Read Online Courting Susannah by Linda Lael Miller - Free Book Online Page A

though it had been made expressly for her. With her hair swept up and the high color of shyness and indignation in her cheeks, she looked almost, well,
pretty
. Emboldened, she returned to Julia’s room and helped herself to a delicate pair of pearl-drop earrings.
    When she descended the main staircase, of necessity leaving the child in Maisie’s care again, she encountered Aubrey, who was just coming through the doorway of his study. He stopped at the sight of her, and she saw something glitter in his eyes, though whether it was bitter exasperation or admiration she could not tell. She assumed it was the former.
    â€œWell,” he said. His voice sounded hoarse, and he hadn’t moved from the threshold of the study. Indeed, he seemed to be frozen there. “Well,” he repeated.
    Susannah was secretly pleased to know that she had unsettled him so. “You did tell me to wear one of Julia’s dresses,” she reminded him.
    He nodded, swallowed. “Yes.”
    â€œI’ve been giving some thought to the child—”
    Aubrey managed, at last, to break whatever inertia had overtaken him. He frowned. “And what conclusion have you reached?”
    â€œShe must have a name. We can’t keep calling her ‘she’ and ‘the baby’ and ‘the child.’ She should be properly christened in any case. I’ve spoken to Reverend Johnstone, and—”
    The frown intensified to a glare. “Do as you like,” he snapped, and started past her, moving toward the dining room, where Maisie had laid a spectacular table, complete with silver candlesticks, fine china, and sterling utensils.
    â€œBut
you
are her father,” Susannah persisted, following close on his heels. “You should be the one to decide—”
    â€œCall her anything you like. Except Julia, of course.”
    Susannah felt a stab of pain. “Did you hate her so much?” she asked quietly.
    â€œYes,” he replied without hesitation or kindness. “I did hate her. And kindly remove those earrings. They were a gift from one of her lovers, and I can’t stand the sight of them.”
    â€œIf you hated Julia,” Susannah pressed, pulling off the ear bobs at the same time, “why do you
care
if she took lovers?”
    â€œBecause I loved her once,” came the answer.
    Susannah was silenced by his admission, though only briefly. When the doorbell chimed, she followed Aubrey across the entry hall. She couldn’t resist a little barb. After all, it wasn’t as though he had been a model husband to Julia. “Perhaps we could name your baby—let’s see—Delphinia?” she chimed.
    â€œI would advise you not to plague me, Miss McKittrick,” he warned in a harsh whisper. “I am not a patient man.” With that, he wrenched open the door, and in those few seconds, his aspect changed from one of anger to one of smiling good humor.
    A handsome gentleman with chestnut-colored hair and a waxed mustache stood on the porch, bowler hat in hand. It seemed to Susannah that the visitor’s eyes narrowed slightly when Aubrey made his introductions. Clearly, John Hollister was as curious about her as the neighbors had been during her walk earlier that day, even though Aubrey had already explained that she was his late wife’s childhood friend, come from far-off Nantucket to look after the child.
    â€œWe’re considering names,” Susannah said cheerfully as the three of them retired to the parlor to await the other guests and Maisie’s eventual signal that supper was ready. “For the baby, I mean. I suggested Delphinia.”
    Aubrey sliced another warning glance in her direction, and Mr. Hollister smiled almost imperceptibly. It was obvious that he knew about Aubrey’s illicit affair with Mrs. Parker—no doubt the whole city was enjoying the scandal. On Julia’s behalf, Susannah felt a flash of fury. She was