extended her hands to him. "Goodness, how splendid you look!"
A wry smile crept over his mouth as he glanced down at the Prince Albert frock coat, starched white collar, pressed gray trousers, and expertly knotted black silk tie he had donned for the occasion. The formal clothing only served to accentuate his broad shoulders and powerful physique. "It's kind of you to say so, Mrs. O'Hara, but I sense that your granddaughter remains unconvinced."
His ironic tone and the gleam in his eyes were not lost on Maddie. Before she could think she retorted, "Perhaps that's because I realize that a lot of fancy decoration is worthless if it's covering up something—or someone— that is crude and—"
"Madeleine Avery!" Gramma Susan broke in, aghast. "Never have I heard you display such a shocking lack of manners. What would your mother say if she could hear you?"
Blushing profusely, she murmured, "You are right, Gramma, that was inexcusable. I don't know what came over me. Mr. Fox, please accept my apology." She couldn't look at him, though, and wondered why he lingered when he knew they had other plans.
"Apology accepted, of course." As if reading her mind, Fox turned to his elderly hostess and cocked an eyebrow. "Your granddaughter is expecting a very important dinner guest. Is there someone else?"
"Certainly not!" Susan shook her head. "Pay no attention to Maddie; she must not be feeling well. Now then, do come in. I'm so pleased that you were able to join us."
As she took in the truth of the situation unfolding in her own parlor, Maddie wished the floor could open up and swallow her. Fortunately, distraction appeared when her father and Benjamin entered the room. He looked grumpy in his little blue suit and the shoes he'd worn to church in Philadelphia. They were pinching him now, and his pants were too small, but his hair was neatly parted in the middle and slicked down, and he even wore a paper collar. The instant he recognized Fox, the boy's freckles seemed to pop out from his suddenly white face.
"What are you doing here?" he cried.
"Fox is our guest for supper tonight, and I trust that you'll remember your manners," Gramma Susan said, with a threatening glance. She turned to her son-in-law. "Stephen, I would like you to meet Fox Daniel. Fox, this is my son-in-law, Stephen Avery."
As the two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, Fox said quickly, "Please, everyone just call me Fox. I like my life as simple as possible these days."
Susan and Maddie had converted a corner of the parlor into a dining area. Covered with Colleen's lace cloth, the creaking drop-leaf table was made even more charming by a Tucker porcelain vase filled with wild daisies, orange wood lilies, and delicate blue harebells. Earlier, Madeleine had unpacked the china and set each place with loving care. Many of the treasures she had grown up with had been acquired by her great-grandfather Lion during his days as a sea captain during the China trade. So tonight the table was set with green-and-white Cantonese dishes, silver flatware, and fresh linen napkins. Long white tapers flickered in carved silver candlesticks. The effect was so lovely that Maddie might have been able to pretend that they were not in Deadwood at all, just for these few hours—if their dinner guest had been anyone else.
"Ah," Stephen murmured in bemusement as they approached the table, "I see that my daughter has been toiling diligently this afternoon. I had no idea that you had brought so many of your mother's things, Madeleine. Apparently my instructions about packing sparingly were ignored."
Maddie flushed. Her father didn't know the half of it. There were still books, quilts, and other assorted knick-knacks that she had yet to unpack.
"Don't spoil the few pleasures left to her, Stephen," Susan O'Hara said in a quiet, firm tone. "She's Colleen's daughter, and you couldn't expect her to change into some sort of female bullwhacker just because she's moved West."
"God
A wry smile crept over his mouth as he glanced down at the Prince Albert frock coat, starched white collar, pressed gray trousers, and expertly knotted black silk tie he had donned for the occasion. The formal clothing only served to accentuate his broad shoulders and powerful physique. "It's kind of you to say so, Mrs. O'Hara, but I sense that your granddaughter remains unconvinced."
His ironic tone and the gleam in his eyes were not lost on Maddie. Before she could think she retorted, "Perhaps that's because I realize that a lot of fancy decoration is worthless if it's covering up something—or someone— that is crude and—"
"Madeleine Avery!" Gramma Susan broke in, aghast. "Never have I heard you display such a shocking lack of manners. What would your mother say if she could hear you?"
Blushing profusely, she murmured, "You are right, Gramma, that was inexcusable. I don't know what came over me. Mr. Fox, please accept my apology." She couldn't look at him, though, and wondered why he lingered when he knew they had other plans.
"Apology accepted, of course." As if reading her mind, Fox turned to his elderly hostess and cocked an eyebrow. "Your granddaughter is expecting a very important dinner guest. Is there someone else?"
"Certainly not!" Susan shook her head. "Pay no attention to Maddie; she must not be feeling well. Now then, do come in. I'm so pleased that you were able to join us."
As she took in the truth of the situation unfolding in her own parlor, Maddie wished the floor could open up and swallow her. Fortunately, distraction appeared when her father and Benjamin entered the room. He looked grumpy in his little blue suit and the shoes he'd worn to church in Philadelphia. They were pinching him now, and his pants were too small, but his hair was neatly parted in the middle and slicked down, and he even wore a paper collar. The instant he recognized Fox, the boy's freckles seemed to pop out from his suddenly white face.
"What are you doing here?" he cried.
"Fox is our guest for supper tonight, and I trust that you'll remember your manners," Gramma Susan said, with a threatening glance. She turned to her son-in-law. "Stephen, I would like you to meet Fox Daniel. Fox, this is my son-in-law, Stephen Avery."
As the two men shook hands and exchanged pleasantries, Fox said quickly, "Please, everyone just call me Fox. I like my life as simple as possible these days."
Susan and Maddie had converted a corner of the parlor into a dining area. Covered with Colleen's lace cloth, the creaking drop-leaf table was made even more charming by a Tucker porcelain vase filled with wild daisies, orange wood lilies, and delicate blue harebells. Earlier, Madeleine had unpacked the china and set each place with loving care. Many of the treasures she had grown up with had been acquired by her great-grandfather Lion during his days as a sea captain during the China trade. So tonight the table was set with green-and-white Cantonese dishes, silver flatware, and fresh linen napkins. Long white tapers flickered in carved silver candlesticks. The effect was so lovely that Maddie might have been able to pretend that they were not in Deadwood at all, just for these few hours—if their dinner guest had been anyone else.
"Ah," Stephen murmured in bemusement as they approached the table, "I see that my daughter has been toiling diligently this afternoon. I had no idea that you had brought so many of your mother's things, Madeleine. Apparently my instructions about packing sparingly were ignored."
Maddie flushed. Her father didn't know the half of it. There were still books, quilts, and other assorted knick-knacks that she had yet to unpack.
"Don't spoil the few pleasures left to her, Stephen," Susan O'Hara said in a quiet, firm tone. "She's Colleen's daughter, and you couldn't expect her to change into some sort of female bullwhacker just because she's moved West."
"God
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