Martha (The Marriage Market Book 5) by Stevie MacFarlane

Author:Stevie MacFarlane [MacFarlane, Stevie]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Blushing Books Publications
Published: 2017-05-11T04:00:00+00:00

Clara was surprised. The food was delicious and she was having a grand time. The number of prominent citizens who stopped by to talk to Lucas and offer their best wishes to Martha and Ethan was astonishing. Many women questioned Martha about her shop, as though the fact that it was next door to a saloon was of no concern. People were certainly more accepting in Seattle than they’d been in Washington.

Lucas was attentive, introducing Clara to many of his acquaintances as though she were someone of great importance in his life. Clara wondered if he was under the mistaken impression that she was going to marry him. It was impossible, of course. He ran a saloon; she was dead set against drink, although she did raise a glass to toast the happy couple.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Lucas said with a twinkle in his eyes as he plucked the glass of wine from her hand. “I wouldn’t want you doing anything to give the people of Seattle the wrong impression,” he scolded.

“You give that back,” she insisted. “It’s only wine.”

“Wine, champagne, whiskey, it’s all the same,” he replied. “It contains alcohol and you wouldn’t want to be called a hypocrite as you’re marching around town, would you?”

“Well, no, but this is a special occasion,” she explained.

“And for some men their pay day is the only special occasion they get. It’s what they look forward to all week long.”

“Give me my glass,” she demanded, her dark eyes flashing. “It’s not the same thing at all.”

“Very well,” Lucas said, handing her the wine. “It doesn’t matter in any case. Once we’re married…”

“Humph,” Clara said with a smirk, draining her glass in a few swallows. “More please,” she sweetly requested of Ethan who refilled her glass.

“As I was saying, little woman, once we’re married there will be no more talk of meetings and marches,” Lucas informed her. “You’ll behave yourself and do as you’re told.”

Clara drained her second glass and hiccupped.

“I’ll do exactly as I please,” she stated, smiling. Handing her glass to Ethan she glared at him when he raised an eyebrow and looked to Lucas for approval. “I do not need his permission to have a tiny glass of wine,” she said. Still Ethan waited until Lucas nodded at him.

“Clara,” Martha said gently. “Perhaps you should finish your dinner.”

“Oh, I will. It’s wonderful. Ethan, your mother is a marvelous cook.”

“Thank you, Clara. I will be sure to tell her you think so.”

“Martha, did you see Ellie and Mr. Ferguson over there in the corner? Ellie doesn’t look very happy,” Clara whispered as she sipped her wine.

“No, I don’t imagine she is. I hope she doesn’t do anything foolish. Mr. Ferguson is a very nice man and a good catch,” Martha whispered back.

“He is, isn’t he,” Clara replied thoughtfully as she watched the other couple. “He’s very wealthy and well-mannered and I think if he were with another kind of woman, someone with a more congenial personality, he would do quite well as a husband.

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