A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad Page B

pressed his lips to her ear. “I guess we’ll see.”

12
    “That was the most ridiculous piece of drivel I’ve ever witnessed. Nothing is more holy than the covenant of marriage, and that play made a mockery of it.” Aunt Ethel’s nonstop diatribe continued.
    Emily suppressed a moan. Since it was growing dark, Carter had opted to leave the carriage in town and take the ladies back to the lake by streetcar. Now they were making the final leg of the journey across the lake in one of the electric launch boats.
    She shivered as the lake breeze licked her heated skin.
    “Are you cold?” Carter asked, slipping his arm around her shoulder.
    Aunt Ethel cleared her throat and frowned. “We’ll have none of that, Mr. Stockton.”
    He withdrew his arm—after pulling Emily a bit closer to his side and taking her hand. Her aunt didn’t seem to notice.
    “I know you paid a handsome price for those tickets, Mr. Stockton, but I think you should go demand your money back,” Aunt Ethel droned on. “I find it simply incredulous Nora abandoned her husband and children.”
    Emily pressed a palm to her churning stomach, her emotions as mixed up as those of the main character her aunt mentioned. While she found the play thought provoking, something about it unnerved her. She actually found herself agreeing with her aunt on some level.
    “Leaving her children has folks everywhere up in arms,” Carter said. The boat dipped, and he squeezed Emily’s hand. “What did you think?”
    Her voice came out shaky. “I’m not yet certain.”
    “It sure makes you look at things differently.”
    His words faded as the captain piloted the launch next to the dock, called out orders, and tossed a line to a waiting dock assistant.
    Once the boat was secured, Carter stood and extended his hand to Aunt Millie. “Here we are. Safe and sound.”
    The elderly lady wobbled, and Carter caught her thick waist.
    Aunt Millie giggled. “You’re a wonderful companion. Thank you for letting us tag along.”
    “It was my pleasure.” He helped her out of the boat and then assisted Aunt Ethel before returning for Emily.
    Emily slipped her hand in his and relished the feeling of it. She’d not slip or fall with Carter by her side. He’d see to it.
    The four of them gathered on the dock. Aunt Ethel snapped a fan against her arm. “Come along, dear. We’ll see you home, and Carter won’t have to make the long walk.”
    “Ethel! Leave her be.” Aunt Millie looped her arm in her sister’s. “You two take your time walking back. Ethel and I will go on ahead.”
    With cheeks flaming, Emily bit her lip, grateful for the darkness swallowing her.
    Carter chuckled. “They’re quite a pair.”
    “Yes. A pair of jokers.”
    “Best watch your step.” He offered her his arm.
    She took it when she stepped off the dock, linking her arm in his as they began to walk home. “Thank you for the evening. I truly enjoyed it.”
    “I couldn’t tell for sure. You’ve been awfully quiet. Did the play disappoint you?”
    “Hardly. No, I guess I’d have to say it was disturbing in some ways.”
    “I thought you’d find it empowering. After all, Nora goes from a scatterbrained, childish wife to a woman who discovers herself.”
    “And leaves her children and her husband.”
    “And that bothers you.” His words, more of a statement than a question, drifted into the sound of the lake lapping the shore behind them.
    “You won’t understand.”
    “Try me.”
    “I’m not sure I can explain it. I agreed with so much of what Nora talked about—men who refuse to sacrifice their integrity but expect hundreds of thousands of women to do so every day. She was his doll, his plaything, not his wife, and when she used her brain, she was wrong. Can’t you see that’s exactly why women must have the right to vote? If they’re never elevated to the same place as men, they will always be treated as possessions rather than equals.”
    Carter covered her hand with his.