Susan Johnson by Silver Flame (Braddock Black) Page A

“Thank you
very much
,” she added.
    It was discussed first between Hazard and Blaze—the numerous visitors who were turned away daily from seeing Trey. It was discussed next with Trey—whether he felt up to receiving company. But ultimately it was left to Empress, in charge of the patient and the sickroom. The final decision was hers.
    She listened while Blaze listed all the people who had been to call. She watched Trey, whose reactions varied from brighteyed interest when some of his friends were mentioned, to unmistakable groans when a long tally of ladies from Helena were announced.
    “Couldn’t we be selective about this?” he demanded cheerfully. “Even healthy, some of those people would blight one’s good humor and wish to live. Surely, as an invalid, I’m entitled to special prerogatives.”
    “For instance?” Blaze inquired.
    “For instance, all those insipid young women who sent me embroidered handkerchiefs. Have pity.”
    “I don’t know, dear,” Blaze replied slowly, looking to Hazard for support. “I’m rather of the opinion that you either have to let everyone in, however briefly, or keep everyone out.”
    Trey moaned. “Why do I have the feeling that I’m going to lose on this?”
    “They don’t have to stay long, and it
is
a bit of a trip out here every day for nothing.”
    “Can Trey’s condition withstand an hour or so of visitors a day?” Hazard asked Empress.
    Empress had seen Trey walk to the chair that morning with a quiet determination she knew would be fully capable of dealing with a visitor or two. “If it wouldn’t be for too long, I’m sure his health won’t suffer. A limited time, though,” she cautioned.
    “
Very
limited,” Trey repeated. “Spare me Arabella McGinnis and Fanny Dixon, and for pity’s sake,
not
their mothers!”
    “Don’t be rude, Trey. Your father and I have to deal with these people,” Blaze reminded him, and although her voice was mild, it was a tone that brooked no further argument.
    Hazard grinned. “I’ll run interference with Miriam Dixon. Maybe she’s too much to ask of anyone, darling,” he said to his wife. “Even well, it’s an affliction to have to listen to her pious quotations.”
    “That’s because she’s partial to you, dear, and feels you are well worth saving. I always keep a watchful eye on you when she has you cornered, so she won’t steal you away.” Blaze’s grin was mischievous.
    Hazard’s eyes widened in surprise. “Good God, you can’t mean it!” It wasn’t that he was unaware he attracted women’s attention, but
Miriam Dixon
? He’d never actually considered her as a woman. She seemed more like a wind up machine with an appropriate, trite maxim for any occasion.
    “Now you know what it’s like, Papa,” Trey said, “and Fanny’s no better, although she does have an edge on her Mama’s looks,” he finished with a wide grin.
    “Your father knows very well what it’s like, and has long before you were ever born, dear,” Blaze said calmly, “but to make it easier on everyone, we’ll see that the horrid ones don’t stay too long. How would that be?”
    “Promise?” Trey asked warily.
    “My word on it,” Blaze said pleasantly.
    “In that case … send them up. No one can manipulate a social occasion better than Mama,” Trey explained to Empress. “She’s a master of crowd control.”
    “It comes from having to control your unmanageable father all these years,” Blaze retorted with a gaminelike lift of her brows. “After that, the rest of the world is easy.”
    “I feel it my duty,” Hazard replied mildly, his eyes amused, “to see that your life remains eventful.”
    “How kind,” Blaze murmured, and she and Hazard exchanged affectionate glances.
    “Just remember,” Trey warned, “Miriam Dixon isn’t allowed up here without a full complement of family to save me from her preaching.”
    “Agreed,” Blaze said. “Now, is ten o’clock too early?” She looked to Empress