10-09-2021, 09:34 AM
[CW: unhealthy body image]
The Ennington Manor was full of light and cheerful noise. Carriages drove up the long driveway, past a perfectly kept lawn and newly planted roses and more exotic flowers, to the porch, where they were received by footmen who held their doors open and showed them in. Once inside they were led into the great hall, where they were announced upon entering.
Nobody not worthy of being announced had been invited. Only the richest families (and bachelors, especially bachelors) in Whitby - minus the Carringtons - and as far as Scarborough, Middlesbrough and York had received the golden framed invitation to the first ball of the Whitby season, which celebrated the eighteenth birthday of the Enningtons' youngest daughter, Catherine. Cathy had begged her papa and mama to throw the first ball and draw this attention to her coming of age. If she couldn't be presented at court, at least she should have a formal debut in Whitby. Oh how jealous all the other girls had to be! Even her sisters hadn't had such a grand debut and they already resented her for it. But all was fair in love and war, and a girl who wanted to make it in this world had to be shrewd and dedicated and not worry about the cost.
Cathy was all those things. She had half-starved herself for the past few days to get her waist even smaller. Her lady's maid had reluctantly tight-laced her, reminding her mistress of the doctor's warnings and begging her to consider her health. But Catherine hadn't yielded. Her teachers had always told her and her classmates when their waists were measured that being a true lady and finding a good man required sacrifice. She would have to look perfect. And if that also required her to spend a full day working on her hair and face and checking that every fold and ribbon of her gown was perfect, then that was but a small additional sacrifice. All her life had been leading up to this. She couldn't waver now.
She stood at the top of the stairs, hidden behind a corner and peeking out every now and then at the increasing number of guests down below. Servants were walking around offering food and drink on immaculate silver trays. The musicians were playing a quiet background tune. Cathy knew that there was a big ballet show in store to surprise their guests with. But first, she would make her big entrance, once enough guests had arrived. She could feel butterflies in her stomach and her head going foggy.
The Ennington Manor was full of light and cheerful noise. Carriages drove up the long driveway, past a perfectly kept lawn and newly planted roses and more exotic flowers, to the porch, where they were received by footmen who held their doors open and showed them in. Once inside they were led into the great hall, where they were announced upon entering.
Nobody not worthy of being announced had been invited. Only the richest families (and bachelors, especially bachelors) in Whitby - minus the Carringtons - and as far as Scarborough, Middlesbrough and York had received the golden framed invitation to the first ball of the Whitby season, which celebrated the eighteenth birthday of the Enningtons' youngest daughter, Catherine. Cathy had begged her papa and mama to throw the first ball and draw this attention to her coming of age. If she couldn't be presented at court, at least she should have a formal debut in Whitby. Oh how jealous all the other girls had to be! Even her sisters hadn't had such a grand debut and they already resented her for it. But all was fair in love and war, and a girl who wanted to make it in this world had to be shrewd and dedicated and not worry about the cost.
Cathy was all those things. She had half-starved herself for the past few days to get her waist even smaller. Her lady's maid had reluctantly tight-laced her, reminding her mistress of the doctor's warnings and begging her to consider her health. But Catherine hadn't yielded. Her teachers had always told her and her classmates when their waists were measured that being a true lady and finding a good man required sacrifice. She would have to look perfect. And if that also required her to spend a full day working on her hair and face and checking that every fold and ribbon of her gown was perfect, then that was but a small additional sacrifice. All her life had been leading up to this. She couldn't waver now.
She stood at the top of the stairs, hidden behind a corner and peeking out every now and then at the increasing number of guests down below. Servants were walking around offering food and drink on immaculate silver trays. The musicians were playing a quiet background tune. Cathy knew that there was a big ballet show in store to surprise their guests with. But first, she would make her big entrance, once enough guests had arrived. She could feel butterflies in her stomach and her head going foggy.
