breathing. Then she looked at Ada and forced a meager smile. “No, he’s found nothing, although it’s not for want of trying. It’s just that…” she trailed off, unable—and unwilling—to explain how easily he unnerved her. With just his slightest touch, she had come undone. He taunted, criticized, and insulted her, and yet with that one touch her anger dissolved into a different, even more fiery emotion. What in heaven’s name was wrong with her?
“I think I know,” Ada murmured. A mischievous twinkle sparkled in her wide blue eyes. “None of us expected Mr. Frederick’s brother to be so young and handsome.”
In renewed dismay Lacie stared at Ada. Had he been testing his charms on her as well? That unsettling thought brought a frown to her normally serene brow.
“I suggest you show less concern for his handsome face and more concern for your own well-being,” she said rather tartly. But when she saw Ada’s surprised look, she was immediately chagrined. She reached a placating hand to her friend. “I’m sorry, dear. I don’t know why I’m behaving so horribly.”
“You shouldn’t fret so, Lacie. You’ve been worrying too much, carrying the burden of us all. It’s no wonder you’re a little on edge.” Ada smiled encouragingly and squeezed her friend’s hand. “You know, I think he’s actually more reasonable than he seemed at first. Why, he was absolutely charming at breakfast. And he’s quite captivated our Nina. He even offered to drive me into town after lunch.”
Lacie felt a shiver of apprehension. “I thought Leland was going to do that.”
“Oh, you know how Leland hates dealing with anyone but”—she paused and smiled painfully—“anyone but Mr. Frederick.”
Lacie didn’t reply as they headed to the gallery. She was too worried about what Dillon Lockwood was up to. What information did he hope to gain from Ada? What devious trick did he have up his sleeve?
As was their wont on hot days, the midday meal was served on the shady gallery, cooled by a light breeze. Mrs. Gunter had laid out a simple meal of thick-sliced bread and stewed ham with collard greens on a square table draped in lace-edged linen. Four chairs had been pulled up to the intimate little table, and for a moment Lacie hesitated. She had no doubt that Dillon would soon join them. But what was the best seating arrangement? While she absolutely did not wish to sit next to him—she’d been doing that for too long already today—neither did she wish to suffer the direct penetrating power of his deep green eyes from across the small table.
For a moment she considered skipping lunch altogether, but another rumble from her stomach squelched that idea. She was famished and more than ready for a good meal. It was her misfortune that this delicious-looking repast would be ruined by that man’s unavoidable presence.
“Well, everyone’s here this time.” Dillon’s voice, low and mellow, caused Lacie to jump in alarm. She was even more unsettled by the tiny smile that flitted across Ada’s face as she stared at her.
“Yes.” Lacie cleared her throat. “Everyone’s here, so perhaps we should sit down.”
Dillon seated Lacie first, then politely pulled out chairs for the smiling Nina and Ada. When he sat down directly across from her, Lacie determinedly avoided his gaze and instead bowed her head most devoutly.
“Dear Lord, we thank you for this meal. We thank you for all the generous blessings we’ve received from you and pray we may long continue the work you have given us. We especially pray that you will keep all our girls safe until they can return in September. To start a new school year,” she added quite pointedly.
She could not resist a quick, smug glance at him as she made a sign of the cross. But her little triumph at imploring God’s help in opposing him was short-lived. Although his expression revealed no hint of emotions, his eyes were clearly laughing at her.
She looked away at once,
“I think I know,” Ada murmured. A mischievous twinkle sparkled in her wide blue eyes. “None of us expected Mr. Frederick’s brother to be so young and handsome.”
In renewed dismay Lacie stared at Ada. Had he been testing his charms on her as well? That unsettling thought brought a frown to her normally serene brow.
“I suggest you show less concern for his handsome face and more concern for your own well-being,” she said rather tartly. But when she saw Ada’s surprised look, she was immediately chagrined. She reached a placating hand to her friend. “I’m sorry, dear. I don’t know why I’m behaving so horribly.”
“You shouldn’t fret so, Lacie. You’ve been worrying too much, carrying the burden of us all. It’s no wonder you’re a little on edge.” Ada smiled encouragingly and squeezed her friend’s hand. “You know, I think he’s actually more reasonable than he seemed at first. Why, he was absolutely charming at breakfast. And he’s quite captivated our Nina. He even offered to drive me into town after lunch.”
Lacie felt a shiver of apprehension. “I thought Leland was going to do that.”
“Oh, you know how Leland hates dealing with anyone but”—she paused and smiled painfully—“anyone but Mr. Frederick.”
Lacie didn’t reply as they headed to the gallery. She was too worried about what Dillon Lockwood was up to. What information did he hope to gain from Ada? What devious trick did he have up his sleeve?
As was their wont on hot days, the midday meal was served on the shady gallery, cooled by a light breeze. Mrs. Gunter had laid out a simple meal of thick-sliced bread and stewed ham with collard greens on a square table draped in lace-edged linen. Four chairs had been pulled up to the intimate little table, and for a moment Lacie hesitated. She had no doubt that Dillon would soon join them. But what was the best seating arrangement? While she absolutely did not wish to sit next to him—she’d been doing that for too long already today—neither did she wish to suffer the direct penetrating power of his deep green eyes from across the small table.
For a moment she considered skipping lunch altogether, but another rumble from her stomach squelched that idea. She was famished and more than ready for a good meal. It was her misfortune that this delicious-looking repast would be ruined by that man’s unavoidable presence.
“Well, everyone’s here this time.” Dillon’s voice, low and mellow, caused Lacie to jump in alarm. She was even more unsettled by the tiny smile that flitted across Ada’s face as she stared at her.
“Yes.” Lacie cleared her throat. “Everyone’s here, so perhaps we should sit down.”
Dillon seated Lacie first, then politely pulled out chairs for the smiling Nina and Ada. When he sat down directly across from her, Lacie determinedly avoided his gaze and instead bowed her head most devoutly.
“Dear Lord, we thank you for this meal. We thank you for all the generous blessings we’ve received from you and pray we may long continue the work you have given us. We especially pray that you will keep all our girls safe until they can return in September. To start a new school year,” she added quite pointedly.
She could not resist a quick, smug glance at him as she made a sign of the cross. But her little triumph at imploring God’s help in opposing him was short-lived. Although his expression revealed no hint of emotions, his eyes were clearly laughing at her.
She looked away at once,
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