It didn’t take long for days to go back to their routine. The Edwards didn’t inquire how long the Spencers planned to stay. They expected a week or two before they went back to London. They came for visit almost every year and were welcomed as the Edwards could not afford to spend the season in Bath, let alone in London, yet they still had two more daughters to get rid off. On the other hand, the Spencers enjoyed showing off their money to the family whose lack of a title was only a near miss. Who could have known that Thomas Edwards’ uncle would manage to have a son at the age of 62 with his wife? At 32 she was not the youngest, and 10 years into marriage any children seemed like very unlikely occurrence. Yet, here he was, Anthony, the sixth Baron Mowbray, reminding Mrs Edwards for 18 years what could have been. The only positive thing was that the Mowbrays didn’t forget about their cousins and neighbours and never forgot to invite them to any ball they would hold or if they had any guests. Dowager Baroness Mowbray remembered what it was to be a young girl growing up in the countryside.

And so the adults mocked their surprise when the invite for the Christmas ball came in. Mrs Spencer shared how lucky she was that she brought with her her new dress she just had made. Jane didn’t remind her aunt that it is the very same dress she had made for the end of the London season when she thought she could impress the society in Italy. Of course, Jane was not interested in the what was currently trendy so there was no danger she would point out that was a previous season model.

To Jane, it didn’t matter really. She was delighted to be able to spend more time with Amelia. And Amelia was simply delighted to have her older sister and closest friend back, albeit for a short time. They spent days talking about the London season, about every detail, though Jane usually paid more attention to flower decoration and garden landscape than what people were wearing. Still, in a way known only to them, the two so different sisters shared the love for each other.

“Look, cousin Mowbray is inviting us to the ball,” Mrs Edwards welcomed their daughters into the morning room where the group was taking tea as always.

“This year, you will come as well,” she added to Amelia’s surprise.

“Isn’t she a little young?” Mrs Spencer objected.

“Nonsense, she is sixteen and it’s just a family ball,” Mrs Edwards explained. Of course, she didn’t add that she could also use some of Jane’s dresses Jane brought with her. It was a great training. Maybe it was just a country ball but still, she would get to dance and meet all local families.

“Thank you, Mother,” Amelia was delighted. She would have been jumping with joy if such a behaviour was not inappropriate.

“But…. I don’t have any dress,” Amelia was about to start to sob.

“I am sure you can borrow some of Jane’s dresses, am I right?” Mother asked as if Jane had any say in the matter. Indeed, Jane was delighted to share a dress with Amelia. After all, she didn’t really care. And Amelia started to think in her mind what alternations she could do to make the dress look new. Maybe a few ribbons added there. Well, they had seven days to put the finishing touches on the dress before the ball.