Lily and the Major by Miller Linda Lael

Author:Miller, Linda Lael [Miller, Linda Lael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket
Published: 2011-05-12T22:00:00+00:00

At suppertime Caleb still did not appear, and Lily was troubled by that, though she tried to tell herself she was relieved.

Rupert ate hungrily of the meal she’d prepared, but Lily had little appetite. She kept pushing her portion of meat loaf from one side of her plate to the other, and every time there was a noise from the street she started, barely able to resist leaping out of her chair and running to the window to look for Caleb.

“I guess Major Halliday’s gone back to Fort Deveraux by now,” Rupert ventured, scooping another slice of meat loaf onto his plate.

“He wouldn’t leave without saying good-bye to me,” Lily said, and the moment the words were out of her mouth she wished she could call them back.

Rupert arched one eyebrow. “I’m surprised at you, Lily. You allowed the man liberties, and yet you treat him like a typhoid carrier. Do you love him or not?”

Lily’s cheeks throbbed with embarrassment. “It happens that I’m surprised at you,” she retorted. “I expected you to be angry about what I’ve done with Caleb—instead you act as though he was somehow entitled.”

A long moment passed before Rupert replied. “I know you’re not promiscuous, Lily—that would have shown up long before now. If you were intimate with the major—and it does seem that you have been—I’d guess it was because you love him.”

“Or because I’m just like my mother,” Lily said with real despair. Her eyes were brimming with tears when she looked imploringly at Rupert. “She let men take liberties, too. All sorts of men.”

“You’ve been with other men besides Caleb?”

“Of course not!”

“Well, then, there you have it. Kathleen was Kathleen, and you’re Lily, and never the twain shall meet.”

Lily sighed. “I think maybe the twain will meet,” she said drying her eyes. “If Mama could find me, she might very well know where Emma and Caroline are, too.”

Rupert had read the letter from Kathleen soon after Lily’s arrival. He nodded. “It’s possible. Are you thinking of visiting her in Chicago, Lily?”

Lily shook her head, then nodded. “Oh, I don’t know!” she wailed in desperation. “Caleb has me so mixed up—”

“I see he gave you a ring,” Rupert remarked, glang at the twinkling diamond on Lily’s finger.

“I’m only wearing it because it won’t come off.”

“Why did you put it on in the first place?”

Lily sighed. “I didn’t—Caleb did.”

“I see. We’ve come full circle, Lily—back to my original question, which you so neatly evaded. Do you love Caleb Halliday?”

Lily lowered her head. “Yes,” she answered weakly. “I think about him all the time, and I get cold chills and hot flashes, just like when I had the flu. I even feel a little bit sick to my stomach.”

“It’s love, all right,” Rupert said. He sounded very worldly wise for a schoolmaster who had only now gotten around to considering marriage. “And you don’t want to marry him because you think you might be like your mother?”

Lily wanted to make her case by explaining how

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