Vanity Blair

Chapter IV: Who's Afraid of Georgina Sparks?

SPOTTED: ... It is well known that Lady B was the toast of the town in her debutante years. The striking blonde broke a host of noble hearts before being snapped up by a Dutch nobleman. After his death, she removed to Paris, where she met the widower Sir B and they wed in an ostentatious ceremony less than a year ago. One anticipates with relish the fascinating scenes Lady S is sure to provide tonight at the Archibald ball...

"I didn't know that Chuck Bass was your mystery suitor," said Serena to Blair the next day. The two were occupied on a shopping expedition with their mothers, and Serena had chosen the moment when the older women were occupied elsewhere with tiny silver pill boxes to corner Blair.

"He is not," said Blair at once. She risked a glance at Serena under the pretext of inspecting a pair of ivory satin gloves through a glass fronted shop window. "Absolutely he is not," she repeated in a softer tone. "Mr Bass merely wished to consult me on some trivial matter."

Serena surveyed her friend quizzically. "You seem flustered, B."

"I'm not. I mean – it is a little hot today, don't you agree?"

Serena looked up at the grey April clouds and shook her head. "Whatever you say, Blair." She changed the subject to something more mundane as their mothers approached. "I assume you are attending the Archibald ball tonight?"

As a matter of fact, Blair did attend the Archibald ball that night, arrayed in a white silk gown trimmed in gold, a matching ribbon and strings of pearls threaded through her hair.

"B," said Serena, hiding her lips behind a fan. The two girls were enjoying a rare breather together from dancing. "I feel there is something you should know."

"Oh, not you as well," said Blair irritably, toying with her own dainty fan. "I have had quite enough of people supposedly needing to tell me things. What if I do not wish to know?"

"Blair, there was a reason I left for France a year ago. Tell me truthfully – are you in love with Nate?"

Blair's left hand, holding the fan between delicate fingers, froze in mid air at the sudden change of subject. "How should I know what love feels like?" she answered, attempting a trivial tone.

"Does your heart flutter when he takes your hand? Do you see stars when he kisses you? Is he the only one you see when you walk into a room?"

Blair paused for a moment, considering, and then said flippantly: "I was always taught that love has no place in marriage. What does this have to do with your leaving for France? Do not tell me you have taken part in a secret marriage to a scandalous Frenchman? A dashing pirate?"

"Good evening, ladies," a cool voice interrupted them before Serena could reply.

The newcomer was a woman, scarcely older than themselves. She wore a gown of burgundy silk with a neckline to rival Serena's. Several feathers dipped coquettishly in her dark hair and her eyes appeared to be lined in kohl.

She pressed her fan to one rosy lip in an attitude of deep thought and spoke again. "I do believe you must be Miss Waldorf? Nathaniel Archibald's betrothed. You are quite the talk of the town, my dear." She turned to Blair's companion. "And Lady Serena. How delightful to see you again."

"Mrs Sparks," said Serena, in a colder tone than Blair had ever heard her use. She turned slightly away from her.

"Allow me to introduce myself," continued Mrs Sparks, her rouged lips widening into a smile. "My name is Georgina Sparks."

"Mrs Sparks is the widow of an army captain," explained Serena briefly, without making eye contact. "Blair, I am going to fetch a glass of ratafia."

"Very well, Serena," answered Blair. She felt an unexplained flash of irritation at her friend. "I shall remain here with Mrs Sparks."

Serena soon found herself a beau to guide her to the refreshments table and Mrs Sparks turned back to Blair.

"Shall we take a turn about the room?" said Mrs Sparks pleasantly. Blair agreed. This woman was not likeable, but might prove interesting.

"Please, Dan?"

"I said no, Jenny."

"Oh, please."

Jenny widened her eyes at her brother, who lounged on his bed with a book. His sister had swept in several minutes before, attired in a remade ball gown, and announced that Dan was to take her to the Archibald ball.

