Seeking Mansfield by Kate Watson

Author:Kate Watson [Watson, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Romance / Contemporary / Performing Arts / Theater & Musicals / Social Themes / Emotions & Feelings
Publisher: North Star Editions
Published: 2017-05-16T05:00:00+00:00

~F~

At 9:55 the next morning, Finley was pacing in the foyer. She kept looking at herself in the reflection of the French doors to Uncle Thomas’s study. Was a skirt the right thing to wear? It was new. It fit her well. Maybe too well.

Uncle Thomas came down the stairs and smiled when he saw her. “You look nice. Are you looking forward to your date?”

“Date?” She paced faster. “Do you think he thinks this is a date?”

He put a hand on her shoulder, and the pressure calmed her. “I’m glad you’re going out, Finley. You deserve to have someone treat you like you’re as special as you are.” He kissed her forehead. “Try to have a nice time, won’t you? Harlan is a nice young man.” The doorbell rang, and Finley flexed and released her hands. “Allow me.”

Uncle Thomas opened the large front door, but it wasn’t Harlan standing there. It was Nora. She stormed in.

“Nora, I didn’t expect you till later. Is everything all right?”

“No, Thomas. We have a huge problem—” she stopped and looked at Finley. Her gaze went over the outfit, her curled hair, and ended on her lip gloss. “Finley. You look all done up. I see your uncle has bought you some new clothes. How nice for you.”

Finley frowned.

“Isn’t it, Nora? She looks beautiful, and I’d gladly spend ten times more on her, if I thought she’d accept it.” He opened his study doors for Nora, then patted Finley’s shoulder. “Enjoy your date with Harlan.”

Nora popped back out. “Harlan? And you?”

“Nora,” Uncle Thomas snapped. He gave Finley an apologetic look and closed the French doors on Nora’s face.

Finley’s cheeks burned and her eyes stung. She didn’t even want to be going. She wanted to turn around, run upstairs, and just shut everyone and everything out.

Or maybe storm into that study and rage at Nora.

The doorbell rang. Her eyes jumped to the grandfather clock that read ten o’clock, right on the nose. With a deep breath, she opened the front door and stepped outside before she’d even said hello.

Harlan’s brow creased beneath his sunglasses and Kangol hat. “Uh, good morning, Miss Price.” He held out a simple bouquet of tulips. “I’m thrilled you’re so eager to get going, but you may want to put these in water first.”

Finley stood motionless. He’d gotten her flowers. Beautiful flowers. But putting them in water meant passing the study where Nora would surely see her.

“What’s going on?” Harlan asked.

“I don’t want to go back inside,” she blurted, hating how hot her cheeks felt.

“The Bertrams all know I’m taking you out. What’s the big deal?”

“Nora is in there. I don’t—”

“Ah. Right,” Harlan said. He took a step down the stairs and stopped. “Right.”

He thrust the flowers into her hand, walked back up to the door, and dragged her in with him. Finley’s face was on fire. Grabbing her elbow, Harlan waved at Uncle Thomas and Nora, popping his head into the study. “Just putting these in some water. I promise to take good care of her, sir.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.