Read Online Love in the Balance by Regina Jennings - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Regina Jennings
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what the cattleman said, too, but when I adequately expressed my desire to experience this Western phenomenon, he arranged a short adventure. Even had his hands set up a camp so we could retire outside under the stars—for an extra sum, of course.”
Molly lifted an eyebrow. “You paid a cowboy extra to sleep outside? I’m afraid someone’s pulling the wool over your eyes.”
“I disagree. I see well enough to appreciate the exquisite pointed Basque cut of your gown. I didn’t expect the latest fashion in bodices down here. The Chantilly lace is a nice touch, as well.”
Molly stopped in her tracks. No man she’d ever met noticed anything about her clothing beyond color (Bailey) and price (her father). She wasn’t sure if this was a pleasing development or not.
“How did you come to know so much about women’s clothing?”
His answer was cut off by the appearance of a wagon brimming with lumber, her father, and her brother.
“Molly Parmelia Lovelace, what are you doing out this early?” her father said.
She panicked. Too late to hide. Too late to disassociate from her escort. “Father, Nicholas, may I present Mr. Edward Pierrepont?”
But her father ignored the introduction. “What’s this I hear about Mr. Fenton? Have you refused to see him?”
“Of course not, Father. I’ve been occupied this week.”
“We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the way home,” her father said. “You pack your trunk while we make this delivery, and we’ll meet you at the boardinghouse in an hour. If you’re going to let Mr. Fenton slip through your fingers, you have no reason to live in town.”
Molly was speechless. Just like that? Her job, her friends, her room—it was all to be taken away that quickly? Nicholas, looking much too dapper to deliver lumber, shot her a look of sympathy but didn’t intervene.
If only there were some way of mollifying her father. Her mouth went dry. Mollify . What a word! Had her parents named her with a view toward their expectations?
She wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Molly gripped Mr. Pierrepont’s arm tightly and prayed he would understand. “Father, I thought perhaps you might rather stay in town and dine with Mr. Pierrepont. He’s a friend of mine, a businessman all the way from New York.”
Nicholas leaned forward, his eyes merry. “New York, you say? What type of business?”
Quick as a wink she turned to Mr. Pierrepont. Truthfully, she had no idea what his answer would be, but she needn’t have worried.
“I have trusts I manage personally. Funds, investments—that sort of thing. My family has been very successful in land speculation, large tracts in particular.”
“Molly’s in the land business herself.” Nicholas gave Molly a lopsided grin. “It says so right on her door at the courthouse—Land Office.”
Her father’s eyes glinted. He was obviously intrigued. She hoped Mr. Pierrepont didn’t mind being dangled as bait.
“Dinner.” Thomas Lovelace yanked his watch out of a too-tight pocket. “Maybe we could make it a second breakfast. I don’t want to wait around until noon.”
Molly turned to catch Mr. Pierrepont’s response, fearful he would balk at her insinuation, but his eyes met hers in a gaze that was surprisingly familiar considering their brief acquaintance.
“That would be delightful. Haven’t I been telling you, lovey, how much I wanted to meet your parents? And you were worried that we might not get an opportunity with them living all the way out in . . .”
She swallowed. “Prairie Lea.”
“Ah, yes. Good old Prairie Lea.” If he didn’t wipe that syrupy smile off his face, he would draw flies. He turned to Molly’s father. “But I do hope you aren’t going to deprive me of Miss Lovelace’s company by taking her home. I fear I’m growing attached to having her here in town.”
Oh, my stars. Molly feared he was overshooting, but judging from the look on her father’s face, he’d hit the
Molly lifted an eyebrow. “You paid a cowboy extra to sleep outside? I’m afraid someone’s pulling the wool over your eyes.”
“I disagree. I see well enough to appreciate the exquisite pointed Basque cut of your gown. I didn’t expect the latest fashion in bodices down here. The Chantilly lace is a nice touch, as well.”
Molly stopped in her tracks. No man she’d ever met noticed anything about her clothing beyond color (Bailey) and price (her father). She wasn’t sure if this was a pleasing development or not.
“How did you come to know so much about women’s clothing?”
His answer was cut off by the appearance of a wagon brimming with lumber, her father, and her brother.
“Molly Parmelia Lovelace, what are you doing out this early?” her father said.
She panicked. Too late to hide. Too late to disassociate from her escort. “Father, Nicholas, may I present Mr. Edward Pierrepont?”
But her father ignored the introduction. “What’s this I hear about Mr. Fenton? Have you refused to see him?”
“Of course not, Father. I’ve been occupied this week.”
“We’ll have plenty of time to talk on the way home,” her father said. “You pack your trunk while we make this delivery, and we’ll meet you at the boardinghouse in an hour. If you’re going to let Mr. Fenton slip through your fingers, you have no reason to live in town.”
Molly was speechless. Just like that? Her job, her friends, her room—it was all to be taken away that quickly? Nicholas, looking much too dapper to deliver lumber, shot her a look of sympathy but didn’t intervene.
If only there were some way of mollifying her father. Her mouth went dry. Mollify . What a word! Had her parents named her with a view toward their expectations?
She wouldn’t go down without a fight.
Molly gripped Mr. Pierrepont’s arm tightly and prayed he would understand. “Father, I thought perhaps you might rather stay in town and dine with Mr. Pierrepont. He’s a friend of mine, a businessman all the way from New York.”
Nicholas leaned forward, his eyes merry. “New York, you say? What type of business?”
Quick as a wink she turned to Mr. Pierrepont. Truthfully, she had no idea what his answer would be, but she needn’t have worried.
“I have trusts I manage personally. Funds, investments—that sort of thing. My family has been very successful in land speculation, large tracts in particular.”
“Molly’s in the land business herself.” Nicholas gave Molly a lopsided grin. “It says so right on her door at the courthouse—Land Office.”
Her father’s eyes glinted. He was obviously intrigued. She hoped Mr. Pierrepont didn’t mind being dangled as bait.
“Dinner.” Thomas Lovelace yanked his watch out of a too-tight pocket. “Maybe we could make it a second breakfast. I don’t want to wait around until noon.”
Molly turned to catch Mr. Pierrepont’s response, fearful he would balk at her insinuation, but his eyes met hers in a gaze that was surprisingly familiar considering their brief acquaintance.
“That would be delightful. Haven’t I been telling you, lovey, how much I wanted to meet your parents? And you were worried that we might not get an opportunity with them living all the way out in . . .”
She swallowed. “Prairie Lea.”
“Ah, yes. Good old Prairie Lea.” If he didn’t wipe that syrupy smile off his face, he would draw flies. He turned to Molly’s father. “But I do hope you aren’t going to deprive me of Miss Lovelace’s company by taking her home. I fear I’m growing attached to having her here in town.”
Oh, my stars. Molly feared he was overshooting, but judging from the look on her father’s face, he’d hit the
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