The conversation swirled on around me, but I had little to contribute.
After dinner, Henry and Georgiana retired to their bedchambers, tired from the day’s journey. And Papa moved to his study to work on his sermons. Wanting to be close to Mama, I went to the pianoforte. I wished she were here to comfort me, but her music would have to suffice.
I laid out her music sheets and set my fingers on the keys. I played the first notes with some trepidation, wanting to get them correct, but then I remembered what Damon said about not having to play a song perfectly to enjoy the music, and I pressed on.
Slowly, her song flowed from my fingers. Note after note, measure after measure, the pleasure, if not perfection, of playing the pianoforte unfolded itself to me. As the song continued, I imagined Damon sitting beside me, his strong, steady hands on the keys, the warmth of his arm against mine. His encouragement to keep going.
It had been a month since I’d physically left Summerhaven, but my mind was still there. Still with Damon. The ache of losing love would likely never go away, but with time, I hoped the pain would dissipate. In the meantime, I needed to find a way to go on with my life without causing Papa pain.
When the song ended, I let my fingers linger on the keys, allowing myself to remember one last time how it felt to sit next to Damon and hear him play Mama’s melody so perfectly, and then I closed the lid.
I would go with Henry and Georgiana to Captain Bromley’s party and allow it to renew my spirits. And when I returned, I would busy myself with serving the poor, visiting the sick, and caring for the church with Papa.
Chapter Thirty-Three
The roads were indeed asbad as Henry and Georgiana had feared, but I armed myself with a plethora of ginger candies from the confectioners, so I felt only mildly ill as we rattled up to Captain Bromley’s estate.
The gray stone manor was not nearly so large as Summerhaven, but it boasted of an expansive lawn, and a number of people were already gathered there. It seemed that even despite Georgiana’s scheming, we had arrived right on time, if not late.
“Oh dear.” Georgiana wrung her hands as she looked at the crush of people already gathered on the front lawn. “We should have gotten here earlier.”
“If we had arrived any earlier, my love, we should have been asked to help the staff ready the rooms.”
Georgiana’s nerves momentarily gave way to a small smile.
“We have arrived just in time to be fashionably late,” Henry continued. “See there, the duke and his daughter, Lady Margaret, have also just arrived.”
“The duke.” Georgiana craned her neck to see him out the side glass. “I had no idea he was coming. What a wonderful surprise!”
But I was more focused on the name Lady Margaret. Wasn’t that the name of the woman Lord Winfield wished for Damon to marry? She washere? A pit formed in my stomach.
“Do you think we can meet His Grace?” Georgiana asked eagerly.
“Perhaps after we have said hello to Captain Bromley,” Henry said.
“Yes.” Georgiana bit her lip. “I have gotten a bit ahead of myself, haven’t I? I should not allow myself to be so excitable.”
“Your excitability is one of my favorite things about you.” Henry smiled at her.
Our carriage came to a stop, and a footman opened the door. Henry hopped out and turned back to assist Georgiana and then me.
I smoothed my hair and dress, bidding myself a moment before entering the lion’s den.
“Come along, Hannah,” Henry said. “We must introduce you to Captain Bromley so he will not think you are an interloper.”
Iwasan interloper but hopefully a welcome one. As we walked toward the fountain where Captain Bromley held court, I was surprised to find Captain Bromley was younger than I’d imagined—closer in age to Henry than Papa. I knew almost nothing about my host, I realized, other than he was a captain in the Royal Navy, was on half-pay, and apparently enjoyed hosting house parties.
“Mr. Kent, Mrs. Kent,” Captain Bromley greeted Henry and Georgiana around a bite of food. “I am delighted you are here and right on time too.”
“The pleasure is all ours,” Henry said, then he turned to me. “Hannah, allow me to present Captain Bromley.”
“I should be honored,” I said.
“Captain Bromley, my sister Miss Hannah Kent.”
“Ah, Miss Kent.” Captain Bromley dipped a polite bow. “Your reputation precedes you.”
My tongue suddenly felt swollen, and dread washed over me. Had he heard gossip about what had happened between Ollie, Damon, and me at Lord Garrett’s ball?
