Read Online Desperately Seeking Suzanna by Elizabeth Michels - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Michels
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was a lecherous rake, and she’d fallen for every line of his prose. Idiot! She blamed it on the champagne…and her sister. It appeared now she must pay for her crimes. She returned her mother’s gaze as if staring down a wild animal on the attack.
“Sue, we do need to discuss your activities of last night. Your father and I have conversed on the matter and made some decisions on your behalf.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sue braced herself for the verbal lashing that was to come. Surely that’s all this was. That’s all it ever was. A few minutes of how disappointing she was as a daughter and it would be over. Only…“decisions on her behalf” did sound rather ominous. Her fingers curled into balls as she drew her arms around herself, waiting.
Her mother moved closer, taking slow steps while her eyes never swerved from Sue. The swirl of her mother’s deep blue gown moved in like storm clouds as she descended on Sue with a downpour of disapproval. “I’ve been thinking about your prospects this season.”
Sue didn’t know she had prospects. She sat up a little straighter in her seat. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so horrible.
“Let us speak openly, darling. You are not likely to find a husband this year.”
Sue sank back down into the chair. “That’s a bit too open, if I can speak openly on that subject as well.”
“I had long hoped we could find you a match this year. An old gentleman more in need of a caretaker than a wife or a gentleman with some abnormality…perhaps even someone’s destitute fourth son by the season’s end.” She sighed. “However, after seeing you dressed as you were last night…”
“Can’t we move beyond this? I thought we were to discuss my prospects.” Sue tried to entice her mother to cut short her ranting with the discussion of the season that lay ahead. It was a sound plan if she could control her tongue—which she couldn’t. “And it was a masquerade. I was dressed appropriately for the occasion. Mask, ball gown, dancing slippers…”
“Rooo-oouge?”
How did she manage to turn one syllable into four? This ability had always impressed Sue.
Sue sighed. “Even still, Mother. There were many others there dressed in similar attire. I was particularly fond of the ribbon embellishments. One would think you would be glad of my newfound interest in fashion.”
Her mother drew back in consternation, her dark eyes turning round as saucers. “The women there dressed in a similar fashion were of the demimonde. Light skirts. Paramours.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m light of skirt.” Sue ignored the heat of a blush creeping up her neck, for that was exactly what she had been in Holden’s arms.
“You were certainly dressed for the role, Sue Green.” Her mother placed her hands on her waist, rapping her nails against her corseted middle as she spoke. “At a ball when you were to be at home. Disgracing your cousins’ family name when they are new to the neighborhood. I will not have a daughter of mine seem to be sinking into a life of ill repute.”
“That’s very well since I have no desire to join the ranks of the demimonde. I want to be wed, Mother.” Surely there was some gentleman out there for her, even if he was old with eyesight so dim he couldn’t see her beyond his large belly. Find her that gentleman. He would do.
“It matters not what you want in life, Sue. We must play the hand of cards we are dealt. Unfortunately, this crumb-covered, woefully mediocre facade is your hand.”
Sue tried not to be hurt by her mother’s words. Something tightened within her. Was it her broken heart or her resolve? Either way it caused her fists to clamp, leaving crescent-shaped indentations in her palms. “It does matter what I want. It matters to me.”
“A gentleman’s wishes are all that matter in this life, darling.” Her mother’s lips pinched down to a wrinkled blotch of disgust. “A sentiment you appeared to be quite familiar with last evening. Which
“Sue, we do need to discuss your activities of last night. Your father and I have conversed on the matter and made some decisions on your behalf.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Sue braced herself for the verbal lashing that was to come. Surely that’s all this was. That’s all it ever was. A few minutes of how disappointing she was as a daughter and it would be over. Only…“decisions on her behalf” did sound rather ominous. Her fingers curled into balls as she drew her arms around herself, waiting.
Her mother moved closer, taking slow steps while her eyes never swerved from Sue. The swirl of her mother’s deep blue gown moved in like storm clouds as she descended on Sue with a downpour of disapproval. “I’ve been thinking about your prospects this season.”
Sue didn’t know she had prospects. She sat up a little straighter in her seat. Perhaps this wouldn’t be so horrible.
“Let us speak openly, darling. You are not likely to find a husband this year.”
Sue sank back down into the chair. “That’s a bit too open, if I can speak openly on that subject as well.”
“I had long hoped we could find you a match this year. An old gentleman more in need of a caretaker than a wife or a gentleman with some abnormality…perhaps even someone’s destitute fourth son by the season’s end.” She sighed. “However, after seeing you dressed as you were last night…”
“Can’t we move beyond this? I thought we were to discuss my prospects.” Sue tried to entice her mother to cut short her ranting with the discussion of the season that lay ahead. It was a sound plan if she could control her tongue—which she couldn’t. “And it was a masquerade. I was dressed appropriately for the occasion. Mask, ball gown, dancing slippers…”
“Rooo-oouge?”
How did she manage to turn one syllable into four? This ability had always impressed Sue.
Sue sighed. “Even still, Mother. There were many others there dressed in similar attire. I was particularly fond of the ribbon embellishments. One would think you would be glad of my newfound interest in fashion.”
Her mother drew back in consternation, her dark eyes turning round as saucers. “The women there dressed in a similar fashion were of the demimonde. Light skirts. Paramours.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m light of skirt.” Sue ignored the heat of a blush creeping up her neck, for that was exactly what she had been in Holden’s arms.
“You were certainly dressed for the role, Sue Green.” Her mother placed her hands on her waist, rapping her nails against her corseted middle as she spoke. “At a ball when you were to be at home. Disgracing your cousins’ family name when they are new to the neighborhood. I will not have a daughter of mine seem to be sinking into a life of ill repute.”
“That’s very well since I have no desire to join the ranks of the demimonde. I want to be wed, Mother.” Surely there was some gentleman out there for her, even if he was old with eyesight so dim he couldn’t see her beyond his large belly. Find her that gentleman. He would do.
“It matters not what you want in life, Sue. We must play the hand of cards we are dealt. Unfortunately, this crumb-covered, woefully mediocre facade is your hand.”
Sue tried not to be hurt by her mother’s words. Something tightened within her. Was it her broken heart or her resolve? Either way it caused her fists to clamp, leaving crescent-shaped indentations in her palms. “It does matter what I want. It matters to me.”
“A gentleman’s wishes are all that matter in this life, darling.” Her mother’s lips pinched down to a wrinkled blotch of disgust. “A sentiment you appeared to be quite familiar with last evening. Which
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