She had almost managed, finally, to set aside her annoyance at losing to Miss Adebayo today – Mr. Browne making introductions was a particular balm – but it seemed no sooner than Mattie had taken her eyes off the enemy, she had been ambushed again.
Dreadful accident, indeed. She was much less surprised by this turn of events than Mr. Browne, and while she felt a dangerous spark of anger, some wild desire for messy, ruinous revenge as she followed Miss Adebayo’s sauntering retreat, Mattie forced herself instead to swallow the urge. She simply could not give Miss Adebayo the credit of ruining her night as well as her day.
And Mr. Browne had gifted her his presence, hadn’t he? Mattie hadn’t missed the we. It would have been well within his rights to politely excuse her, so that she retired alone and dealt with the spill on her dress – but he had not, yet. So she channelled all her anger into a brilliant smile, warm and gratified, for Mr. Browne alone. “I think that would be wise, indeed,” Mattie agreed, taking his arm gently (as if she was actually in need of assistance or comfort), “and I shall not miss the company of the ballroom for moment so badly if you do accompany me.”
Dreadful accident, indeed. She was much less surprised by this turn of events than Mr. Browne, and while she felt a dangerous spark of anger, some wild desire for messy, ruinous revenge as she followed Miss Adebayo’s sauntering retreat, Mattie forced herself instead to swallow the urge. She simply could not give Miss Adebayo the credit of ruining her night as well as her day.
And Mr. Browne had gifted her his presence, hadn’t he? Mattie hadn’t missed the we. It would have been well within his rights to politely excuse her, so that she retired alone and dealt with the spill on her dress – but he had not, yet. So she channelled all her anger into a brilliant smile, warm and gratified, for Mr. Browne alone. “I think that would be wise, indeed,” Mattie agreed, taking his arm gently (as if she was actually in need of assistance or comfort), “and I shall not miss the company of the ballroom for moment so badly if you do accompany me.”
