The Bird has got wings - стр. 10
When at last the hosts of the ball were able to move away from the doors, for all who had answered the invitations had already appeared, Vivian made her way to Charlotte.
Miss Salton, dressed in one of her new dresses, which favourably emphasised her high firm breasts and transformed her full figure into a rather graceful one, was not propped up against a wall this evening, nor did she stand alone at the window, nor was her gaze full of sadness. On the contrary: the girl was invited to every dance, and her eyes sparkled with merriment, for the other guests, seeing her in a new outfit, with a new hairdo and new shoes, realised that Miss Salton, it turned out, was quite nice, and some even said, beautiful. Danish fashion was not to Charlotte's liking, but London fashion, and the advice of her dear friend Vivian, made the girl an attractive bride, though she kept silent about the thirty thousands of dowry. Several young gentlemen hovered round her and joked desperately, eager to hear her ringing laughter. They told her funny stories, shared the latest gossip, and looked at the girl with interest. What attracted them to her? Her father's wealth? Her wide, genuine smile? Her proud posture and majestic figure? Charlotte asked herself these questions, but did not try to find out the truth, for she was in no hurry to marry, and consequently all these gentlemen were no success to her, though she laughed at their jokes and danced with them. Charlotte had made up her mind to live as she pleased and was no longer tormented by the fact that her person was not interesting to others, so such attention from rather handsome and stately men did not make her blush and flirt desperately with them. She just danced, laughed and was happy.
– I beg your pardon, gentlemen, let me steal Miss Salton for a little while," said Vivian with a smile to her friend's suitors, and, in spite of their feeble protests, led Charlotte away to a remote corner where the girls could have a more intimate conversation. – My dear, I can see you have no rest from the attentions of these gentlemen! – giggled Vivian.
– Oh, I'm sick of them," Charlotte said, and then added, "I'm so glad for you! – I'm so happy for you! Of course, I've said it for the thousandth time, but I never seem to tire of it! Viviane, perhaps you don't notice that everyone around you is talking only about you… .
– I know what they say! – laughed Viviane. – 'Viscountess Russell has called me "a thorn that's wrapped round a tulip," but of course that was said behind my back. But you know me, my dear: I don't care at all for the opinions of strangers!
– That old woman is like a bag of bones… But you are not the only one who has been honoured by her attention: poor Mr. Hilloby has caused her a storm of remarks about his toilet water… "He's wearing worse perfume than a woman!" she grumbled. Such an unpleasant person! – Charlotte wrinkled her nose. – The Duke of Nightingale never arrived?
– Not only did he not come, but he did not deign to answer the invitation. They say he has been very seldom seen in society since his engagement to Miss Beckley," she shrugged her shoulders. – Fortunately, I did not have to grieve long. My Jeremy loves me terribly. So much so that sometimes I am even afraid of his love," she added quietly, and Charlotte saw a shadow creep across Vivian's face.