Page 2 of Do Opposites Attract?

‘Abandoning me is kind?’

‘Not giving Henry grounds for false hope is kind. Abandoning you is a necessary step, but one I know a best friend will forgive.’

Not allowing Melanie a chance to reply, Brianna darted out of Henry’s line of vision, offering her friend a silent apology when his gaze fell in her direction. Feeling every inch the coward she’d been accused of being, Brianna sneaked round the outside of the room and headed for her mother’s table.

Dull and rich. The words haunted her as she walked. They applied just as easily to women, too, and were exactly what she feared was happening to her. It was all very well being rich and pretty, but really, what did she actuallydo? What was her purpose? If she wasn’t careful, she was going to end up being a bland, rich lady. One of those who lunched, played tennis and waited for their equally boring partners to come home.

It was a sobering thought, sobering enough to dim the champagne high she’d been slowly cultivating all evening. Time to head to the refuge of her mother.

Approaching her table, she found her deep in conversation with Henry’s mother, Abigail.

‘I’m sure it won’t be long before Henry and Brianna get together,’ she overheard her mother saying. ‘They make such a lovely couple. And I wouldn’t have to worry about my in-laws coming for tea.’ The two ladies chuckled.

Anger fizzed up Brianna’s spine and her first instinct was to pull the two women apart and announce that hell would need to freeze over before she’d ever contemplate marrying Henry. But mid-stride, she halted. She was twenty-six years old. Old enough to have learnt to curb her temper. Well, almost. So instead of rushing in with both feet, Brianna hung back, accepted a drink from a passing waiter and let her anger cool.

All her life she’d done as her parents had asked, sometimes going against her own wishes. She’d trooped off to ballet lessons when she’d rather have been learning to salsa. She’d struggled with the classical piano, although she’d wanted to rock the electric guitar. She’d even spent endless hours perfecting her topspin forehand, whilst enviously watching the girls from the local school play football. But marrying Henry was a step far too far. How could her mother think that someone like him was right for her? For marriage, she needed love. And for love she needed someone far more exciting than Henry.

Abigail started to make a move and Brianna took her opportunity and sidled onto the now vacant chair next to her mother. ‘Mum,’ she greeted her, landing a kiss on both her cheeks. ‘What have you and Abigail been plotting?’

Her mother had the grace to blush. ‘Plotting? Don’t be ridiculous. We were just having a chat.’

Brianna narrowed her eyes. ‘You were discussing me, Mum. Apparently I’m going to marry Henry. Which, I have to confess, is news to me.’

She’d expected embarrassment, but a broad smile lit up her mother’s face. ‘Well, what do you think? Wouldn’t he make an ideal husband?’

‘Ideal how, exactly?’ She was trying to curb her tongue, she really was.

‘Isn’t that rather obvious, darling?’

‘Not to me.’

A faint crease lined her mother’s brow, her one and only sign of annoyance. She didn’t do big scenes. Didn’t shout or rant, which drove Brianna mad, as she did both, frequently. ‘Your father and I both think Henry would make the perfect husband for you. We’ve known his family for years, he’s independently wealthy, and has charming manners.’

‘And that’s all it takes? Money, a pedigree and a few basic manners? Mum, we’re talking about my life here, my future,’ Brianna snapped, exasperated. So much for curbing her tongue. ‘There’s no way I’m going to let you and Dad determine who I’m going to marry. God knows you’ve chosen everything else in my life, but not this. Never this.’ She pushed her chair back and stood up. ‘What about love, Mum? Am I not allowed to marry for love?’

‘Of course you are, my darling.’ Instantly her mother was by her side, an arm draped around her shoulders, hugging her tight. ‘Love is the most important thing. But you can learn to lovethe right person,’ she added quietly, ‘rather than someone who might be unsuitable. Who might want you for your money.’

‘Don’t you trust me enough to find that person by myself?’ Brianna replied sadly.

‘Oh shush, of course we do. I was just trying to help, that’s all. Give you a push in what I thought was the right direction.’ Gently she pulled Brianna back down onto the chair. ‘What is it, my love? Your father and I are worried about you. You don’t look happy any more; you haven’t done for a while. That’s why we started talking about Henry. We thought maybe you were ready to settle down, but not sure who to settle down with.’

Brianna sighed and leant back against the chair. ‘Oh, Mum, I’m far from ready to settle down, and especially not with Henry.’ She toyed with the stem of her wine glass. ‘I feel restless. I’m halfway through my twenties and I still don’t know what I’m doing with my life. I don’t just want to get married and have babies. In time, yes, but not now. I want to do something useful, something worthwhile. Not become yet another spoilt rich kid.’

‘I thought you were going to work with your father?’ her mother prompted cautiously. ‘Make use of that business degree you worked so hard for.’

Brianna let out a deep chuckle, releasing the last of the tension between them. ‘Very tactful, but you know as well as I do that I haven’t exactly excelled in that direction so far.’

‘I know that buying and finance weren’t your forte,’ her mother replied generously. ‘But I thought you enjoyed the marketing section?’

Brianna thought back to her time in the Worthington family business, affectionately known as the big W due to its single letter logo. Yes she’d enjoyed looking at ways to improve the branding and promotion of the company, but it hadn’t lit any fires in her. Running a chain of shops — sorry high end department stores — simply wasn’t what she wanted to spendthe best part of her life doing. ‘It was fun,’ she replied slowly, ‘but I’d soon grow bored of it.’

Her mother squeezed her arm. ‘Brianna, you’re beautiful, smart and determined. You’ll find your path in life, my dear.’ She considered her daughter for a moment. ‘You know I think you should talk to Margaret. She’s here this evening. You’ve met her before, I think?’

Brianna nodded, recalling being introduced to a feisty, grey-haired lady at the last charity ball her mother had coerced her into attending. ‘Yes, she runs the charity tonight is in aid of, doesn’t she? She’s one scary lady.’

Her mother laughed. ‘She’s not so scary, at least not when you get to know her. Mind you, she has to have a certain amount of pluck to be able to do her job. I was wondering if maybe spending some time working with a charity, a cause you feel is worthwhile, might help you determine your direction. Margaret heads up Medic SOS, a charity I’m rather proud to be the patron of.’

Brianna looked guiltily at her mother. ‘I haven’t really paid much attention to your charity work, have I? I should have done. What do they do?’

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