For almost the first time, Shimona at eighteen, began to realise that she was missing something.
She heard about balls, assemblies, receptions, great parties at Carlton House, dinner at Almack’s Club, where one had to receive a voucher from one of the distinguished hostesses before being admitted.
“Will I ever be able to go to a ball, Papa?” she asked Beau one evening.
He had returned from the theatre to tell Shimona how he had refused an invitation to a party at the Duke of Richmond’s at which the Prince of Wales was to be present.
Beau Bardsley looked at his daughter as if he saw her for the first time.
She was very lovely in a muslin gown with its high waist outlining the soft curves of her breasts and her skin was very white against the red velvet chair where she was sitting.
In
