Read Online An Improper Situation (Sanborn-Malloy Historical Romance Series, Book One) by Sydney Jane Baily - Free Book Online
Authors: Sydney Jane Baily
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garden in the back, and red and yellow roses climbing about on trellises all around the house.
By late afternoon, when Charlotte heard an approaching horse, she looked up expecting to see Reed; instead it was Sarah Cuthins, her smiling face abruptly changing to shock at the sight of two children playing in front of Charlotte’s house.
“Whatever have we here?” she asked without any pretense of disinterest as she drew her horse to a halt. “Why, what sweet little ones.”
Charlotte went over to meet the familiar visitor. Straightaway, Thomas ducked behind Lily who came to stand by Charlotte.
“These are my niece and nephew from Massachusetts. Lily and Thomas Connors. Children, say hello to Mrs. Cuthins, my neighbor.”
Lily murmured a polite hello; Thomas, of course, said nothing.
“Well, I can see now why you haven’t been by for a meal, Charlotte. I was worried about you. But it seems you’ve had your hands busy.” Suddenly her round forehead frowned deeply. “How did they get here? Are you feeding them?”
Charlotte didn’t take offense at that one. Sarah knew her too well.
“They came by train, and yes, they’re being fed. They’re having three meals a day.”
She didn’t feel the need to add that she wasn’t the one cooking the meals; after all, neighborly need-to-know only went so far. Then the expected wagon came into view around the pines. Charlotte felt a butterfly take flight in her stomach. She wasn’t at all sure she wanted Sarah to know that Reed Malloy, a bachelor and a handsome one at that, was staying in her house.
Sarah turned to the sound of the horse and then looked at Charlotte with raised eyebrows. “And this is?”
“ The children’s solicitor from Boston,” Charlotte finished in a tone that she hoped sounded as if no more information would follow. If anything, Sarah’s eyebrows only rose higher, her warm brown eyes open wide. By this time, Reed had dismounted and was striding toward them.
He stood beside Charlotte and the children, and looked down at the bulky figure of Sarah Cuthins. Charlotte hastily made introductions.
“So happy to meet you,” Sarah said, actually sounding coquettish when faced with a dashing stranger from the east.
“ The pleasure is all mine, Madame,” Reed returned.
“ Well,” Charlotte began, “it’s time we got the children washed up and started the . . .,” she faltered; it was too early for supper.
“ Started the chores,” Reed finished helpfully. “Children, you heard your aunt. Say good-bye to Mrs. Cuthins.” This met with the same immediate success as all of Reed’s orders, and the children murmured farewell before scampering inside the house.
Obviously, Sarah wanted to stay and chat; however, since no invitation was forthcoming, she could do nothing but allow Reed to help her onto her wagon seat.
“I guess I’ll be off then, seeing as you’re all right,” she added. “Oh, the food! Since it’s already cooked, you might as well have it. There’s enough for all of you,” she put in, looking questioningly at Reed. He only smiled.
“ How kind of you,” Charlotte said, taking down a basket and handing it to Reed before taking a second one from Sarah. “Your cooking is always a treat.”
“ Yes, well, I hope your ready-made family likes it, Charlotte. I’ll be seeing you soon. Good day.” Sarah clicked the reins and her horse started down the drive. She had a bemused smile on her face and looked back at them at least twice.
Charlotte groaned as they walked toward the house.
“What?” Reed asked, stopping on the front porch and balancing the basket casually against one knee.
“ It’ll be all over the valley before sunset,” she told him, sitting on the swing that she’d repaired so many times over the years she couldn’t count.
He began pawing through the contents of Sarah’s offering, finally pulling out a custard tart. Finally, he looked up at her.
“What?” he asked again before taking a big
By late afternoon, when Charlotte heard an approaching horse, she looked up expecting to see Reed; instead it was Sarah Cuthins, her smiling face abruptly changing to shock at the sight of two children playing in front of Charlotte’s house.
“Whatever have we here?” she asked without any pretense of disinterest as she drew her horse to a halt. “Why, what sweet little ones.”
Charlotte went over to meet the familiar visitor. Straightaway, Thomas ducked behind Lily who came to stand by Charlotte.
“These are my niece and nephew from Massachusetts. Lily and Thomas Connors. Children, say hello to Mrs. Cuthins, my neighbor.”
Lily murmured a polite hello; Thomas, of course, said nothing.
“Well, I can see now why you haven’t been by for a meal, Charlotte. I was worried about you. But it seems you’ve had your hands busy.” Suddenly her round forehead frowned deeply. “How did they get here? Are you feeding them?”
Charlotte didn’t take offense at that one. Sarah knew her too well.
“They came by train, and yes, they’re being fed. They’re having three meals a day.”
She didn’t feel the need to add that she wasn’t the one cooking the meals; after all, neighborly need-to-know only went so far. Then the expected wagon came into view around the pines. Charlotte felt a butterfly take flight in her stomach. She wasn’t at all sure she wanted Sarah to know that Reed Malloy, a bachelor and a handsome one at that, was staying in her house.
Sarah turned to the sound of the horse and then looked at Charlotte with raised eyebrows. “And this is?”
“ The children’s solicitor from Boston,” Charlotte finished in a tone that she hoped sounded as if no more information would follow. If anything, Sarah’s eyebrows only rose higher, her warm brown eyes open wide. By this time, Reed had dismounted and was striding toward them.
He stood beside Charlotte and the children, and looked down at the bulky figure of Sarah Cuthins. Charlotte hastily made introductions.
“So happy to meet you,” Sarah said, actually sounding coquettish when faced with a dashing stranger from the east.
“ The pleasure is all mine, Madame,” Reed returned.
“ Well,” Charlotte began, “it’s time we got the children washed up and started the . . .,” she faltered; it was too early for supper.
“ Started the chores,” Reed finished helpfully. “Children, you heard your aunt. Say good-bye to Mrs. Cuthins.” This met with the same immediate success as all of Reed’s orders, and the children murmured farewell before scampering inside the house.
Obviously, Sarah wanted to stay and chat; however, since no invitation was forthcoming, she could do nothing but allow Reed to help her onto her wagon seat.
“I guess I’ll be off then, seeing as you’re all right,” she added. “Oh, the food! Since it’s already cooked, you might as well have it. There’s enough for all of you,” she put in, looking questioningly at Reed. He only smiled.
“ How kind of you,” Charlotte said, taking down a basket and handing it to Reed before taking a second one from Sarah. “Your cooking is always a treat.”
“ Yes, well, I hope your ready-made family likes it, Charlotte. I’ll be seeing you soon. Good day.” Sarah clicked the reins and her horse started down the drive. She had a bemused smile on her face and looked back at them at least twice.
Charlotte groaned as they walked toward the house.
“What?” Reed asked, stopping on the front porch and balancing the basket casually against one knee.
“ It’ll be all over the valley before sunset,” she told him, sitting on the swing that she’d repaired so many times over the years she couldn’t count.
He began pawing through the contents of Sarah’s offering, finally pulling out a custard tart. Finally, he looked up at her.
“What?” he asked again before taking a big
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