Introduction
Hera Feelgood is in despair! Normally a most competent young woman she was frantic. Going for her smartphone Hera rang the one woman she always went to in a crisis. Her call was answered by a voice with the sweetest tone imaginable. Their conversation began with these words,
"Hera darling I was just about to call you. See you do have a bit of my gift. But seriously I have some great news!'
Too desperate to fully take in her mother's greeting, Hera said in a sad tone of voice
"Oh Mummy I cannot find anything to wear. Everything I like is only in the smallest sizes. There is no time to get anything altered by Andre. I can't go to your hospital charity ball in my old dresses. I just can't."
Finally Hera took a breath allowing her mother to get a word in. Still using her honeyed toned voice Mary Feelgood said,
"But sugar plumb I have found THE DRESS!'
Unpset with her mother for using that nursery name from her childhood Hera said in a cross tone of voice,
"Oh Mother how many times must I ask you not to call me by that ridiculous nickname. Really Nanny Upright should never have given me that nursery room name....Wait. What did you say after that? You found WHAT?"
Now her mother's delicious laugh could be heard clearly on Hera's smartphone. It was a laugh that was full bodied like its owner. But it also had traces of tinkling like a high pitched bell. To hear it was to smile and laugh along with its owner. Mary Feelgood said
"Hera I can always get you with that nickname. You are so easy. But do stop yelling darling sweetheart. Yes I found the perfect dress for you in......"
Too excited to let her mother finish Hera said in a hurried tone of voice
"What color is it? Is it my size? Does it have puffy sleeves? You know I hate puffy sleeves. Is it above the knee? How much above?..."
With the laughter now embedded in the very tone of her voice Mary Feelgood answered her daughter's questions in the order of asking,
"Its your favorite color! Exactly the same as your eyes. The size is perfect! There is no need for Andre's services this time around. No puffy sleeves. As if I would do that to you Hera sweetie. As for being 'above' the knee? Well its one of those new dual function dresses. I think it is called a "peeler". The Jazz dress is more like thigh length rather than knee length.......Hera stop squealing. You are too old for that.....What will your future husband think if he hears you squeal? .....Yes I know you are younger than I was when I got married but that does not excuse squealing... Now come home so I can show you this gorgeous dress.... He will fall in love with you at first sight! I promise..."
Hera could not believe how lucky she was to have such a treasure for a Mum. But something still worried her. So she said in a cautious tone of voice,
"Mum have you being inviting any of Dad's horrible choices for this ball? If so I am not going."
Mary knew when to take a firm line with her headstrong oldest daughter but this was not the time. So Mary said in a winning tone of voice
"Would I do such a vile thing? Hera I am surprised you would even think that of me."
Not put off by her mother's charming voice Hera demanded an answer to her question by clarifying its intent. She used her no nonsense tone of voice to say bluntly,
"Who then is this "future husband"? Why should I care if yet another man tells me that they have fallen "madly in love" with me? They all say that then never call you after the first date."
Betrayed by her own enthusiasm to get the news out about the dress Mary had to tell Hera the whole truth. She said in a fatalistic tone of voice
"Sorry I should never have told you that bit about your future. Your great aunts will scold me for that when then arrive. Still here goes. You are going to meet your future husband at this hospital charity ball. That is why I scoured the city boutiques for the perfect dress. A young woman in a city boutique off the main street knew exactly what I was describing. A tall young thing with stunning hair, she found the dress in the back waiting for shipment to another customer. But she gave it to me to buy. I must reward her for that as it was costing her commission on the sale. So sad about her boyfriend. But the right one is literally just around the corner. She will have seven children and...Wow! Hera should I warn her?'
With anyone else Hera would have just dismissed it all as fantasy talk. But this was her mother. She had a gift handed down from Hera's grandmother and great grandmother. The Irish strain in her descendants was strong on the female side. If her mother said that Hera would meet her future husband then it was almost certainly going to happen. So Hera said in a resigned tone of voice,
"Mum don't interfere. Let this young woman just get on with her life. I'll come home immediately but I want to hear more about that supposed husband. See you shortly."
Beginnings
The Feelgood Charity Hospital Ball was a big social event in the harbor city. All eligible young women from the well to do families attended. It was the closest thing to a "coming out" party that was so still blatantly a social event. Started by Mary Feelgood some ten years previously, it was the highlight of the city's Autumn social season. Most young woman had kept their slim summer figures specifically to allow them to squeeze into impossibly tight dresses. Men came because the females were all from connected families. Matriarchs made sure all the city's eligible bachelors attended. Even the wives of military commanders got involved in a bit of matchmaking. One such wife was presuring her husband into ordering some of his officers to attend this ball. She started very craftily by saying in a wounded voice,
"Well I think it is just too much..... I said Ron that it is just to much!"
Colonel Ronald Mackenzie was trying to ignore his wife at breakfast time, just like he always did for the last twenty years. But he knew that tone of voice from his wife meant business so he obediently gave his cue line in a neutral tone of voice,
"What is too much dear?'
His wife now assumed her censorious tone of voice,
"That Admiral saying to the Prime Minister that his command will supply all the officers needed for the most important ball of the season. Who does he think he is? Why should those Naval officers be the only ones to go to the best Ball of the year. Mary Feelgood is the richest woman in Australia. And I hear that her sister Hilda will be there this year. Only the finest young ladies get to go to that ball. No it really is too much."
Noticing that his wife had given him another opportunity to be supportive, Colonel Mackenzie replied in a tone copied from that of his wife's current mood,
"That Admiral wants to be made the new Vice Admiral. Old Vice Admiral Voyages is retiring soon. The Prime Minister has a few Admirals to pick from but he won't do it without wide consultations. Everyone knows that Abraham Feelgood has a say in all military appointments. The Navy has huge construction contacts coming up. Feelgood has his fingers in many construction companies. He will want to squeeze out any rivals. Getting on Mary Feelgood's good books can not harm that Admiral's chances for the top job."
Mrs. Mackenzie now sprang her less than subtle trap. In a forceful tone of voice she exclaims,
"Just so Ronald. But why only him. If
