‘Their beauty must be appreciated by people who matter,’ she told herself, ‘not just a few fox hunting Squires or some old cronies of Papa’s who come to the house from time to time.’
She was well aware, although she had never discussed it with her sisters, that in the neighbourhood the mothers of unmarried daughters made every possible effort to exclude the Maldon girls from any parties where they wanted their offspring to shine.
They also did not encourage their sons to visit the Manor House and the young wives clung almost feverishly to their husbands when Cheryl or Sharon appeared.
This meant that invitations of any sort were few and far between. Andrina, smarting under the injustice of it, knew that nothing she could do or say would make any difference.
She only hoped that Cheryl,
