The Rebellious Twin by Shirley Kennedy

standing. Shall we go? I’ve ordered Sham and one of the thoroughbreds saddled.”
    “Very well,” Lucius said, resigned. “At least we’ll see the twins. There’s a spectacle for you. I have never seen two human beings so exactly alike as those Capelle chits. Clarissa and Clarinda,” he repeated with amusement, “even their parents can’t tell them apart.”
    On their way out the door, the image of a slender young girl streaking across the field on her strong Irish Hunter flashed, once again, through Robert’s mind. The image had haunted him all day. Try as he might, he could not get rid of it. So she was a twin, not to be distinguished from her sister? I think not, thought Robert as he swung upon Sham and steadied the eager animal. There was only one Lady Clarinda Capelle. He would always know who she was.
    *
    “Just look at us, Clarinda! No one will be as fashionable as us tonight. We shall be the envy of the countryside.”
    Rissa, who had just dragged Clarinda in front of her mirror, stood next to her, gazing at herself in delight. “Don’t we look darling?”
    “Darling is hardly the word,” Clarinda glumly responded, although she had to admit they did not look half bad in identical high-waisted gowns of soft white crape, ornamented with silver, elegantly embroidered around the slashed sleeves and the hem with a rich border of gold and silver.
    Rissa plucked at the ringlets on her forehead. “Estelle, you must pull these down a mite farther, just like Clarinda’s since she must cover up her scratch. Tonight we must look exactly alike.”
    Clarinda was tempted to voice her disgust, but refrained. The dress was lovely, she had to admit, and Estelle had done a marvelous job dressing their hair in the antique Roman style, bringing their longer tresses together and confined at the back of their heads, terminating in ringlets held by a clasp of pearls. They carried fans of mother of pearl and wore pearl necklaces — no gold “C” tonight — pearl earrings to match, white kid shoes and white gloves.
    If I were alone, I should enjoy looking like this, Clarinda thought. But she was not alone, she was only a duplicate.
    Mama, dressed in elegant amber crape over white sarsinet, popped in, took a long, critical look and nodded approval. “You’ll do. Estelle, you have done an excellent job of making them look as alike as…”
    “Don’t say it, Mama,” Clarinda warned. If she heard two peas in a pod again…
    “Don’t be a goose, Clarinda.” Mama’s usually down-curved mouth actually turned up into a smile. “The Lords Sufton have already arrived, as has half the countryside, and that includes Lord Stormont and his friend, Lord Wentridge. It’s nearly time for your grand entrance. Now be sure to walk in unison as you go down the stairs. Hold your fans the same. Try to smile the same, you’ll create a sensation. Lady Constance Lynbury has arrived. Be nice. You know the spiteful on-dit she could spread if your deportment is less than totally correct. Lord Cranmer is here. Mind you don’t find yourself in a dark corner with him — you know what they say. Remember, Rissa, you are to devote your attention to Lawrence, whereas, Clarinda it is your duty to pay special attention to Larimore. Give him all your dances, unless, of course, Lord Stormont shows an interest, which, bearing in mind that Lord Stormont has twice the income of the Lords Sufton, then you must…”
    Tired, tired, tired — I am so very tired of this. Clarinda had ceased to listen. This was going to be a horrible night. In the past, she hadn’t minded the London Seasons. True, she had to dress like Rissa, but at least she could pick and chose the men she wished to dance with. Those days were over. Chances were she would betroth herself tonight to a man she didn’t, and could never, love. Think of Donegal, she told herself, and all the beautiful horses in the world. That was the only way she could keep her sanity and get through this