Find Reason To Believe

[Hortensia Moody]

May 30th, 1887
@'Annette Fontaine'
@'Ottaline Moody'

It was strange to think that only a year ago, she had been one of those girls at the top of the stairs - nervous of botching anything up and anxious for what the future may bring. It all felt like eons ago now, and her nervousness at the time now seemed so trivial compared to what she often felt since that fateful day in September last year, but she could only imagine how Tilly must be feeling. Making one's debut in such a public manner was already daunting in itself, but also knowing what she did, what could possibly happen... Well, it was no wonder that she shouldn't be a nervous wreck - a fact which was clearly evident in her letters when she mentioned to resorting to using calming draughts - and Tensy felt a need to see her in person before the debut. If not to assure herself that Tilly was alright, then to ensure that she would be.

So despite her uncertainty on whether or not she was even allowed to be up there, no longer being a student or an un-presented debutante herself, Tensy was relieved when no one made a move to stop her or ask what she was doing roaming the halls. Perhaps she appeared young enough to pass for a student still or maybe the excitement in the air tonight made everyone much more preoccupied than usual to notice - whatever it was, Tensy was grateful to have not been disrupted from her task at hand, and she paused on the outskirts of the area where all the would-be debutantes were assembled, all looking resplendent in their fine white dresses. Some seemed (understandably) more nervous than others while the rest looked excited, and a woman - whom she could only assume to be Miss Lytton - was flitting about powdering tearful faces and offering emergency dress stitching services.

It didn't take long for Tensy to spot her sister amongst the crowd of white - she couldn't see her face, but oh, how beautiful she looked! - and while she supposed Miss Lytton had permission to be there, Tensy had anything but, and she shifted her weight a little uncomfortably in her blue evening gown as she grappled with what to do. Though in the end, she decided that she couldn't do much without attracting some notice, and Tensy decided to take a chance. "Tilly!", she hissed from her spot in the corner, hopefully loud enough to get her sister's attention, but quiet enough not to draw too much attention to herself. "Tilly, over here!

Words: 424 | Outfit: dress & hair

  

[Ottaline Moody]

The soon-to-be-debutante was feeling remarkably upbeat. The calming potion had taken its effects to soothe her nerves, and then another one of the girls had produced some powders promising to heighten their enjoyment of the evening. She’d been hesitant about taking the two together, but the second had proved to make her feel happier than she had since September.

Ottaline was waiting with a group of the other girls, all exclaiming over each other’s dresses, whispering stories about who was already in attendance, practicing their last-minute curtseys. Everyone’s faces seemed alive with promise against the backdrop of the white satins and laces. One girl had received an anonymous white rose that morning, delivered with breakfast, and was hastily tucking it into the top of her bodice so the gentleman could see as she descended, much to the delight of the other girls, who was treating it as if it were a proposal already. Tilly couldn’t even bring herself to feel envy, such was her elation at that moment in time.

It was over this chattering that Tilly heard her name hissed, only just catching the it first time. She glanced around, unable to place it for a moment till she spotted her sister’s face on the edge of her yearmates’. “Tensy!” She exclaimed, picking up her skirts so she could half run over, remembering just in time to pick up her train whilst she was at it.

“Oh, how wonderful you look!” She said, taking both of her sister’s hands and smiling ear to ear. “You shall make all the other girls quite envious before they’ve even walked down the stairs!”

  

[Hortensia Moody]

@'Ottaline Moody'
@'Annette Fontaine'

Tensy smiled brightly as her sister made her way over, relieved to see that, even if she was nervous (which she no doubt was), Tilly at least seemed to be in good spirits. Of course, with all of the infectious excitement in the air, it was likely difficult not to channel the same energy, but Tensy was pleased all the same to see her sister looking so well.

"Oh, but not as beautiful as you!,"Tensyreturned, grasping her sisters' hands as she took in the sight of her. "Goodness, if you aren't the most sought after girl at the ball tonight, I shall be thoroughly shocked!" She laughed softly, but had meant every word of what she said. Tilly genuinely did look very lovely - far more lovely than she had during the night of her own debut - and Tensy didn't doubt that she would be a success. Her sister was generally much more adept at this sort of thing than she was.

Words: 163 | Outfit: dress & hair

  

[Ottaline Moody]

Tilly giggled and smiled brightly. She dropped her sister’s hands so she could do a little twirl for her, before taking up Tensy’s hands again. “I’m sure many of the others would disagree, but I never want to take this dress off!” The flowers were currently the daintiest little silvered buds presently, but there were faint veins of blue along them where they were counting down to when they could cascade open. She would never get a similar dress again, she knew, unless she married very well indeed, but she didn’t regret getting it for one second.

“I can’t believe how well it turned out- Mr Lytton did such a good job, did he not?” She smiled.

  

[Hortensia Moody]

"He did, indeed," Tensy agreed with a smile, "and it was really quite generous of everyone who had helped pitch in; it was certainly money well-spent!" And every little bit helped, she believed, to keep from ending up in a nunnery with no recollection of their identities. Which, speaking of...

"I'm also pleased to see you looking so radiant," Tensy commented suddenly, squeezing her sister's hands in her own. "I gathered from your letters that you were a little nervous about tonight -" and she likely still was; if she wasn't, Tensy would regard her as a far stronger woman than herself! "- but I assume you've found something to help take your mind off things a bit?"

  

[Ottaline Moody]

A more bitter part of Tilly wondered if the money was guilt money, at least on Circe’s part. She wondered how she would have felt if she had been older than Josie and married when her sister was struggling- was there any more she could have done? Perhaps the dress was just so, if Tilly ended up a nun too, they could all pat themselves on the back and say they had tried their best.

She squeezed her sister’s hands and smiled. “I’m fine, honestly, Tensy.” She said genuinely. “Of course I’m nervous, but I’m hardly the only one, and I doubt any of us are going to spontaneously combust before we make it to the bottom of the stairs.” Tilly laughed, glancing round as her yearmates.