to her wardrobe, where her dresses and jackets hung in tidy rows.
“If you think I should . . . I mean . . . if mine isn’t good enough . . .”
Audrey turned to her. Eve’s freckles stood out against her pink cheeks. “I’m so sorry, Eve. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I only thought . . .” What had she thought? Fussing about her wardrobe was something Mother would do, and Audrey didn’t want to be like her. “I thought we would look like sisters if we dressed the same. And it’s such fun to dress up for special occasions. After Westminster, Miss Blake is taking us to see Buckingham Palace and then to Fortnum & Mason for tea.”
Eve managed a small smile. “I would like to look my best when I see the Unknown Warrior’s tomb.”
“Good. Then let’s see what fits you. I think we’re nearly the same size.” She pulled Eve to her feet and towed her to the open wardrobe.
“So many dresses! What do you need them all for?” Eve reached out to touch the clothes, then quickly snatched back her hand. But not before Audrey noticed her chapped skin and broken fingernails.
“I’ll be attending parties and teas where I’ll be seen—and hopefully noticed—by London’s finest families,” Audrey said. “It’s how people find marriage prospects for their sons. My brother, Alfie, says there’s already a mob of girls fluttering around him.”
“You mean, you’ll be on display to attract a husband? You’re only thirteen years old!”
“I know. It does seem silly.”
“I would feel like a piece of fruit on a street vendor’s cart.”
Now it was Audrey’s turn to feel embarrassed. She lowered her head for a moment, then drew a breath. “The point is, I have more dresses than I’ll ever need, and I would like to share one with you. Please, take your pick.” They sorted through Audrey’s wardrobe together until Eve chose a simple blue dress and matching jacket. Eve was the same height as Audrey, but more muscular with strong shoulders and sturdy legs from working in the kitchen and running errands. Audrey was annoyed to see that the dress looked better on Eve than it did on her spindly body.
The sun shone in a nearly cloudless sky the following afternoon as they climbed into the car with Williams and Miss Blake. Audrey felt as though she were seeing London for the very first time as she viewed it through Eve’s eyes—the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the lumbering red buses, the boat traffic on the river Thames. Her friend’s enthusiasm was contagious. Audrey felt genuine joy as Eve gripped her hand and gazed through the car windows in wonder.