Newcomer by Laurie Alice Eakes

Author:Laurie Alice Eakes
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-10-15T04:00:00+00:00

Nine

Marigold glanced from Gordon’s proffered arm to her gloved hand to the tips of her white shoes peeking from beneath the bottom ruffle on her gown. “I’m quite all right walking on my own, thank you.”

“A gentleman offers a lady his arm when escorting her, Miss McCorkle.” Gordon’s tone was as grim as his expression.

Marigold let her gaze stray to Mrs. Morris. The older lady smiled and nodded.

Marigold ground her teeth and rested her fingertips on the sleeve of Gordon’s coat.

She’d taken Mr. Phillips’ arm without a moment’s hesitation, and he’d been nearly a stranger until that night. She knew Gordon Chambers. She should welcome his courtesy for the half-block stroll home.

Or perhaps she welcomed it too much. She was supposed to be in mourning for her lost fiancé, not liking the feel of the strong arm beneath her hand. Her heart was supposed to be breaking, not her person tingling, as though she anticipated a run straight across hot sand to dive into cold water.

Her face stiff, as though she’d spent too much time in frigid temperatures, Marigold bade her host and hostess good night and allowed Gordon to lead her from the house. To call his pace leisurely would exaggerate the speed. He crept down the sidewalk like a man three times his age. And he said nothing past the first house. Quiet filled the night, save for the distant rumble of carriage wheels and the whisper of the ocean breeze through the trees.

Wanting to burst into raucous singing, Marigold tossed out a question in front of the second house they passed. “So what did Mrs. Morris tell you about me?”

“Why,” he demanded, as he stopped and faced her, “didn’t you tell me what you lost by staying with my nieces when I delayed so long getting here?”

“Why did you take so long getting here?”

“That doesn’t concern you.”

“Apparently it does, since you just asked me why I didn’t tell you about my canceled wedding.”

“I—” He set his mouth in a thin line, then sighed. “You’re right. I caused the difficulty. That gives you a measure of a right to know. But. . .it’s difficult.”

She said nothing. She didn’t move.

That one corner of his mouth twitched. “You’re stubborn, aren’t you?”

She remained still.

“I honestly didn’t get the telegram for nearly a month. Then. . .” He looked away. “I did have some business matters to settle before I left New Mexico, but, yes, mostly it was because my brother’s death grieved me, and I couldn’t face the idea of coming back here, facing this place without him. Not particularly manly of me, is it?”

“I think that took about as much courage as a man can have to admit.”

She thought a great deal more, too. Nothing she would share with him—her shame for being so annoyed with him, her softening heart toward him. Too softening.

She needed to be away, to be home with her family, seeing Lucian when he returned for visits, mending matters, restoring her relationships. She couldn’t begin to have a regard for a man who wanted nothing more than to abandon people he should love.

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