[MaC] ] And so it begins ... Arabella & Pamela

[Nowsounds]

> Jacket, fastenings, gloves, smart buckled shoes... what to do with her
> hair? Pamela suspected that the loose, pinned-down-on-top styles she 
> preferred would also be The Actresses' choice. Very well, then. Pamela 
> parted her hair quickly -- at least there was a lot of it and it took a 
> curl well, even if it wasn't a fashionable colour -- and set about doing 
> up the front.
>
> As ready as she could be, she tidied up her bureau and went to tap at her 
> mother's door.

"Come in..." Arabella's voice, crisp and clear as always, rang out without 
being raised in the slightest. As the door opened she looked up from the 
bedtable, where she kept the few jewels she had brought with her. "Rubies, 
do you think, dear?" She was wearing a burgundy velvet gown, one of last 
year's, of course, but she never worried about being fashionable and as a 
result her clothes were never quite out of date. The dress was simple, with 
long sleeves and an empire waist that she hoped made her legs look a little 
longer. Looking taller was, unfortunately, out of the question and not only 
were high heels decidedly wrong for a woman of her age and status, but she 
had never quite gotten the hang of them, even as a young woman. Happily, 
David had never been one for women in high heels...

Flash got up from his comfortable pose near his mistress and went over to 
sniff at Pamela's hem. Something in the greyhound's attitude caused Arabella 
to smile at her daughter and say, "He approves. And really, dear, you look 
quite lovely." She meant it. Pamela was not a glittering beauty, but she had 
a natural dignity and warmth, as well as good bones, and Arabella thought 
her the equal of any young lady in London.