Read Online Lily (Song of the River) by Aaron McCarver, Diane T. Ashley - Free Book Online Page B

received.
    Lily realized she liked Mr. Marvin. If only he weren’t so old.
    “Adolphus, I don’t know when I’ve laughed so much.” Grandmother took a sip of water before returning her goblet to the table. “When Dahlia told me she wanted you to come over for dinner, I had my doubts. But after what we’ve been through recently, genuine laughter is a welcome diversion.”
    “Thank you.” Mr. Marvin captured Grandmother’s hand in his own. “I was so sorry to hear of your loss. If I’ve helped in even a small way, I will consider the evening a momentous success.”
    Was that a blush on Grandmother’s cheeks? Lily’s heart pounded when Grandmother looked toward Aunt Dahlia and nodded. Was she trying to signal her approval of Mr. Marvin as a suitor for Lily? What a frightening turn of events. No matter that Mr. Marvin seemed to be a nice man. She had no interest whatsoever in marrying him. Ever.
    Grandmother pulled her hand from Mr. Marvin’s. “That’s very kind of you, Adolphus. We must have you over again soon.”
    Uncle Phillip nodded his agreement. “I concur, Adolphus. You should consider yourself a member of the family.” Lily’s heart sank further as she glimpsed the determination on her uncle’s features. She had always thought of him as a weak man, controlled by Aunt Dahlia’s whims, but recently she had seen him in a different light. He was the man of the family now that Grandfather was dead, and he seemed eager to embrace the role. That would not have bothered her except that his primary objective seemed to be arranging a marriage between her and Mr. Marvin.
    Mr. Marvin glanced at Lily. “I would like that very much.”
    “Shall we retire in the parlor while the men gather in the study?” Satisfaction had settled on Aunt Dahlia’s face.
    Lily slid her chair out quickly, ready to escape the dining room. How had this happened? Grandmother was supposed to be on her side. It was bad enough she had to worry about Aunt Dahlia and Uncle Phillip trying to hurry her off into a loveless marriage. Now Mr. Marvin had managed to turn her only ally against her.
    “Are you enjoying your evening, Lily?” Grandmother sat down on the black horsehair sofa and patted the place next to her. “I found Mr. Marvin engaging, didn’t you?”
    “She ought to fix his interest.” Aunt Dahlia took a seat in the red brocade chair on the opposite side of the sofa table and reached for her sewing bag. “You could do a lot worse than marry him, you know.”
    Feeling besieged, Lily tried to come up with an answer that would satisfy them. A knock at the door followed by Tamar’s familiar face seemed like a reprieve. “What’s wrong?”
    Tamar stepped inside the room. “It’s Miss Jasmine. She’s crying for you.”
    Lily stood.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” Her aunt’s voice halted her escape.
    “I’m going to see about my sister, of course.”
    “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Aunt Dahlia stabbed at the sampler with her needle. “I doubt there’s anything terribly wrong with her, but if there is, Tamar or another of the girls can see to her.”
    “Let her go, Dahlia.” Grandmother smiled. “Don’t you remember what it was like to look to your older sister?”
    Aunt Dahlia sighed. “Well, be quick about it, Lily. We don’t want Mr. Marvin thinking you are trying to avoid him.”
    Lily made her escape and hurried up to the nursery. The normally tidy room had been turned upside down. Toys lay scattered about, and several pieces of furniture were upturned. “Did an army invade while I was eating?”
    “Near enough.” Tamar righted a chair. “It’s those imps whose father is courting you. I don’t know what he’s taught them, but it wasn’t company manners. They fair terrorized your sisters before Camellia told them to leave.”
    Lily could hear faint sobbing coming from the bedroom attached to the nursery and hurried inside to find Camellia sitting next to her younger sister’s