Southern Seduction by Brenda Jernigan Page A

stated the truth. He was a superb cook.
    Finally, the last course was brought in. Dessert, a cake with butter-cream frosting that was a least four layers high, was placed before them. Just looking made Brooke’s mouth water. And tasting the confection only confirmed her first impression.
    When Brooke had finished the last bite, she sighed. “I think that is possibly the most delicious meal that I’ve ever eaten.”
    “Prosper is the very best,” Travis admitted. “He is the one good thing my father left to me.”
    “And I was the second,” Brooke quipped.
    Travis didn’t bother to comment.
    “I heard about your father,” Eliza said. “I’m so sorry. Are you sad?” she asked, assuming Travis possessed an affection for his father that Brooke knew he didn’t.
    “Thanks, brat. I’m fine,” he said, dismissing her question. “Now, tell me, how did you find your family when you visited?”
    Brooke noted how quickly he changed the topic of his late father. He was obviously very uncomfortable with the subject when it came up.
    Eliza shrugged. “The same.”
    “Do you have brothers and sisters?” Brooke asked.
    “Do I?” Eliza giggled. “I have eight brothers and sisters.”
    “Really?” Brooke was surprised at such a large family. “I’ll wager you can’t name all of them.”
    “I bet I can,” Eliza asserted. Then she began to count them off by name. “There is Constance, Marguerite, Felicete, Maria, Nicholas, Jean, Hortense and Gertrude. So you see, there isn’t much room left for me, and that’s why I asked to come and stay with Cousin Travis and Aunt Margaret.”
    “I can’t imagine having so many in a family,” Brooke commented.
    Eliza dabbed at her mouth with the linen napkin. “You don’t have any brothers and sisters?”
    Brooke shook her head. “None at all,” she said, feeling a twinge of regret. “Just myself.” Would her life have been different if she’d had a family to care for her? It was something she’d never find out.
    “That sounds heavenly to me,” Eliza said with a sigh. “I think I was meant to be an only child. I must have ended up in the wrong family.” She laughed merrily.
    Travis realized his cousin was providing him with a wealth of information about his uninvited guest. That was why he hadn’t calmed her down with a reminder that all her questions were impertinent. Even twelve-year-olds were expected to act like ladies . . . not hoydens.
    “May I be excused?” Eliza asked, placing her napkin across her dinner plate and breaking into Travis’s musings.
    Travis didn’t realize that he had been staring at Brooke until Eliza reached across the table and touched his arm. “Uncle Travis?”
    His gazed switched to the child, who had her chin propped upon her hand, apparently waiting for him to respond to something. “What?”
    “I asked,” she said, pausing to give the impression that he’d kept her waiting, “May I be excused? It’s been a long day and I’m very sleepy.”
    Travis nodded his assent.
    Eliza stood then kissed Travis on the cheek. “Good night, Mrs. Hammond,” she said, then she turned and left Brooke and Travis alone.
    “Sometimes I forget how much noise she can make,” Travis commented, more to himself than to Brooke.
    “I think she is adorable,” Brooke told him. “And definitely a breath of fresh air around here.”
    Travis’s lips twisted into a cynical smile. “I believe you just insulted me.”
    Brooke gave him a sweet smile. “Only if you consider the truth an insult. You have to admit that the mood of this house is far too serious.”
    “You always have the option of leaving,” he threw back at her.
    Brooke really didn’t want to get into a sparring match with Travis tonight. She’d had a long day, as well, so she ignored his barb and asked, “Will you call Prosper in?”
    For a change, Travis did as she requested. When Prosper came through the door, he looked at Travis for instructions, “Sir?”
    Travis swung