"No, Jenny. How did you know about it, anyhow?"

Jenny perched on the end of his bed, careful not to crumple her skirts. "Lady Mischief has been talking about it for weeks, and so has everyone else. It's the biggest ball of the Season. And then I found your invitation – how did you manage an invitation, by the way?"

"A favour was forced on me," said Dan vaguely, closing his book.

"How do you know the Archibalds?"

"Why always the tone of surprise?" grumbled Dan. "I was at school with Nathaniel."

"And you never told me? How could you, Daniel Humphrey? You must take me to the ball tonight. How else am I ever to associate with society? Besides, you know who will be there."

"Who?"

"The lovely Lady Serena. You could go to the ball and sweep her off her feet."

Dan sighed. "It was one dance, Jenny. She won't even remember my name."

"All the more reason to dance with her again, then," argued his sister, pulling him off the bed.

"I met Lady Serena in Paris," said Mrs Sparks, as she and Blair began to stroll. "She was very popular there."

"I am not surprised. I quite expected her to elope with a French duc."

"Yes, indeed. She is very beautiful and most charming. I am told that some have their doubts, however, as to whether Lady Serena's reputation is quite... unblemished. There have been rumours-" She paused significantly.

"Yes?" Blair prompted.

"There have been rumours," continued Mrs Sparks in a lower tone, accompanied with a snap of her fan. "although I am not one to speak ill of others, nor spread tittle-tattle. But the on-dit is that Lady Serena has had a number of dalliances."

"Oh yes? With whom?"

"A handful of people, it seems. Lord Danvers, the Earl of Alverleigh, Nathaniel Archibald – oh, I do apologise, Miss Waldorf. I ought never to repeat such things."

"I am sure there is not a grain of truth in such rumours," said Blair defiantly.

"Not a whit," said Mrs Sparks, but her eyes danced.

The ball was not going quite as Jenny had expected. It was the largest one she had attended, with the greatest number of landed and titled persons, but instead of dancing with the handsomest in the room, she was stuck in a corner with a group of turbaned matrons and their plain daughters. Dan, the traitor, had somehow managed to find a group of former schoolmates, despite being the most unsociable person she knew.

"That is Lady Jersey," said one woman, pointing to a plump lady encased in pink satin.

"And over there is Georgina Sparks," cackled another. "Her husband died within a month of their wedding, leaving her a tidy sum."

Jenny gave a vague smile in acknowledgement and spotted her brother moving towards the refreshments table.

"If you would excuse me, ladies," she rose and smiled at them. "I must speak with my brother a moment."

"Dan," she hissed into his ear. "I've had enough. You may take me home."

Her brother, however, was clearly not listening. Instead his eyes were fixed in another direction, on a different blonde rapidly approaching the table. He swallowed visibly.

Lady Serena made no move to speak, instead giving a tinkling laugh at something her neighbour said.

Dan made a move to pick up a glass, but knocked it over instead. The liquid flowed out over delicate fingers.

"I'm so sorry," gabbled Dan, snatching at the tablecloth to wipe it off Lady Serena's hand.

"It's quite alright," said Lady Serena with a stunning smile. "I am Serena van der Woodsen."

"Daniel Humphrey." Jenny gave him a discreet elbow in the side. "And my sister, Jenny – Jennifer."

"How do you do? I do admire your gown, Miss Humphrey."

"Serena?" Nate Humphrey appeared beside her. "Serena, where have you been? I need to talk to you."

"I'm afraid I am busy at the moment, Nate. Mr Humphrey here has just asked me to dance." She winked at Dan. "We must speak again, Miss Humphrey. Your taste is quite inspiring."

Blair returned home that night to a darkened house that night, having successfully avoided Bass all evening. The butler, when he opened the door after a considerable amount of time, admitted her with a shaky bow and the words, "Her ladyship requests that you attend her in the parlour at once, miss."

"At this time of night?" wondered Blair aloud, but hurried away to the parlour nonetheless.