Brougham Park

Chapter 10

The faint chirping of some birds could still be heard despite the thick window glass that was a barrier between Samantha and the outside world. There she was seated on her favourite swing in her favourite room, the library. A hardbound book nestled comfortably between her palms, her slender fingers carefully turning each page as she read them. This was entirely a new novel, which Charles had gotten when he had gone to London, accompanying Mr Harris.

Something came up in her mind that prompted her to stop reading. She was too distracted to continue reading. Keeping her index finger between the pages where she was reading, she shut the book, landing it on her lap as she looked out the window aimlessly. Her mind was filled with the events of the dinner party. It was a pleasant party with pleasant surprises.

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She badly wanted to know who the young woman was but she could not engage in a conversation with her without a formal introduction. As Samantha sat at the dining table, her gaze fixed on the mystery young woman seated directly in front of her, her face revealed a poignant blend of longing and frustration. Mr Harris, seated beside her, keenly observed the desperation etched across her features—the restless flicker in her eyes, the furrowed brow, and the subtle tremor of her lips—a silent plea for an introduction, a chance to break free from the constraints that kept them apart.

With a silent smile playing on his lips, Mr. Harris observed Samantha's expressions while he deftly carved the tender beef on his plate, finding amusement in her eagerness to converse with the mystery young woman seated right in front of her. "Miss Dawson," he turned toward Samantha, gaining her attention. Now turning his head toward the young woman in front of Samantha, "May I introduce you to my sister, Miss Eleanor Harris?"

Samantha's eyes widened as she shifted her gaze to his sister seated beside William. Miss Harris, who had been watching her brother smiling silently, immediately reciprocated with a warm smile of her own as the introduction was made. "Eleanor, this is Miss Dawson," Mr Harris continued, his voice filled with a pleasant tone. "It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Dawson," Eleanor spoke, her voice gentle and sweet.

"The pleasure is all mine." A sweet smile crept up on Samantha's lips. As the delightful meal progressed, everyone continued to indulge in the delectable food morsels, relishing both the flavours on their plates and the engaging company around them.

Samantha noticed how William kept Miss Harris engaged in conversation with him, their interactions seemingly easy and comfortable. Meanwhile, Mr Carter attempted to speak with Miss Harris but he could only extract a few syllables from her, leaving him feeling perplexed. As Samantha looked on, she began to have doubts about the relationship between her brother and Mr Harris' sister. Her mind began to wander towards a conversation that she had with her brother sometime ago. She had questioned him about the woman he was courting and had only received a mystery as a reply.

As these thoughts swirled in Samantha's mind, she couldn't help but wonder if Miss Harris could be the woman William had written about in his letters from London. The pieces of the puzzle seemed to fit, and she found herself lost in contemplation.

Her reverie was interrupted Mr Harris had again noticed that his female companion had descended into deep thoughts. "What are you thinking about?" He inquired, bringing her back to the present. Samantha jerked slightly at the suddenness of his question, trying to compose herself. She looked at him awkwardly. "Nothing much," she said, trying to brush off his question. Mr Harris nodded understandingly before directing his attention to the plate set before him.

Meanwhile, Celia and Samantha engaged in a lively discussion about Miss Harris. Celia shared whatever information she knew about the new guest, and Samantha hung onto every word, eager to glean any insights she could about her. She couldn't deny her curiosity, hoping to confirm whether Miss Harris was indeed the woman who had captured her brother's interest.