Awed by her Splendor.
Blanche looked up as Agnes continued to tap her teaspoon delicately against the dish of her untouched grapefruit. As she studied the younger woman's face she noticed the dark shadows marring the porcelain skin, and the taut lines of her mouth. The past few weeks had been hellish. Blanche felt herself bristle as she thought of the pain and distress that had been landed at Agnes's feet, by the two people in the world that she had thought loved her most.
She cleared her throat, "Agnes dear, you should try to eat."
Agnes lifted her head and smiled wanly. "Sorry, Blanche, I just can't manage it today. But you must take my cherry. It's such a shame for it to be wasted."
Blanche hid her snort behind a cough and studied the tablecloth, berating herself for her knowledge of coarse Americanisms. "No dear, you must have it. I insist. She paused, "Agnes, I would very much like for you to come to the British Museum with me today."
"Oh Blanche, really, I couldn't face it today, I just…."
"You'd be doing me the greatest of favours. I have a mountain of papers to sort, and your help would save me so much time." Blanche hoped that her white lie wouldn't show through; she was anxious to get Agnes out of this damn house. Her heart ached for her friend, and she was desperate to see some spark of life in her lovely face again, if only for a few hours.
Agnes sighed wearily, "But, what if I see someone I know, I couldn't bear it. The pitying looks, the whispers…."
Blanche smiled kindly, "Darling, in the whole time of my working there, I have never once seen any of your social circle set one dainty foot inside the place! Spargo can take us, and we shall be out of sight of the general public almost immediately. Please Agnes; you would be helping me tremendously!"
Agnes pushed away from the table and sighed. "Very well then, since it would help you, I shall go and get ready. Pritchard, please send Beryl up to assist me."
As Lady Hallam left the room, Blanche caught the butler's eye and a look of understanding passed between them. Nobody in the house was unaffected by the heartbreak that Agnes had been put through, and everybody wanted to help to ease her suffering in some way.
She thought to herself that moving back to Eaton Place may have been the best decision she could have made. She finally felt like she had a home.