Read Online Bittersweet Endeavors by Tamara Ternie - Free Book Online
Authors: Tamara Ternie
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215
A white flowing gown glimmered in the candlelight and caught Myra ’s attention. The silk dress stunn ed her by every mea sure, neckline to hem, but the woman who wore it outsh ined the dress a hundredfold. Long , golden locks of hair smoothed over the top of her head and displayed impeccable blonde ringlets of curls that fashioned down t he woman’s slender back. Myra didn’t need an introduction . The striking woman was no other than Cassandra , a nd to her chagrin, Margaret hadn’t overstate d her beauty. When Seth approached the woman, Myra narrowed her eyes into a scrutinizing stare. She almost didn’t recognize him dressed in his fashionable R hinegraves and a silk shirt that displayed many yards of ribbons loop ed around his shoulders. Plus as fashion dictate d since the restoration of her cousin’s crown, he donned a shoulder length periwig with long waves of curly blonde hair . She had never seen him, or any other man, look more handsome. Margaret was righ t, the two made a perfect pair and j ealousy welled within her. He offered his arm and the woman took it, and they advanced toward a table that displayed an arrangement of food t hat would appeal to the most discriminative appetite . Myra turned her head and slid do wn the wall and met the flo or. She wished that she could run down the steps and into Seth’s arms . She wanted to announce that s he was Lady Myra of Brunnington and not a wretched lowly maid . Perhaps then she could command as much attention as Cassandra received from him. Such whimsical thoughts were bla therskite, she scolded herself. Myra , Lady of Brunnington, was long dead , and the p lain, impoverished Myra was all that remained. Even if Seth Preston would have interest in her , despite her present lowly state , his father wouldn’t ever allow them together. Only a woman capable of advanc ing his family’s name and reputation would be appropriate enough for his son . That would soon be Cassandra. All the anguish inside seized her senses and she wept. Time passed by and she didn’t know how long she had sat and cried. The more she swiped her tears, the quicker they appeared .
“Are you all right, Myra ?”
Myra startled by the sound of his voice and quickly stood up and readied herself for bolting . She rea lized she had risen in full view of the guests , and she quickly knelt down out of sight.
“There’s no need hiding . ” Seth ’s voice was soothing, as if speaking with a child, and he smiled at her. “Especially when you look as beautiful as you do tonight.” He stooped down beside her and thumb ed a teardrop from her eye. Embarrassed, Myra covered her face and hid within the folds of her hands . H is pity was more than she was able to bear .
“Why are you weeping ?” He to ok her trembling hands into his and pulled them away from he r face. “You feel warm. ” He sounded alarmed and felt her head with the back of his hand. “Are you ill? Is that what ails you?”
“ Nay, I’m fine. Please, just let me alone , Seth .” She realized her error in using his forename and corrected herself by adding, “M ister Preston. ”
“Seth.”
“But you, ” she began , but h e raised a finger and gently placed it onto her lips and silence d her. She pulled away and started toward the ladder , but Seth held her hand and prevented her escape. The tears continued shedding , and no matter how much she willed them to stop, the tears unrelentingly fell down her cheeks .
“Do you miss England? Your family ? Is that why you’re weeping?” Seth pulled her into his arms and held her with tenderness. “I’m sorry, Myra . I know how hard this must be for you being here, in the colonies, all alone .”
She felt his lips press against her forehead , and her cheeks warmed by the comforting yet inappropriate action . Worse than being embarrassed , she was offended by
215
A white flowing gown glimmered in the candlelight and caught Myra ’s attention. The silk dress stunn ed her by every mea sure, neckline to hem, but the woman who wore it outsh ined the dress a hundredfold. Long , golden locks of hair smoothed over the top of her head and displayed impeccable blonde ringlets of curls that fashioned down t he woman’s slender back. Myra didn’t need an introduction . The striking woman was no other than Cassandra , a nd to her chagrin, Margaret hadn’t overstate d her beauty. When Seth approached the woman, Myra narrowed her eyes into a scrutinizing stare. She almost didn’t recognize him dressed in his fashionable R hinegraves and a silk shirt that displayed many yards of ribbons loop ed around his shoulders. Plus as fashion dictate d since the restoration of her cousin’s crown, he donned a shoulder length periwig with long waves of curly blonde hair . She had never seen him, or any other man, look more handsome. Margaret was righ t, the two made a perfect pair and j ealousy welled within her. He offered his arm and the woman took it, and they advanced toward a table that displayed an arrangement of food t hat would appeal to the most discriminative appetite . Myra turned her head and slid do wn the wall and met the flo or. She wished that she could run down the steps and into Seth’s arms . She wanted to announce that s he was Lady Myra of Brunnington and not a wretched lowly maid . Perhaps then she could command as much attention as Cassandra received from him. Such whimsical thoughts were bla therskite, she scolded herself. Myra , Lady of Brunnington, was long dead , and the p lain, impoverished Myra was all that remained. Even if Seth Preston would have interest in her , despite her present lowly state , his father wouldn’t ever allow them together. Only a woman capable of advanc ing his family’s name and reputation would be appropriate enough for his son . That would soon be Cassandra. All the anguish inside seized her senses and she wept. Time passed by and she didn’t know how long she had sat and cried. The more she swiped her tears, the quicker they appeared .
“Are you all right, Myra ?”
Myra startled by the sound of his voice and quickly stood up and readied herself for bolting . She rea lized she had risen in full view of the guests , and she quickly knelt down out of sight.
“There’s no need hiding . ” Seth ’s voice was soothing, as if speaking with a child, and he smiled at her. “Especially when you look as beautiful as you do tonight.” He stooped down beside her and thumb ed a teardrop from her eye. Embarrassed, Myra covered her face and hid within the folds of her hands . H is pity was more than she was able to bear .
“Why are you weeping ?” He to ok her trembling hands into his and pulled them away from he r face. “You feel warm. ” He sounded alarmed and felt her head with the back of his hand. “Are you ill? Is that what ails you?”
“ Nay, I’m fine. Please, just let me alone , Seth .” She realized her error in using his forename and corrected herself by adding, “M ister Preston. ”
“Seth.”
“But you, ” she began , but h e raised a finger and gently placed it onto her lips and silence d her. She pulled away and started toward the ladder , but Seth held her hand and prevented her escape. The tears continued shedding , and no matter how much she willed them to stop, the tears unrelentingly fell down her cheeks .
“Do you miss England? Your family ? Is that why you’re weeping?” Seth pulled her into his arms and held her with tenderness. “I’m sorry, Myra . I know how hard this must be for you being here, in the colonies, all alone .”
She felt his lips press against her forehead , and her cheeks warmed by the comforting yet inappropriate action . Worse than being embarrassed , she was offended by
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