The Brahmin Ball (A Sweet Historical Romance Novella) (Brahmin Brides Book 1) by Julianna Blake Page B
Authors: Julianna Blake
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you make an effort. Am I making myself clear?”
Grace and Madeline bowed their heads in deference. “Yes, Mother.”
“Where is Clara?”
“With the Healy sisters, walking in the park,” Madeline replied. “You see? At least one of us is out and about.”
Miriam sniffed. “She’s too young to catch the eye of an eligible bachelor. Few would extend a serious offer of marriage to a girl freshly introduced to society. Regardless, Clara’s gallivanting does not absolve you of your duty to socialize. I expect the two of you to put on fresh dresses and walk the park.” She turned and swept out of the room just as smooth and elegant as she had entered.
***
After dragging her heels as she changed into a walking dress, Grace fetched her coat and went downstairs to the front hall. Madeline stood waiting for her, appearing every bit as reluctant as she was. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she slipped into her coat and buttoning it with a heavy sigh. “Shall we?”
Madeline nodded, and they slipped out into the brisk December air. “I don’t know why Mother thinks we’ll catch anyone in weather like this.”
“It’s cold, but at least there is some blue sky. It’s actually a beautiful day.”
“True. We’ll have a nice walk, if nothing else.”
They descended the steps as Clara waved from across the street, having just left the common. They waited on the brick sidewalk as she let a carriage pass, then quickly crossed the street.
“I was just coming to find you, Grace,” Clara said in a rush of excitement.
Grace knew that tone. “If it’s gossip you’re eager to share, remember that I’ve told you how unbecoming it is to reveal unflattering information about others.”
Clara dipped her head, embarrassed. “I know, but…it’s about Mr. Gladstone. And it’s not unflattering…exactly.”
Grace’s heart squeezed, and she gripped the iron rail that flanked the steps to her uncle’s home. Did Clara run into him? Did he say something terrible about me? Do I want to know? She wasn’t sure.
“Are you alright, Grace?” Madeline’s hand cupped her elbow, steadying her.
“Yes. Go on, Clara, if you think it’s something I should know.”
Clara glanced up and down the sidewalk, to make sure no one was near. “The Healy girls told me that the word around town is that Garrett Gladstone is back with Felicia Browning.”
The air somehow evaporated from Grace’s lungs, and she found it hard to breathe. “How do they know?”
“Eliza Canton has been telling everyone that she has seen him paying visits to Felicia’s house. The Brownings live right across the street, and he’s been coming and going on a daily basis. With so many frequent visits, Eliza is saying that they are sure to be announcing an engagement soon—that there’s no need for them to wait, when they’ve already courted for so long before.”
“ How long?” Grace’s corset felt tighter than ever, making it difficult to catch her breath.
Clara bit her lip, exchanging a concerned glance with Madeline. “They courted for six months, and were engaged for two months. Then out of the blue, they broke the engagement off, quietly. That was six months ago. Neither of them explained why they broke up, but it was assumed that Mrs. Browning finally convinced her daughter that it was a poor match.”
“So it was Miss Browning who broke it off, then, and not him.” Which meant he was probably still in love with Felicia.
Her hand trembled on the iron rail, and she glanced around at people walking down the sidewalk across the street, and the carriages passing slowly by. Life always went on as usual for everyone else, even when one’s world was falling apart. “I…I think I’m going to pass on our walk today, Madeline. I’m not feeling very well.”
“Of course. But what should I tell Mother?”
“Tell her my lungs weren’t up to the challenge of the cold air, today.” It wasn’t entirely untruthful…she
Grace and Madeline bowed their heads in deference. “Yes, Mother.”
“Where is Clara?”
“With the Healy sisters, walking in the park,” Madeline replied. “You see? At least one of us is out and about.”
Miriam sniffed. “She’s too young to catch the eye of an eligible bachelor. Few would extend a serious offer of marriage to a girl freshly introduced to society. Regardless, Clara’s gallivanting does not absolve you of your duty to socialize. I expect the two of you to put on fresh dresses and walk the park.” She turned and swept out of the room just as smooth and elegant as she had entered.
***
After dragging her heels as she changed into a walking dress, Grace fetched her coat and went downstairs to the front hall. Madeline stood waiting for her, appearing every bit as reluctant as she was. When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she slipped into her coat and buttoning it with a heavy sigh. “Shall we?”
Madeline nodded, and they slipped out into the brisk December air. “I don’t know why Mother thinks we’ll catch anyone in weather like this.”
“It’s cold, but at least there is some blue sky. It’s actually a beautiful day.”
“True. We’ll have a nice walk, if nothing else.”
They descended the steps as Clara waved from across the street, having just left the common. They waited on the brick sidewalk as she let a carriage pass, then quickly crossed the street.
“I was just coming to find you, Grace,” Clara said in a rush of excitement.
Grace knew that tone. “If it’s gossip you’re eager to share, remember that I’ve told you how unbecoming it is to reveal unflattering information about others.”
Clara dipped her head, embarrassed. “I know, but…it’s about Mr. Gladstone. And it’s not unflattering…exactly.”
Grace’s heart squeezed, and she gripped the iron rail that flanked the steps to her uncle’s home. Did Clara run into him? Did he say something terrible about me? Do I want to know? She wasn’t sure.
“Are you alright, Grace?” Madeline’s hand cupped her elbow, steadying her.
“Yes. Go on, Clara, if you think it’s something I should know.”
Clara glanced up and down the sidewalk, to make sure no one was near. “The Healy girls told me that the word around town is that Garrett Gladstone is back with Felicia Browning.”
The air somehow evaporated from Grace’s lungs, and she found it hard to breathe. “How do they know?”
“Eliza Canton has been telling everyone that she has seen him paying visits to Felicia’s house. The Brownings live right across the street, and he’s been coming and going on a daily basis. With so many frequent visits, Eliza is saying that they are sure to be announcing an engagement soon—that there’s no need for them to wait, when they’ve already courted for so long before.”
“ How long?” Grace’s corset felt tighter than ever, making it difficult to catch her breath.
Clara bit her lip, exchanging a concerned glance with Madeline. “They courted for six months, and were engaged for two months. Then out of the blue, they broke the engagement off, quietly. That was six months ago. Neither of them explained why they broke up, but it was assumed that Mrs. Browning finally convinced her daughter that it was a poor match.”
“So it was Miss Browning who broke it off, then, and not him.” Which meant he was probably still in love with Felicia.
Her hand trembled on the iron rail, and she glanced around at people walking down the sidewalk across the street, and the carriages passing slowly by. Life always went on as usual for everyone else, even when one’s world was falling apart. “I…I think I’m going to pass on our walk today, Madeline. I’m not feeling very well.”
“Of course. But what should I tell Mother?”
“Tell her my lungs weren’t up to the challenge of the cold air, today.” It wasn’t entirely untruthful…she
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