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

behaving shamelessly, she knew, and yet she couldn’t seem to help herself. The whole concept of Mr. Fairgrieve keeping a mistress galled her.
    â€œDon’t tell me you haven’t named the poor little mite after all this time,” Hollister scolded. Aubrey had given him a snifter of brandy, and he gestured with the glass as he spoke. “I declare, Fairgrieve, that’s downright negligent of you. Personally, I’ve always favored Elisabeth. That was my mother’s name.”
    The doorbell chimed again, and Aubrey hurried off to answer it. When he returned, he was accompanied by two more gentlemen, both older, with balding heads, large bellies, and heavy gold watch chains. Susannah guessed before the introductions were made that they were bankers. No doubt both of them had names to suggest, but the topic had changed to the situation in the gold fields and the “Chinese problem,” whatever that was.
    After fifteen minutes or so, the last guest arrived. This one looked more like a cowboy than a businessman, and Susannah liked him immediately. His eyes were a mischievous blue, his fair hair sun-streaked and slightly too long, lending him a rakish appearance. He presented himself to her without waiting for Aubrey to do the honors. “I’m Ethan Fairgrieve,” he said, taking her hand briefly. “My brother probably hasn’t mentioned me.”
    â€œNo,” Susannah said, almost stammering the word. Julia had, of course, but it didn’t seem like a good time to bring that up. There were a lot of undercurrents flowing through that house, too many for her comfort.“I’m Susannah McKittrick—Julia and I were at school together. It’s—it’s good to meet you.”
    â€œLikewise,” Ethan replied, his eyes twinkling with a merriment that made Susannah want to know him better. “If I weren’t already taken, I swear I’d come courting you, Miss Susannah.” He glanced at his brother, who was taking in every word of the conversation and, at the same time, doing his best to look disinterested. “My Rosa,” Ethan went on with mock solemnity, “weighs three hundred pounds and packs a pistol. If I dared to stray, she’d have my hide nailed to the barn door quicker than you can say so long.”
    Susannah laughed. “And where is Rosa tonight? I would like to meet her.”
    â€œShe’s keeping the home fires burning. I’m only here because word got back to me that Julia’s favorite correspondent had arrived. I wanted a look at you.”
    â€œWhat was your mother’s name?” Susannah whispered, leaning close.
    Ethan barely missed a beat, though it was plain that the question had caught him off-guard. “Jenny,” he said. “Why?”
    â€œJenny,” Susannah repeated, savoring the name. “That’s lovely.”
    Just then, Maisie rang the fancy supper bell, and Aubrey started toward Susannah. Before he reached her, however, Ethan offered his arm, and she took it, allowing him to escort her into the dining room.
    Maisie was a gifted cook, and the meal was one to savor. Susannah said very little but listened instead, sorting and assimilating what she heard. It soon became obvious that Ethan and Aubrey were not on the best of terms, brothers or not. Every time Ethan flung one of his taunting grins in Aubrey’s direction, Aubrey glared as though he’d been formally insulted.
    The bankers were Aubrey’s business associates rather than his friends, Susannah quickly discerned, but Mr. Hollister was harder to place. Despite his remarks about the baby going unnamed for so long—that certainly indicated some degree of familiarity on both his part and Aubrey’s—he didn’t quite fit into the pattern of things. While the conversation swirled around him, he ate sparingly and watched Susannah whenever he thought she wouldn’t notice. Because his manner was