The Brahmin Ball (A Sweet Historical Romance Novella) (Brahmin Brides Book 1) by Julianna Blake Page A
Authors: Julianna Blake
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no establishment in society, other than his Uncle’s good name.”
“Perhaps it was out of fear for his uncle that he left. You know how much Alice and Edgar Dwight value their name. They’d likely consider it tarnished to be connected by a financially ruined family…even if Garrett doesn’t bear the Dwight name. He might have feared his uncle would no longer help in his legal or political career.”
“If that is so, then he is not the man I imagined he is.” Grace remembered him speaking of how the political ambitions belonged primarily to his uncle. Perhaps he was trying to appear humble by downplaying his own political and social ambitions.
“For Heaven’s sake, girls, stop hiding up here in this cramped little room,” Miriam exclaimed as she swept through the door. “You don’t even have the shades up? What will the neighbors think?”
“That we’re hiding in here to avoid facing the humiliation of our downfall?” Madeline lifted a brow in amusement.
“Precisely!” Miriam exclaimed, raising the shades…with some difficulty.
Madeline glanced at Grace with a knowing smile. Their mother had likely not raised a shade on her own in decades.
“I cannot understand why your uncle won’t share his staff with us,” Miriam complained, finally getting the last shade up.
“But he is , Mother,” said Grace. “They are cooking for four extra people now, washing our laundry, and cleaning our rooms once per week. Remember, this is an intrusion into Uncle’s privacy, and his comfort. His staff is probably overwhelmed with all the extra work, with four added people. And we all know Uncle doesn’t like to wait.”
“Especially for his brandy,” Madeline quipped.
“Madeline, hush.” Grace glanced toward the door. “We must be more grateful. We are here on Uncle’s good graces…we all know Aunt Sarah goaded him into it, no matter what she says.”
“All that is true, and I am grateful.” Miriam tilted her chin higher, offended. “I just don’t see that it’s all that much extra work to bring and fetch our trays, and raise the shades while they’re at it. Although I suppose if they did, Grace might never leave the room.”
Miriam stood behind Grace’s chair, and Grace could feel her frowning down at her.
“Grace, darling…” Miriam circled the chair until she was in her direct line of sight. “I know you’re upset by what happened at the ball, but as you said, we are here on Henry’s good graces. It’s bad enough that he has taken us in, but when he sees you all sitting around all the time, never venturing out, he thinks he’ll never get you married off and on your own.”
“We’ve only been here a week!” Madeline set her teacup hard on the saucer. “Can we not even lick our wounds before going out and enduring another humiliating assault?” Her cheeks burned at the memory of the ball.
“I have no desire to force myself on men,” Grace agreed, her chest aching at the thought.
“You have no father to hold dinner parties for you, anymore. What else can we do, but attend the events that others have?”
“Oh Mother, no one will invite a poor match to a dinner party!” Madeline sighed.
“Then you’ll attend the daytime charity events,” Miriam warned, drawing herself up and assuming an imposing posture. “You’ll go to museums. You’ll walk in the park. If we are invited again, you will attend every ball. You’ll be seen out and about, in fashionable places with fashionable people, and let the men of society know you have no reason to be ashamed. Few of the girls in our caste of society are prettier or more well mannered than you. We are still Barstows. We have our connections and our reputation. Granted, our name is somewhat tarnished after all that’s happened, and no doubt exaggerations of your father’s business transactions will made, but you still have a lot to offer. Excellent matches may not be possible, but good matches are not out of your reach, if only
“Perhaps it was out of fear for his uncle that he left. You know how much Alice and Edgar Dwight value their name. They’d likely consider it tarnished to be connected by a financially ruined family…even if Garrett doesn’t bear the Dwight name. He might have feared his uncle would no longer help in his legal or political career.”
“If that is so, then he is not the man I imagined he is.” Grace remembered him speaking of how the political ambitions belonged primarily to his uncle. Perhaps he was trying to appear humble by downplaying his own political and social ambitions.
“For Heaven’s sake, girls, stop hiding up here in this cramped little room,” Miriam exclaimed as she swept through the door. “You don’t even have the shades up? What will the neighbors think?”
“That we’re hiding in here to avoid facing the humiliation of our downfall?” Madeline lifted a brow in amusement.
“Precisely!” Miriam exclaimed, raising the shades…with some difficulty.
Madeline glanced at Grace with a knowing smile. Their mother had likely not raised a shade on her own in decades.
“I cannot understand why your uncle won’t share his staff with us,” Miriam complained, finally getting the last shade up.
“But he is , Mother,” said Grace. “They are cooking for four extra people now, washing our laundry, and cleaning our rooms once per week. Remember, this is an intrusion into Uncle’s privacy, and his comfort. His staff is probably overwhelmed with all the extra work, with four added people. And we all know Uncle doesn’t like to wait.”
“Especially for his brandy,” Madeline quipped.
“Madeline, hush.” Grace glanced toward the door. “We must be more grateful. We are here on Uncle’s good graces…we all know Aunt Sarah goaded him into it, no matter what she says.”
“All that is true, and I am grateful.” Miriam tilted her chin higher, offended. “I just don’t see that it’s all that much extra work to bring and fetch our trays, and raise the shades while they’re at it. Although I suppose if they did, Grace might never leave the room.”
Miriam stood behind Grace’s chair, and Grace could feel her frowning down at her.
“Grace, darling…” Miriam circled the chair until she was in her direct line of sight. “I know you’re upset by what happened at the ball, but as you said, we are here on Henry’s good graces. It’s bad enough that he has taken us in, but when he sees you all sitting around all the time, never venturing out, he thinks he’ll never get you married off and on your own.”
“We’ve only been here a week!” Madeline set her teacup hard on the saucer. “Can we not even lick our wounds before going out and enduring another humiliating assault?” Her cheeks burned at the memory of the ball.
“I have no desire to force myself on men,” Grace agreed, her chest aching at the thought.
“You have no father to hold dinner parties for you, anymore. What else can we do, but attend the events that others have?”
“Oh Mother, no one will invite a poor match to a dinner party!” Madeline sighed.
“Then you’ll attend the daytime charity events,” Miriam warned, drawing herself up and assuming an imposing posture. “You’ll go to museums. You’ll walk in the park. If we are invited again, you will attend every ball. You’ll be seen out and about, in fashionable places with fashionable people, and let the men of society know you have no reason to be ashamed. Few of the girls in our caste of society are prettier or more well mannered than you. We are still Barstows. We have our connections and our reputation. Granted, our name is somewhat tarnished after all that’s happened, and no doubt exaggerations of your father’s business transactions will made, but you still have a lot to offer. Excellent matches may not be possible, but good matches are not out of your reach, if only
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