Chapter 40 - Glamor and games (2/2)

”I'm happy to meet you as well. Could you please be so kind and introduce yourself,

Mademoiselle?” Lily already knew this woman by sight, but she has never been introduced to Lily.

Lily knew she was three years older than herself but of lower social status. Her grandmother had

been indignant by the behavior of this woman.

”Ah, I would like to correct you.” Lily's laughter did not reach her eyes. ”Please do not call me by

my maiden name anymore. After all, Alexandre and I are already married. It would be more

pleasant to call me duchess de Valois. ”With a fine smile, she raised her glass to her lips,

unobtrusively presenting her wedding ring. The pink diamonds flashed in the light of the

chandeliers.

Alexandre had put the wedding ring on her finger. He had grabbed her hand in the limousine before

he then gently pushed the jewel over her finger. Then he passed her his wedding ring and gave her

his hand.

Lily had wondered why the pair of rings was already finished. But then she had thought of her

husband's bursting purse. She immediately felt sorry for the jewelers of Chaumet, who spent the last

three days in night shifts to finish the wedding rings.

”Oh!” Called Loulou next to her. ”What a nice ring. Is it true that it was forged in memory of your

first meeting? ”

”I also read about that. I am pleased to welcome duchess de Valois. I hope I can inspire her for one

of my tea parties. If I may introduce myself, Clémence Sasseau. ”

”I am very pleased to make her acquaintance Mademoiselle Sasseau.”

Lily knew this game too well. Words were like sharp weapons to these women. Politeness and

etiquette could determine one's social position with certain. A debutante could fall from grace if she

did not meet the ideal of the matrons. But she could also lift herself in her social status. The matrons of society paid special attention to the behavior of a young debutante. This small group of older

aristocratic ladies determined the trends of the season. They paid attention to the etiquette. But they

also determined who was granted access to the selected circles and who was denied access.

Lily always found these games at the royal court tiresome. This illusion and deception. This world

that at first seemed like a glittering wonderland, but in reality was nothing more than a social battlefield.