An Inconvenient Marriage by Christina Miller

Author:Christina Miller [Miller, Christina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-11-03T14:51:30+00:00

Chapter Nine

Her first social event as a married woman, the most anticipated party of a Natchez girl’s life. But Clarissa would rather have hidden in the kitchen, washing the dishes. Everyone here knew she wasn’t a chosen bride, a beloved wife. And that was enough to tempt her to get right back into Samuel’s carriage and race home to Camellia Pointe. At least she wore her favorite bottle-green dress, well-fitting and remade well, its frayed lace replaced with tatting she’d found in the attic.

Samuel must have sensed her fretfulness, sliding a protective arm around her waist as they entered the Talbots’ crowded center hall and passed Nettie Bates playing the violin. Or perhaps he was merely trying to keep up appearances, as was Clarissa. At any rate, his careful attention to her, his strong arm keeping her close, gave her a sense of comfort.

But if anyone said one word about an arranged marriage, she’d drive herself home—or walk.

They crossed the hall and stopped just inside the parlor, where Graham’s stepmother served them her new no-alcohol Roosevelt juleps, the current rage in Natchez, made with fresh garden mint and sugary syrup.

“Applesauce cookies. My favorite.” Samuel selected a large one from the tray beside the juleps.

Emma sat in the corner, cradling Lilliana and rocking her gently to sleep.

“I didn’t think you could look more beautiful than you did at your wedding, but you do.” Graham’s wife, Ellie Talbot, slipped up behind her, her honey-blond hair pulled up in a chignon instead of her usual curled style.

Clarissa set her cup on the drink table. “Your new hairstyle becomes you.”

Ellie turned a pretty shade of pink. “I decided I need to look more mature.”

More mature? Then her meaning hit Clarissa and she clasped her friend’s arm.

“God has blessed us with a child.” Ellie lowered her voice. “The Spring Festival will be my last party before my confinement.”

Graham strolled over then, winking at his wife and wearing a rather silly grin, clearly understanding their secret was out.

Clarissa blinked back tears as she gave her friend a hug. With her arranged, loveless marriage, she would never have the same joy. And until this moment, she hadn’t realized how much she wished that wasn’t true.

Samuel rescued her by drawing her attention to the cross-shaped cake Miss Ophelia fussed over. He excused them and guided her to the cake table, his hand warm on the small of her back.

When Miss Ophelia caught sight of them, she hastened around the table, her long red curls bouncing. Grandmother Euphemia approached from the other side of the room, at a more sedate pace.

“Now, Clarissa, don’t be upset with me.” Miss Ophelia clutched Clarissa’s hands, hers trembling a bit. “I had no idea the reception would turn out this way. I didn’t invite—”

“And don’t make a scene. Just ignore it,” Grandmother said, a grim line to her mouth.

Whatever they were referring to must have been important, judging from the vehemence of Grandmother’s cane taps to the floor. “What am I to ignore? You’re not making sense.

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