A Path Toward Love by Cara Lynn James

Author:Cara Lynn James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Inc.
Published: 2012-07-04T04:00:00+00:00

Spellbound, Andrew watched Katherine gracefully weave through the crowd, drawing several men’s lingering looks. A vision in violet, she held her head high, displaying a flash of jewels at her neck and wrist. Mrs. Wainwright intercepted her before she reached him and guided her over to a group of friends centered around Randy. Before long, his cousin led her to the dance floor, and they joined the couples swirling about to the music of a Viennese waltz. Then they danced a reel, another waltz, and a schottische. When they moved on to a polka, Andrew had had enough. He moved outside, perspiring as if he’d been dancing with them.

He leaned over a railing, staring at the lake glittering under the moonlight, trying to forget how well Katherine looked in Randy’s arms. How they looked so right together. He shook his head. I’m beginning to think like my aunt and Mrs. Wainwright. Regardless of how right they appeared on the outside, there was something so incredibly wrong within, he couldn’t imagine how Katherine could tolerate it. Randy either, for that matter.

Not that his cousin cared for anything but his own entertainment . . .

Katherine’s laughter tickled the back of his neck. He dared to glance over his shoulder. She was chatting with an old friend, fanning herself, and drinking from a crystal goblet. “My, I’d forgotten how hot a dance floor could get!”

After a moment, her friend returned inside. Andrew thought she would follow, but she joined him instead. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked softly.

He nodded. But he was thinking, Not half as beautiful as you .. . Moonlight peeked through the dark tree branches that rustled in the breeze. Katherine folded her arms across her bodice shimmering with glass beads.

“Why so gloomy, Andrew? Why aren’t you dancing?”

Andrew took a sip from his own goblet. “The girl I wanted to dance with was taken.”

She was silent for a moment. “We can dance, Andrew,” she said gently. “At least once.”

He turned to stare at her and then gave her a sad smile. “No. No we can’t.” He straightened. “Listen, I should be going. You’re having fun, and I’m only intruding now. Confusing you.” He glanced over her shoulder, and through the glass doors he saw Mrs. Wainwright systematically searching the crowd for her daughter. He slipped his hand around hers and looked into her eyes. “I want you to enjoy yourself, Katherine. You deserve to have nothing but fun, after all your heartache, and all your hard work . . .”

He turned to go, but she held on to his hand and gave him a pleading look. “Please stay, Andrew.” She fingered the necklace, drawing his eyes to the creamy skin between her long neck and her modestly cut gown. “Is it because I confided in you about Harriet’s letter? I was so grateful for your understanding and your help. I can’t imagine what I’d do without your friendship.”

“I want us to stay friends too, but we should keep our distance. Especially in public.

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