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Chapter 3
Sam sat in front of her vanity and brushed out her hair. Tonight was the first ball of the season. She was looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. She was nervous, like she was a debutante. Surely, it should have gotten easier by now?
When in London, she usually spent most of her time with Evie, but this year, it was different. Evie wasn’t going out as much, and she had a thin veil of grief ever-present in her eyes. The passing of her beloved grandfather and the changes in the household had all taken a toll on her. She was also being courted by Lady Clydesdale’s John. Sam hadn’t met him yet, and she didn’t know how the courting was progressing, but the amount of time Evie spent with him pointed toward serious intentions on both sides. Sam wondered if she’d have to go through the next season alone, or perhaps even this season if Evie decided to marry quickly.
Sam expelled a breath. She wasn’t really good in social situations. Not like Evie. Sam had grown up in a big and boisterous family, but those were the people she knew and loved. She could banter with them all day long. Talking to strangers, however, was a different beast altogether.
Sam looked at her own reflection closely. She pulled her eyebrows higher above her eyes, then pinched at her cheeks. She wasn’t prideful or vain, but she knew she was pleasing to look at. Perhaps she was a little too serious and she wasn’t good at small talk, but these were inconsequential issues, weren’t they? Nobody chose their wives based on their ability to talk about weather and gowns, did they? Then why hadn’t she found a suitor yet after six seasons? Or perhaps the problem wasn’t that the gentlemen didn’t find her attractive. The problem was she hadn’t found a single gentleman worthy of her affection.
She frowned at the thought. Had Evie’s ramblings about love managed to cloud her judgment as well?
A knock at her door interrupted her musings, and she swiveled her head to stare at it.
“Please, come in!” she called. Evie entered and closed the door behind her. “Evie! I didn’t expect a visit from you today.” Sam hurried to hug her friend.
“I know, but I needed to speak to you. Isabel said I would find you here.”
“Is everything all right?” Sam asked, gesturing for her to sit down.
“Yes, all is well.” Evie sat in a chair to the left of the vanity, and Sam settled in front of the looking glass again, taking back her brush and continuing brushing out her hair.
“I apologize we didn’t get to see much of each other before,” Evie said with an apologetic smile.
“Do not be silly, Evie. I know you have a lot on your mind.”
“Yes, I suppose.” Evie paused. “You are coming to the Bainbridge Ball tonight, aren’t you?”
“Of course, I am.” Sam paused in the act brushing out her hair and looked at her friend, who couldn’t seem to meet her gaze. “Is something amiss?”
“No.” Evie shook her head for emphasis. “But I want you to meet someone tonight.”
“Truly, who?”
“Lord Ashbury.”
“Who is that?” Sam frowned.
“Julie’s John, the gentleman who is courting me.”
“Oh.” Sam placed the brush on the vanity and turned fully toward her friend. That was a strange way to put it. Not at all like a woman in love talking about her suitor. “You want me to meet him because he is courting you?”
“Yes, well, he seems to be a decent man.” Evie stood and started pacing the room. “I think we would suit well together.”
“But you’ve only known him for several weeks,” Sam started carefully. “And you said you wanted to marry for love. Evie, do you love him?”
Evie halted mid-stride and turned to Sam. “Love can grow. It did for Julie. And he is very respectful. And he doesn’t talk too much, which works out well, because I do. He likes to ride and spend time outdoors. I like the countryside.”
Evie was trying so hard to convince Sam that Lord Ashbury suited her that Sam wondered whether it was Evie herself who needed convincing.
“I am certain he is an amiable person. You have great taste in people. You are friends with me, aren’t you?” Sam asked in as light a tone as she could muster.
Evie smiled at her friend’s attempt at a jest and settled back in the chair. “I can’t marry him if you don’t like him,” she said, and it warmed Sam’s heart.
“Of course, I shall like him. I shall love him.” Sam hugged her friend tightly.
“Thank you,” Evie said before she stood. “Now I need to get ready for this ball tonight. I’ll see you there.” She smiled and walked out of the door.
* * *
