Cringing as her mother’s shrill laughter echoed through the small garden, she couldn’t go any further away. That laugh was as inescapable as the afternoon tea. Brietta had been strictly forewarned against venturing any further than the small garden. So there she was, wandering the fringes of the garden, just in case any of her mother’s friend’s sons, nephews, or any eligible male relation stopped by.
“Brietta darling!” Her mother called over, shattering the illusion of tranquility. When Brietta turned to look in her mother’s direction she discovered a rather attractive young man standing slightly off to the side of the group. With a stutter, her heart skipped a beat leaving her a little breathless. He was tall but not gangly, more broad than spindly. With gold-streaked, dark brown hair and his full masculine attention fixed on her, Brietta had to focus as she inclined her head in his direction.
“Yes mother?” She responded, not moving closer; no matter how tempting it now was. The little freedom she had would not be given up so easily. She could see her mother’s eyes roll in exasperation even from this distance.
“Dear girl, come meet Lady Bristol’s son. He’s only stopped in for a moment to check in on his dear mother.” Brietta’s mother kept waving her forward even after she began making her way through the manicured shrubbery. As she drew closer his eyes followed her, tempting her to stare into their depths. Brietta gave a small curtsey, swaying as she realized she’d been holding her breath.
In the silence that followed her mother’s pleased smile, Brietta angled herself towards the handsome newcomer. “I’m pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Bristol’s son.” She quipped.
“Brietta!” Her mother scolded. Brietta braced herself for an embarrassing public reprimand.
“Forgive me.” A deep baritone voice interrupted smoothly before her mother had a chance to begin. “I should have introduced myself. I would be honored if you would allow me to do so now. Lord Trenton.” He bowed.
Brietta bit her tongue in an attempt to maintain decorum and not stick her tongue out at him. She knew she had already surpassed her mother’s limited patience for the day. Thankfully, he lifted his arm to her in open invitation. “Would you allow me to escort you around your lovely garden so that I may further apologize in order to appease your delicate sensibilities?” She glanced at her mother, who was doing her best to nod her head off…subtly.
After only a few steps down the path he leaned over to whisper in her ear, amusement coloring his tone. “Now that we are practically old friends may I call you Brietta, as your mother so sweetly named you or must I remain formal? You don’t seem as traditionally intent as the ladies over at the table.” He confessed, teasing her with the hint of a roguish and downright mischievous smile.
Brietta’s polite smile brightened with delight. In as serious a tone as she could muster she declared. “Since you have brought up the subject, I confess that I must insist you address me formally.” She paused, checking the distance from her mother before deeming it safe to continue, “In fact, allow me to appease your delicate sensibilities. Most people address me as Lord Aubrietta. I am gratified to make you acquaintance, Lady Bristol’s son.” Her attempted haughtiness failed as she struggled to conceal her grin.
Immediately he bowed low. “Forgive me, Lord Aubrietta I had no idea I was in such lofty company. May I please grovel at your feet?” He glanced up at her from his bowed position, his grin matching hers.
“Oh, do get up before my mother faints or mistakenly believes you are proposing to me.” Brietta sighed.
Lord Trenton stood slowly and once again offered his arm for her to take. They strolled further into the garden in contented silence before he smiled down her way again. “So Brietta, how is it I find you alone in this garden while a bunch of matrons of high society gossip over tea nearby?”
She took a moment to formulate her answer. “How trustworthy are you?” She asked boldly, leaning forward in commiseration. “If I tell you the truth, will my mother be hearing of it before the week is out or will you hold my secret close?”
“No one will hear it from me.” He promised solemnly. They proceeded to walk to the furthest corner of the garden, away from the matrons.
Once far enough away she said, “I was required to stay for just a circumstance as this. My mother is convinced that she will snag me a husband through her entertainments with their mothers. You are not the first son or nephew to stop by for their aunt or mother or even grandmother, and you may have noticed my obvious lack of competition here. However, if it were up to me I would be an hour into those woods over there and decidedly absent until suppertime.”
“Ahh, to be free from marriage-minded mothers. Take me with you on your adventure into the woods.” He beseeched, pleading. “My mother is insisting I attend an afternoon concert with Lady Sophia Grace. A stroll in the woods with no such expectations sounds much more appealing.”
“I hear Lady Sophia Grace is well sought after. You should feel honored by the opportunity.” She muttered, well aware of where she stood in the social hierarchy compared to the elegant Lady Sophia Grace. There was a reason why she wasn’t attending parties where she would be compared to the other ladies her age. Her mother never hesitated to make her aware of her shortcomings in looks, form, and accomplishment. “Besides, I am not able to take you with me, whether I want to or not, because I’m not going anywhere.”
“But you want to?” Lord Trenton smiled. She didn’t have to answer, he could see in her answering smile that she was long to go anywhere and would happily take him along.
His shoulders slumped slightly as he took both her hands in his. After several seconds of simply holding them he looked up, straight into her eyes. Brietta felt positively speared by the determination and tenderness she saw within the depths of his gaze. With a heart-stopping grin he said, “I have decided. I am going to make it my mission to spirit you away from the confines of this garden so that we may go adventuring to your heart’s content. I will just have to keep coming back until we are both free of this garden and of the Lady Sophia Grace. I will see you tomorrow.” He bowed abruptly and left her standing alone in the back of the garden.
She watched as he gave his mother a sweet peck on the cheek and strode off to his waiting horse.
To read part 2 of Brietta’s story, click here.
