The Marriage Mishap by Judith Stacy

Author:Judith Stacy [Stacy, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Published: 2012-03-31T06:14:56+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The ladies of the Current Events Club were avoiding her. Nothing overt, just skirting around her at the refreshment table, stealing glances at her, bending their heads together to whisper. For the first time since her arrival in Sacramento, Haley felt uncomfortable in a social setting.

Aunt Harriet moved alongside her, the lines of her mouth tight with a forced smile. She leaned in slightly. “Remember yourself, Haley. You mustn’t make a scene.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her lips pinched tighter. “I certainly would have warned you, had I know she’d be here today.”

“Who?”

“Amelia Archer.”

Haley’s heart skipped a beat. No wonder everyone in the room was on edge and Aunt Harriet looked as if she might pop a stay at any moment.

“I have no intention of making a scene.”

Aunt Harriet pressed her palm to her chest. “Everyone is watching for your reaction.”

Though she’d been reared in this web of social correctness, it grated on Haley’s nerves sometimes. She couldn’t bear the tension in the room, everyone waiting for the worst to happen.

“Introduce me to her, Aunt Harriet.”

She gasped. “We mustn’t fall from favor with the Harringtons, Haley. I don’t think your husband would approve.”

“Then I’ll find her and introduce myself.”

Aunt Harriet blanched. “No, no, don’t do that I’ll make a proper introduction, if you insist. But, Haley, please remember yourself.”

She followed Aunt Harriet to the far side of Mildred Price’s parlor, keeping a smile in place as she felt the heat of the gazes upon them as introductions were made. When she was standing face-to-face with Amelia Archer, it struck Haley how much the woman looked like her. Same build, nearly identical hair color. Had Adam not married her in a drunken haze, she’d have wondered at the coincidence.

Amelia took her hand, and a genuine smile parted her lips. “I’m so pleased to meet you, Haley.”

Her warmth was overwhelming. Haley had expected to feel uncomfortable, even a bit jealous or confrontational, but instead she was touched by Amelia’s sincerity.

“I’m very glad you could join us today. I understand you’re in town visiting.”

Amelia’s smile dimmed. “My mother is ill. Not seriously, I don’t think, but I wanted to see for myself. Besides, I’ve been away for nearly a year, and it was such a good excuse to come back and visit.”

A quiet moment passed, and the ladies looking on lost interest and moved away.

Amelia grinned. “I think they’re disappointed.”

Haley glanced around and saw that they were alone. “I’m sure they’ll find someone else to talk about.”

“I want you to know I’m genuinely glad Adam married. I hope you’re very happy together. I’m sure it hurt him when I left for a simple visit to my cousin’s, then married so suddenly.”

“He told me you two had been seeing each other for quite a while.”

Amelia nodded. “We had a very pleasant relationship. Very comfortable. That’s probably what went wrong. When I met my future husband at my cousin’s home and felt the sparks and fireworks, I knew Adam and I could never have that together.

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