Chapter 8 A New Love?

• Andrew
• Since the moment Beatrice joined the newspaper owned by my father, of which I am the sole heir, her difficulty in keeping up with the frenetic pace of high society news and the approach used to attract readers to this column was evident. However, every day, she adapted better, flourishing in all directions, and surpassing even my expectations. Her ability to ask questions, in a non-invasive manner, captivates those she is interviewing.
• But, from the very moment I set eyes on Beatrice, I was captivated by her shyness, which made her blush when I offered my help in case she felt lost in her new job at the newspaper. Her gray eyes avoided mine as I tried to admire her stunning beauty, completely mesmerized by the newest member of the team.
• Over time, I realized how naturally timid and reserved she was. I deduced that she had been raised in a traditional manner. As we grew closer, she shared a bit of her past, and I was surprised to learn that she had been married before. However, this didn't stop me from falling more and more in love with her smile. I wished to be more than just a friend to her. As she became less melancholic and more confident, I decided to invite her to accompany me to a gala event.
• Before extending the invitation, I made sure that Beatrice's husband, Edward Maddock, wouldn't be present to avoid any embarrassment for her. Only after being certain that he was out of the country, I approached her office.
• "Hello," I said, entering the room after a brief knock on the door.
• "Oh... Hello!" She smiled upon seeing me. "I didn't know you were back already."
• I had been traveling in the past few days, and Beatrice's reaction to seeing me after some days apart raised my hopes about what she might be feeling for me.
• "I arrived in London last night," I explained. "How was everything around here in my absence?"
• She seemed a bit disheartened at my question, but quickly composed herself.
• "I missed my friend here at the newspaper."
• "You have no idea how that makes me happy," I said with a broad smile.
• We locked eyes while smiling, and for the first time in weeks, Beatrice didn't look away.
• "I have an invitation to make. And I must say, I won't accept a refusal from you."
• Beatrice tilted her head curiously, her gray eyes fixed on mine, and I continued:
• "I want you to accompany me to a gala event happening next weekend. It will be an amazing night, and I would love to have you by my side."
• She seemed surprised by the invitation, but a spark of excitement danced in her eyes. She played with a strand of hair as she pondered her response.
• Beatrice
• Andrew had suggested an unexpected invitation, and it immediately made me tense as I didn't expect such a gesture from him. He used to be so reserved when talking to me that I could never have imagined such a proposal coming from him.
• "Is it something related to the newspaper?" I had no knowledge of any upcoming events I was supposed to cover in the next few days.
• Andrew smiled, and I noticed he was embarrassed. "It has nothing to do with the newspaper or anything work-related. It's just the two of us."
• My response came automatically. "Thank you very much for the invitation, but I think I better decline."
• Andrew's expression immediately turned sad with my response. "I know I shouldn't insist, but I'll do it anyway," he said, and I could tell he was embarrassed by my refusal. "Please think carefully about my proposal. It would be an honor to have you as my companion at this event."
• I tried to do as he asked, and after he left my office, I calmly analyzed his unexpected proposal, even though I didn't really want to attend the event. It's the kind Edward used to attend, where high society gathered. Although I had been married to Edward for a long year, he rarely took me as his companion, and I didn't feel ready to return to that environment, now that I was no longer just a socialite as before.
• I remembered the past few weeks and how, without realizing it, my heart had grown heavier and sadder each day as time passed, leaving behind the most painful and sorrowful moments after my divorce.
• "So, what's your decision?" Andrew asked, towards the end of that day's work. "Will you be my companion tomorrow?"
• I looked carefully at Andrew, admiring his gentle beauty and his always kind treatment. I concluded that I should accept his invitation. After all, it had been two months since I separated from Edward, and it was time to take another step to break the ties between us.
• "Alright, Andrew. I accept being your companion."
• My response lit up my coworker's face with a radiant smile. Andrew approached me, and I held my hand gently.
• "I can't wait to have you by my side, Beatrice. It will be an unforgettable night, I'm sure of that."
• It wasn't just Andrew who was extremely pleased with my acceptance. When I told my friend Janet, upon arriving at her house that night, she was also very excited about the party news.
• “This is amazing, Beatrice!” Janet celebrated, applauding. “You've finally decided to live a little, my friend. We need to go out and get you a new dress!”
• Agreeing with Janet about the need to buy appropriate attire, we went shopping together the next day. However, we completely disagreed on the choices. Janet preferred body-hugging styles with necklines and sheer details, while I opted to stick to the same style of clothing I had always worn: modest designs with hemlines below the knee and a looser fit.
• "I feel more comfortable wearing something I'm used to," I persisted.
• "You need to understand that you're no longer married, Beatrice," Janet said, her words sounding harsh despite her gentle tone.
• Faced with Janet's insistence, I eventually accepted her choice. When I got ready to wait for Andrew, I wore one of the dresses chosen by my friend.
• "You look stunning, Beatrice!" Janet exclaimed, excited about her choice. "The dress is beautiful, and you're simply perfect."
• "Thank you," I replied, feeling my cheeks blush.
• "I'm sure everyone will admire your beauty at the party," Janet said, smiling.
• Minutes later, Andrew arrived to pick me up. When I opened the door to welcome him, I noticed he was looking at me in a way that made me self-conscious, and I realized he was nervous too.
• "G-g-good... evening," Andrew said hesitantly, almost stuttering, as he always did when he was nervous.
• "Good evening, Andrew," I greeted, smiling. "I've been waiting for you. Shall we go?"
• "Of course!" he replied, again with uncertainty.
• I bid farewell to Janet and was soon by Andrew's car. He opened the car door for me with kindness and warmth, something he clearly did with pleasure, unlike Edward, who seemed to do it merely as a matter of etiquette, a perfunctory obligation.
• Andrew had always been so kind, treating me with deference and making me feel special and unique.
• Inside the car, on the way to the gala, we chatted comfortably, creating a pleasant atmosphere. It was all so different from the time I was married to Edward when he constantly seemed bothered by my presence and rarely engaged in conversation with me about any subject.
• When we arrived at the luxurious hotel hosting the gala event, I noticed the place was filled with people with whom I had some kind of contact during my marriage to Edward Maddock, one of Britain's most influential men, even though such occasions had been rare.
• The venue's decoration was simply enchanting, filled with beauty and refinement, much like all the people present. As we walked among the guests, Andrew held my hand, which made me a bit apprehensive, anticipating possible indiscreet conversations and glances.
• The truth was that I no longer felt like a part of that world, especially now that I was no longer married to Edward. I believed most people present knew this fact, and I suspected they were commenting on it, casting judgmental looks in my direction.
• I had been trying to keep our divorce a secret, all to avoid causing more trouble for my family. However, by accepting to go out with Andrew, I understood that would be the moment when everyone would be sure about our separation, and various comments would surface in the British media.
• The next day, I would make a quick trip to Kent. I would personally inform everyone about my divorce.