Read Online A Perfect Groom by Samantha James - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Samantha James
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Grace, if I never have another gentleman caller this year, I do believe it would please me to no end.”
“My dear, I think you’re simply feeling rather overwhelmed.”
Arabella slanted her a wan smile.
“Do you know, in our day, between your mother and I, I do believe we had callers queuing out the door. Why, your grandfather used to complain that his house was not his own!” Her aunt was almost giggling in fond remembrance. “And it was the same with your cousins, you know. Why, I do believe it runs in the family!”
Arabella couldn’t help but smile. There was no question her aunt had been a beauty in her day. Indeed, her cheeks were still plump and pink, her eyes bright and vivacious. And when she smiled, the dimples in her cheeks lent her a youthful radiance that was almost infectious.
“The years have been kind to you, Aunt Grace, for you are still a very fetching woman.”
Her aunt fairly beamed. “Thank you, child. That’s most gracious of you. But come, will you not at least admit it is rather flattering to have all those gentlemen throwing themselves at your feet?”
Arabella bit her lip. “Well,” she allowed, “perhaps.”
“Yes, yes, I knew it. But back to the business of finding a husband.”
Arabella sucked in a breath. “Aunt Grace,” she began carefully, “I am not quite sure how to say this, but —”
“I think I know your point, child.” Aunt Grace was once again brisk. “It occurs to me that I have been most persistent in urging you to choose among your suitors. Perhaps too persistent.”
Arabella relaxed.
“I admit, I am overanxious. It’s just that I do so enjoy planning a wedding. It has been two years since your cousin Edith wed, you know. But I suspect you will be like your mother and choose your own path. As for the matter of your future husband, I promise, my dear, I shall endeavor to say no more.”
Arabella didn’t speak. There was a restless questing inside her she didn’t fully understand, and she felt as if she were suddenly flailing…
She didn’t have the heart to inform Aunt Grace there was a very good likelihood she wouldn’t be planning a wedding because Arabella might never wed. She wasn’t beautiful or accomplished like her cousins. She was…different. She knew instinctively that she wouldn’t be content with the missionary life, as her parents were. She wasn’t a bluestocking or a crusader. And she didn’t want to be an albatross around her parents’ necks.
She didn’t know what she wanted or even what she was suited for! She only seemed to know what she didn’t want…
But she was lucky, she realized with a pang. Lucky to be loved the way she had been loved all her life, by everyone close to her. And she was all at once reminded why she had always cherished the time spent with her aunt. She’d never loved her more than she did right now.
Impulsively she reached out, clasping both of her aunt’s hands in hers.
“Do you know, when I was young and in school, and Mama and Papa had to be away, sometimes I missed them terribly.” An aching lump of emotion swelled in her chest, so vast she could hardly speak. But suddenly it was all spilling out, and she couldn’t stop it.
“But then I’d think of you, and suddenly it didn’t hurt so much. I didn’t feel so alone, because I had you, Aunt Grace. Because you were there to hug me and hold me and mother me when Mama could not. I’ve never told you how much that meant to me.”
Tears sprang to her aunt’s eyes, and suddenly her own were swimming as well. With a tender hand, Grace smoothed a tendril of hair behind her ear. “Arabella! Oh, Arabella, I cannot tell you how it pleases me to hear you say that. I shall always be here for you, whenever you need me. Why, you are as dear to my heart as if you were my own. You know that, don’t you?”
“I do, Aunt Grace. Oh, but I do!” Fraught with emotion, the pair hugged.
Aunt Grace drew back, patting her cheek. “But you must
“My dear, I think you’re simply feeling rather overwhelmed.”
Arabella slanted her a wan smile.
“Do you know, in our day, between your mother and I, I do believe we had callers queuing out the door. Why, your grandfather used to complain that his house was not his own!” Her aunt was almost giggling in fond remembrance. “And it was the same with your cousins, you know. Why, I do believe it runs in the family!”
Arabella couldn’t help but smile. There was no question her aunt had been a beauty in her day. Indeed, her cheeks were still plump and pink, her eyes bright and vivacious. And when she smiled, the dimples in her cheeks lent her a youthful radiance that was almost infectious.
“The years have been kind to you, Aunt Grace, for you are still a very fetching woman.”
Her aunt fairly beamed. “Thank you, child. That’s most gracious of you. But come, will you not at least admit it is rather flattering to have all those gentlemen throwing themselves at your feet?”
Arabella bit her lip. “Well,” she allowed, “perhaps.”
“Yes, yes, I knew it. But back to the business of finding a husband.”
Arabella sucked in a breath. “Aunt Grace,” she began carefully, “I am not quite sure how to say this, but —”
“I think I know your point, child.” Aunt Grace was once again brisk. “It occurs to me that I have been most persistent in urging you to choose among your suitors. Perhaps too persistent.”
Arabella relaxed.
“I admit, I am overanxious. It’s just that I do so enjoy planning a wedding. It has been two years since your cousin Edith wed, you know. But I suspect you will be like your mother and choose your own path. As for the matter of your future husband, I promise, my dear, I shall endeavor to say no more.”
Arabella didn’t speak. There was a restless questing inside her she didn’t fully understand, and she felt as if she were suddenly flailing…
She didn’t have the heart to inform Aunt Grace there was a very good likelihood she wouldn’t be planning a wedding because Arabella might never wed. She wasn’t beautiful or accomplished like her cousins. She was…different. She knew instinctively that she wouldn’t be content with the missionary life, as her parents were. She wasn’t a bluestocking or a crusader. And she didn’t want to be an albatross around her parents’ necks.
She didn’t know what she wanted or even what she was suited for! She only seemed to know what she didn’t want…
But she was lucky, she realized with a pang. Lucky to be loved the way she had been loved all her life, by everyone close to her. And she was all at once reminded why she had always cherished the time spent with her aunt. She’d never loved her more than she did right now.
Impulsively she reached out, clasping both of her aunt’s hands in hers.
“Do you know, when I was young and in school, and Mama and Papa had to be away, sometimes I missed them terribly.” An aching lump of emotion swelled in her chest, so vast she could hardly speak. But suddenly it was all spilling out, and she couldn’t stop it.
“But then I’d think of you, and suddenly it didn’t hurt so much. I didn’t feel so alone, because I had you, Aunt Grace. Because you were there to hug me and hold me and mother me when Mama could not. I’ve never told you how much that meant to me.”
Tears sprang to her aunt’s eyes, and suddenly her own were swimming as well. With a tender hand, Grace smoothed a tendril of hair behind her ear. “Arabella! Oh, Arabella, I cannot tell you how it pleases me to hear you say that. I shall always be here for you, whenever you need me. Why, you are as dear to my heart as if you were my own. You know that, don’t you?”
“I do, Aunt Grace. Oh, but I do!” Fraught with emotion, the pair hugged.
Aunt Grace drew back, patting her cheek. “But you must
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