“Star stared at her friend for a long time. “This is not funny. What sort of a question is that? What do you mean, do I want him—who?”
“I am not trying to be funny.” Georgie said gravely. “I am most serious. I want to know if you want him.”
“Georgie, again…want who?”
“Jules Stamford, of course,” Georgie said and looked at her folded hands in her lap.
“Georgie. He is not a piece of jewelry, and I am not a buyer on the loose.”
“Of course not, but he has displayed a marked partiality toward you that I find most obvious and you don’t seem to take notice of him at all.”
“Georgie…?” Star studied her friend with a question. The answer glared at her but she couldn’t quite believe it.
“So, I want to know if you want him.”
Her friend could be most tenacious, Star thought as she gave her a hard once over, “Right, so to be clear, you want to know if I want Jules Stamford,” Star said with a shake of her head and a quirky smile. “I rather thought you knew my mind better than that. I thought I had made it clear already. Jules is a good man, with wit, and a sweet disposition. He is fun and he is any woman’s dream catch, but no, I don’t have a passion for him.” She arched her brow. “Does that answer you?”
“Yes, it does,” Georgie said smiling sweetly.
“Yes it does pudding. So now, you answer me Miss Georgina Madison, why do you want to know?”
“Because, you ninny, if you don’t want him, I do.”
Star stared at her friend for a long moment. Here was a problem. Jules had been chasing after her, but she had never thought he honestly wanted her. She considered the situation and came to a conclusion, “Georgie…why Georgie, it suits. I swear it does. Why did I not see it before? You and Jules would be perfect together…”
“So I have thought, but he seems to be in love with you, Star, and it has made me terribly jealous,” she returned on a sad note.
Star snapped her fingers in the air. “Nonsense. He came at me on the rebound from what he thought was a tragic affair. The truth is, he wasn’t in love then and he isn’t in love now with me.” She went quiet for a moment and then offered, “I tell you what Georgie, when he looks at you, it is with great interest. If you want him, you can’t just sit back as you have done.”
“Indeed, what then should I do?” Miss Madison asked on a heavy sigh.
“Well, a little more positive action will be needed. You must make a real push to bring yourself to his notice. You must look at him just so,” Star posed and they both laughed, “But, the thing is you must. And you must contrive to get him into a private conversation, where he can discover you have like minds, for you do.” She took Georgie’s hands, “You must win his attention just at the moment when you have managed to find yourself besieged by another man’s notice. You must make him aware of you as a desirable woman, Georgie. Men always want what other men what. It is their way. You must make him aware that other men want you, that other men think you are irresistible.”
“Star, that is your style, it is not mine,” Georgie said and laughed. “I would feel a fool.”
“Don’t be absurd. It doesn’t matter if it is your style or not. We are talking about getting his attention. Win that—make him take notice, then be who you are, exactly who you are and he will fall madly in love with you. How could he not?”
“I am not sure I know the knack of doing what you suggest. I have always been so straight forward,” Georgie pulled a face.
“Ah, you are a practical minded woman, but you are also quite, quite lovely and should use that loveliness to your advantage.” Star clapped her hands. “You will see!”
Chapter Ten
GEORGINA SPUN AROUND in a circle for Star to have a good look at her and in an anxious voice inquired, “Well?”
Star examined her friend from head to foot. Tawny curls were neatly arranged. Hazel eyes were bright. Dainty ears were adorned with delicate pearls. The gown of ivory satin with lacey draping short sleeves and lace trim at the high waist was perfect as were the matching ivory slippers on her feet.
“You will break hearts tonight,” Star said at last and with great conviction. They had rushed with the Berkley wagon to Georgie’s home and collected everything she needed. They looked in on her mother who was sitting to tea with a friend and contentedly waved them off, before they returned to Berkley Grange where they had spent the rest of the afternoon sprucing up their gowns.
Star stuck up her long white gloved hand for dramatic effect and asked, “And I?”
Georgie smiled ruefully. “Your hair swept away from your face with the flaxen wisps at your forehead suits you brilliantly, Star. Perfect for your tiny face.” She touched the small diamond studs in Star’s ears and said, “These are lovely and compliment your gown…silver so completely suits your coloring. And this material just shimmers...” she sighed and added, “I do think your bodice cut a bit low for your full breasts though.”
“Do you?” Star dimpled. “Wonderful, we are after all, all grown up and it is the acceptable mode of fashion these days, even here in the country, Georgie.”
“Yes, I know, but Star…” she pointed at Star’s bodice.
“Oh, it isn’t that bad. Just popping out a bit,” Star returned and laughed.