Maisie got dressed in advance for the evening party.
She chose a black velvet evening dress, which was simple but generous. Nancy looked at her and then shook her head, "It doesn't fit you. It is not the right one to show your physical perfection."
Maisie smiled and said, "Ezra bought it for me yesterday."
In Maisie's eyes, that dress was just OK. She used to attend parties with Julian, and she wore in this proper and decent way, too.
Nancy said with great dissatisfaction, "That guy! He bought such a conventional dress on purpose! He is worried that other men will enjoy your figure and beauty!"
Maisie said distrustfully, "Really?"
She thought Ezra was such a man. Was he so jealous and possessive about her?
Nancy said confidently, "Of course, a man's possessiveness is much more bizarre than we think."
Before Maisie could say anything, Nancy went upstairs with Maisie, arm-in-arm, and went on saying, "Come with me and let's choose another one. Just to raise a few hackles of him."
Her warmness made Maisie unable to refuse. Maisie went upstairs with her, reluctantly.
Nancy tried her best to persuade Maisie as they went upstairs, "We women should never compromise to please men. Show your beauty fully and entirely. Don't wear that dress just because of Ezra."
Then she added, "Only a high slit dress can fit your beautiful legs."
Maisie didn't know what to say, with a wry face.
She said to herself, "My dear aunt, I don't want to wear any high slit dress or to prove my beauty at all. I just want to behave modestly and primly."
Maisie hated to become the focus in public, and she really hoped there would be nobody noticing her. It was true that she had good shape, and if she really wore that high slit dress, Maisie would be the sharp focus without a doubt.
Now what she wanted was to lie low for a while, not too much attention.
Seeming to know what she was worried about, Nancy stopped, looked at her, and said seriously, "Maisie, although we get on with each other for only a few days, I've known you well. You like to lie low, right?"
"But what I want to tell you is you should try to keep a high profile and prove yourself if needed."
"Some are dishing the dirt about you and Ezra on the Internet, so I suggest you get dressed for the party tonight and let them know you are not anybody."
"Beautiful, slender, and elegant, you are a lady of wisdom and confidence. So why don't you stand by Ezra glamorously and let those gossipers shut up?"
"It is not good for you to keep silent all the time."
Nancy said every word from the bottom of her heart, which made Maisie move very much. She didn't expect Nancy would be so considerate and well-intentioned. What Nancy did for her daughter-in-law was above a mother-in-law's work.
She also admitted what Nancy said did make sense.
Whether she would get married to Ezra or not in the future, she shouldn't keep silent and allow those gossipers to go on speaking ill of her.
She was supposed to fight for her reputation.
So, she nodded gently and said, "You are right. I will get dressed."
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Seriously, How Did He Win My Heart
read it. nice story...