An Unsinkable Love - By Terri Benson Page 0,70

Three strands of iridescent pearls graced her neck and matching drop earrings nearly brushed her shoulders. Hannah pinned a small spray of pearls into her coiffure.

Bree bit her lip. "I hope they like me."

Bree realized she'd muttered the words out loud when Hannah protested. "Not like you? Not likely, I say. They're going to love you just like Master Malcolm does ... and the rest of us too," she added shyly.

Bree hugged the young woman and sent her on her way with the admonishment to get some rest. Bree knew Elizabeth 224

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

had exempted Hannah from work during the party after the maid toiled nearly nonstop the past several days.

Voices drifted in from the open window and she stepped over, hiding behind the drapes and gazing down. Guests already strolled along the graveled paths. Bree swallowed the lump that formed in her throat. What if the DuMonts' friends didn't like her? Would Malcolm decide he'd made a horrible mistake? Their lives were so different. He might tell Melody his fianc茅e came from wealth and power, but he knew it wasn't true. Instead, he would be saddled with an Irish country girl with a drunkard for a father and not even a pence to her name.

Bree hugged herself, unable to chase away the fear gnawing at her soul. She didn't belong here. It was only a matter of time before Malcolm realized it. She couldn't bear the thought he might look at her with dread and loathing some day. She found herself pacing the room, wracked with images of walking away from the beautiful house, Melody standing on the doorstep next to Malcolm, his arm draped around her.

She jumped as someone rapped on the door. "C-c-come in," she stuttered, half expecting a servant to escort her from the premises.

Elizabeth swept into the room, her face lighting up when she saw Bree in her party dress. "Oh, you're just lovely, dear." She circled Bree, reaching out to twitch a fold of lace into place. "Absolutely lovely!"

Bree sighed deeply. "The gown is beautiful, Elizabeth.

Thank you."

225

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Elizabeth laughed and patted Bree on the shoulder. "I wasn't talking about the gown, dear. And don't thank me. You did all the work. As a matter of fact, thank you for my gown.

It's a perfect fit."

The older woman pirouetted gracefully, showing off the loose over jacket of lavender velvet, which hung in heavy folds from wide lapels and loose sleeves to a handkerchief hem at knee length. Bree knew the tightly fitted dark purple silk sheath underneath clung to Elizabeth's curves. A jaunty cap with purple dyed marabou feathers sat precariously above one eye. An antique marcasite-and-amethyst setting graced her neck and ears.

"I think it's time for our grand entrance. I saw Malcolm come home about an hour ago and I heard his voice downstairs as I came down the hall. Shall we?"

Elizabeth crooked her elbow and Bree slipped her arm in.

They marched out into the hall and to the top of the stairs.

Bree stumbled to a halt. She gazed down at the sea of color filling the large foyer and spilling into side rooms. The women hadn't made a sound but, as if sensing their presence, faces below turned up to stare.

Bridge blinked and bit her lip, turning in dismay to Elizabeth. The older woman reached up and squeezed her hand. "Steady now, dear. You're the belle of the ball tonight.

They want to see what a lucky man my son is."

Reassured, Bree matched her steps to Elizabeth as they descended the wide, curved staircase. Malcolm appeared, a broad smile lighting his face. He bounded up a few steps and reached to take Bree's hand as they drew near. Elizabeth 226

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

relinquished her arm and took a few more steps before she stopped to address her guests.

"Welcome, everyone. It's so lovely to see you all. I'd like to introduce you to this beautiful young woman, Bree Barry, without whom I would not be standing here."

A long, loud round of applause rippled across the room, amid cheers of "Here, here." Malcolm tucked Bree's arm in his, and they followed Elizabeth down the stairs.

Bree smiled and nodded to the blur of faces crowding near, but couldn't help noticing there had been no mention of wedding plans in Elizabeth's introduction.

[Back to Table of Contents]

227

An Unsinkable Love

by Terri Benson

Chapter 35

Bree was pulled away from Malcolm almost immediately by Teddy, who insisted on introducing her to a group of elderly couples. From then