Read Online For Love's Sake by Leonora De Vere - Free Book Online

them walked back to the courthouse lawn and found two vacant white wooden folding chairs to sit on. He recognized faces from the mill, except today they were well groomed and nicely dressed. His secretary was there with her small son, and he saw one of his supervisors seated with his family in the shade of a clump of pear trees.
    “Are you having a good time?” Laurel asked him.
    “I am,” he said. “My family back home wouldn’t believe it.”
    She laughed, teasing him. “I take it you aren’t much fun!”
    “My niece and nephews would disagree. They love to visit their ‘Uncle Chris’.”
    Laurel smiled at the thought of rambunctious youngsters clinging to his pants legs. She almost dared to ask him if he ever wanted children of his own, but that was a very personal question, and she hated over-personal questions. Luckily, the moment was ruined by the lineup of the wheelbarrow racers.
    It was the young boys first – one in the standing position, holding his partner’s feet up as he scrambled across the grass on his hands. The crowd clapped and cheered, urging the teams across the finish line. Next were the teams of men and women. The ladies took their male partner’s feet and steered them. This earned uproarious laughter from the spectators, as usually dignified townspeople made fools of themselves all in the name of good fun.

    Christopher and Laurel took a break from the afternoon’s activities to have luncheon at the hotel. They sat amongst the other patrons on the porch, enjoying potato salad, finely chopped pork barbecue, and red coleslaw. Although he had been reluctant at first, he was glad Laurel convinced him to try the meal that was found so delicious by North Carolinians. It was a perfect compliment to the wonderful day.
    Laurel pointed her fork at him. “I’ll make something of you yet!”
    “Is that so?”
    She nodded. “And you’re coming dancing tonight.”
    Christopher took a long drink of his sweet tea. He was not going dancing and he told her so.
    “But you have to!” Laurel begged. “That’s the best part of the entire festival!”
    “Don’t be childish, Miss Graham. It has been a perfect afternoon, and let’s not spoil it.”
    She did not think she was being childish at all! “Why won’t you come to the dance with me? Everything always has to be on your terms – I call that childish!”
      “Go have fun with boys your own age, and forget about me,” Christopher said. “We spend entirely too much time together as it is.”
    “I didn’t realize I was becoming such a nuisance, Your Lordship . I apologize!”
    He was growing very tired of Laurel’s attitude. “I refuse to argue with you in public. You are so juvenile! If you had any sense at all, you would know better than to make a spectacle out of yourself over some stupid dance!”
    Laurel slung her napkin on the table and rose to her feet. “Excuse me.”
    Christopher made no move to stand, as was customary for a gentleman to do when a lady was leaving the table. It was a direct insult, and they both knew it. He was furious with her for making a scene. Women like her, who threw tantrums when they didn’t get their way, tried his patience. If that was how she was going to act, Miss Graham would not have the privilege of exasperating him any further.

    “Childish!” Laurel yelled at her startled gray cat. “ He called me childish! Why, he’s the most hard-headed man alive.”
    She heated up a pot of water on her little stove. If Lord Christopher Brayles didn’t want to go to the dance, that was his prerogative. In fact, he would just ruin her good time anyway. Laurel had never heard him laugh, barely seen him smile – a person like that had no sense of humor, and probably wouldn’t know a good time if it jumped up and bit him!
    “Well, I’ll show him.” She declared as she poured the steaming water into a small porcelain hipbath in the middle of her floor. “I’ll have twice as much fun just to spite