Page 49 of The Grand Mistletoe Assembly
“Excellent! Please thank her for me.”
Since the charity ball centered around the holiday season, Bryony thought it fitting to wear her favorite gown for the evening—an emerald masterpiece made of velvet. Thank goodness her housekeeper’s knowledge of stain removals knew no bounds. The imperfection she’d found on the back hem yesterday had almost been enough to convince Bryony that attending the ball would be foolish.
Who knew what gossip would arise when the paintings were unveiled? She’d weathered the lowered voices and curious stares when her mourning period ended and society events were open to her again. Navigating another round of censure didn’t rank highly on Bryony’s list of Town activities.
Her brother Carter was attending. He could be her proxy. No, she was done letting Oscar—or his ghost—control her actions. She’d attend the charity auction, head held high.
Bryony’s emotions might range from disappointed to furious during the auction, but at least she’d outwardly appear put-together. A fashionable benefactress. A cool-headed widow, whose only concern was raising funds for orphan children, not fretting over nosy busybodies or exorcising another demon from her marriage.
But how many more must she slay to be free? However many it took as penance for her ill-fated choice in a husband, she supposed.
“There. Do you need anything else, my lady?”
Interrupted from her maudlin thoughts, Bryony shook her head and followed Nancy downstairs, cursing her foolish decision to marry Oscar all those years ago.
She’d fancied herself in love with the man. Handsome and close to her in age, he’d brightened every society event and made her feel seen, beautiful. Something sorely lacking in her life. Too chubby to be fashionable. Too mousy to be claimed a Diamond of the First Water. Those were her attributes. Those werenotwhat potential suitors wanted.
Except for Oscar.
She knew better than to hope Nathaniel would suddenly declare his undying affection for her, so Oscar seemed like a reasonable substitute. They liked each other, which was more than could be said for most married couples of theton. Her parents excluded.
Of course, she’d be the product of a rare love match. Seeing the affection between her mother and father had given her unrealistic expectations. Well, unrealistic once she fell in love with Nathaniel—a man out of her reach due to his friendship with her brother. A dashing captain who could have any woman he wanted, instead of the infatuated younger sister of his best friend.
So Bryony married Oscar.
Unfortunately, the affection between them had lasted as long as their honeymoon in Italy before Oscar began dallying about Town with other women. Her husband preferred variety in his life, propriety and marriage vows be damned.
The breakfast room welcomed Bryony with its golden sunlight filtering through the curtains. It encouraged happy thoughts and positive emotions, items she struggled to find at the moment, stuck as she was in the past. She’d spend the morning pitying herself, but tonight …
Oh, tonight!
She’d rejoice in ridding herself of the evidence of Oscar’s infidelity. Perhaps she’d even take advantage of her widow status and flirt with the bevy of attractive men sure to be in attendance at the ball.
Too plump?
Too mousy?
That was the old Bryony.
Now she was Mrs. Bryony Chapman, an experienced young woman, determined to finally live life out of the shadows.
CHAPTER 2
“Tell me again why my attendance is required tonight?” Captain Nathaniel Davies’s gaze traveled over the heads of the charity ball’s patrons much like he used to observe the officers under his command aboard the HMSSilver. Towering over most men of his acquaintance, his extreme height proved useful at times like these—when he desperately sought escape from the crush of London society.
“Bryony will be here.” Lord Carter Matthews searched the crowd for his aforementioned sister. The Matthews family had accepted Nathaniel into their fold years ago after he rescued their only daughter, Miss Bryony Matthews, from drowning in a neighboring lake. Now it felt like they were more his kin than his own flesh and blood.
Except for her. Lady Bryony Chapman née Miss Bryony Matthews. Unfortunately, he’d never been able to view her as a sister. A mere year younger than him, Bryony had blossomed into a beautiful young woman around the time he began noticing such things—a damn inconvenience when her brother, his best friend, had decided they needed to chase every skirt in London. Nathaniel’s interest lay solely with one particular skirt.
“She attends multiple events, I’m sure. What makes this one so special?” He finally caught sight of her sensuous curves as she lingered near a columned doorway, and he pointed her out to Matthews.
Clearly, Nathaniel wasn’t the only one itching to flee the crowded ballroom. Bryony didn’t look like she was especially enjoying the party. Tension tightened the skin around her mouth and eyes. An aura of indecision hung about her—perhaps debating should she stay or should she go?
“You’ve been away at sea so long, you missed her entire mourning period. This is her first Season out since Lord Chapman’s demise, and while she’s kept busy attending balls and musicals, this one’s different because of the auction. There’s talk about the paintings she put up for sale. Apparently, they’re domestic scenes by Adam Buck …”
Nathaniel’s expression remained blank. “And suddenly, we’re all agog about watercolors? Buck’s talented but not worth an evening of suffering through matchmaking mamas’ effusive efforts to introduce their daughters to me.”
Matthews chuckled, well aware of his esteemed friend’s reputation. Dashing and blessedly unmarried, Captain Davies’s exploits at sea filled the society pages. His daring pursuit of Spanish galleons. His monumental capture of a French ship hauling barrels of the rarest wines. Everyone loved to whisper about the prize ships Nathaniel had ensnared during his time with the Royal Navy, and the wealth it entailed. Mamas and papas alike wanted to snag the bachelor for their family coffers, along with the prestige he would bring to their bloodlines.
