you’re distressing your aunt. Would you mind telling me why?”
Katie gulped, unprepared for the confrontation. “I’ve…been ill,” she said, using the first excuse that came to mind.
“Nonsense!” Eunice declared. “You seem uncommonly fit to me. Now, what is it? Have you decided suddenly to become antisocial?”
Katie glanced pleadingly at Ella, but the other woman seemed as interested in her response as Eunice. Belatedly she realized that Fan probably would have approached things differently and would have spoken to her aunt privately first. Now there was nothing to do but think of something. Fast.
“Well…” Katie shrugged. “I don’t want to cause a problem for your nephew,” she finished quickly, thanking God and Fan for the inspiration. “He and I have become friends. And I’m sure you are aware of the…incident in my past?” When Eunice nodded, she continued quickly, “I have no desire to see him embroiled in the same gossip. Christopher has a reputation to consider. I thought it best if I didn’t see him for a while. I don’t wish to cause him trouble.”
Somehow Katie managed to sound convincing. Even Ella paused as Eunice frowned and rapped her cane on the ground.
“Young lady, you know I don’t pay heed to idle chatter, and neither does my nephew. Neither of us cares about the scandal. While it is noble of you to try to protect him this way, I assure you that Christopher is a grown man and makes his own decisions.”
“I appreciate that,” Katie said solemnly. “However, I simply cannot allow your kindness, nor that of your nephew, to result in your injury. No, I must remain firm on this point. I cannot see Christopher—it is as simple as that.”
Ella looked pained while Eunice grinned, her sharp eyes dancing.
“But, my dear, no one has suggested any such thing. I have not come as Christopher’s emissary—in fact, I understand that he is spending a good deal of time in Margaret’s company these days. I had come to speak to you of another matter entirely.”
Katie nodded, but annoyance filled her. Christopher certainly hadn’t wasted any time in finding a new love interest. And Margaret, of all people! Recalling Margaret’s vicious comments and snide looks, Katie could just imagine the rest. She probably ran into his arms and was laughing behind her back, sure she had bested Fan Pemberton.
“I want you to come to the Mitchells’ reception tonight,” Eunice said shrewdly, aware of the impact of her news concerning Christopher. “You see, Charles Pepper has developed an interest in Bertrice Merriweather.”
“That’s wonderful,” Katie said sincerely. She genuinely liked both of them, and the thought of Bertrice finding happiness greatly pleased her. “But how does that concern me?”
Eunice smiled softly. “As you know, the young girl is given to fainting spells, especially if she is within an arm’s distance of a handsome young man. Charles may lose patience with her. As her friend, I thought you might give her the courage to proceed.”
Katie sighed. Eunice had her there. Bertrice was her best friend in Cape May, and the girl was honestly nice and as sweet as she appeared. She deserved someone like Charles, and he was perfect for her. She owed it to her friend to help her, in spite of her own feelings.
“All right,” Katie agreed, ignoring Ella’s triumphant grin.
“Good.” Eunice nodded. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Oh, by the way, I do believe my nephew will be present. He will not be alone, but since you don’t care a farthing for him, that shouldn’t present a difficulty, should it?”
Katie fumed, but there was nothing she could do. As Fan Pemberton, she was trapped within her own politeness and couldn’t possibly refuse now without revealing everything. “Not at all,” she replied. “I’m certain I’ll have a wonderful time.”
E IGHT
“ D o you really think he likes me?” Bertrice whispered, glancing toward Charles
Katie gulped, unprepared for the confrontation. “I’ve…been ill,” she said, using the first excuse that came to mind.
“Nonsense!” Eunice declared. “You seem uncommonly fit to me. Now, what is it? Have you decided suddenly to become antisocial?”
Katie glanced pleadingly at Ella, but the other woman seemed as interested in her response as Eunice. Belatedly she realized that Fan probably would have approached things differently and would have spoken to her aunt privately first. Now there was nothing to do but think of something. Fast.
“Well…” Katie shrugged. “I don’t want to cause a problem for your nephew,” she finished quickly, thanking God and Fan for the inspiration. “He and I have become friends. And I’m sure you are aware of the…incident in my past?” When Eunice nodded, she continued quickly, “I have no desire to see him embroiled in the same gossip. Christopher has a reputation to consider. I thought it best if I didn’t see him for a while. I don’t wish to cause him trouble.”
Somehow Katie managed to sound convincing. Even Ella paused as Eunice frowned and rapped her cane on the ground.
“Young lady, you know I don’t pay heed to idle chatter, and neither does my nephew. Neither of us cares about the scandal. While it is noble of you to try to protect him this way, I assure you that Christopher is a grown man and makes his own decisions.”
“I appreciate that,” Katie said solemnly. “However, I simply cannot allow your kindness, nor that of your nephew, to result in your injury. No, I must remain firm on this point. I cannot see Christopher—it is as simple as that.”
Ella looked pained while Eunice grinned, her sharp eyes dancing.
“But, my dear, no one has suggested any such thing. I have not come as Christopher’s emissary—in fact, I understand that he is spending a good deal of time in Margaret’s company these days. I had come to speak to you of another matter entirely.”
Katie nodded, but annoyance filled her. Christopher certainly hadn’t wasted any time in finding a new love interest. And Margaret, of all people! Recalling Margaret’s vicious comments and snide looks, Katie could just imagine the rest. She probably ran into his arms and was laughing behind her back, sure she had bested Fan Pemberton.
“I want you to come to the Mitchells’ reception tonight,” Eunice said shrewdly, aware of the impact of her news concerning Christopher. “You see, Charles Pepper has developed an interest in Bertrice Merriweather.”
“That’s wonderful,” Katie said sincerely. She genuinely liked both of them, and the thought of Bertrice finding happiness greatly pleased her. “But how does that concern me?”
Eunice smiled softly. “As you know, the young girl is given to fainting spells, especially if she is within an arm’s distance of a handsome young man. Charles may lose patience with her. As her friend, I thought you might give her the courage to proceed.”
Katie sighed. Eunice had her there. Bertrice was her best friend in Cape May, and the girl was honestly nice and as sweet as she appeared. She deserved someone like Charles, and he was perfect for her. She owed it to her friend to help her, in spite of her own feelings.
“All right,” Katie agreed, ignoring Ella’s triumphant grin.
“Good.” Eunice nodded. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down. Oh, by the way, I do believe my nephew will be present. He will not be alone, but since you don’t care a farthing for him, that shouldn’t present a difficulty, should it?”
Katie fumed, but there was nothing she could do. As Fan Pemberton, she was trapped within her own politeness and couldn’t possibly refuse now without revealing everything. “Not at all,” she replied. “I’m certain I’ll have a wonderful time.”
E IGHT
“ D o you really think he likes me?” Bertrice whispered, glancing toward Charles
Similar Books
