Read Online Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot - Free Book Online Page B

look, the older woman shook her head. “Don’t you fret none about crumbs. They’ll clean up.”
    The coffee cake was as delicious as its aroma promised, the tea cool and refreshing. Though Sarah savored both, what pleased her most was the way Mrs. Bramble regarded Thea. Though she’d provided a tin plate for Thea instead of the delicate china one she’d used for Sarah’s cake, she did not flinch at the inevitable crumbs. Sarah started to relax. It appeared that Mrs. Bramble enjoyed the company of children and that, as Clay had indicated, her days were not filled with work. If she agreed to Sarah’s proposal, Thea would be well cared for here.
    Sarah kept the conversation light while they ate. It was only fair to give Mrs. Bramble time to observe Thea before she made any decisions. If anything about her sister’s behavior appeared to annoy the older woman, Sarah would say nothing. This would become a purely social visit.
    Once her cake was finished, Sarah cleaned Thea’s hands and encouraged her to play with her doll. That ploy worked for only a few minutes. Obviously bored, Sarah’s sister climbed onto the settee next to Mrs. Bramble.
    “Pretty.” She smiled and stretched her hand toward the older woman’s gold locket.
    “No, Thea.” Sarah knew from painful experience that Thea would try to pull the necklace off. Shiny objects allured her sister, and the oval pendant with its filigreed surface would be almost irresistible to her. “Your locket is beautiful,” Sarah told Mrs. Bramble as she settled Thea back on the floor where she could do no harm.
    The older woman’s smile was bittersweet. “It’s very dear to me, a gift from my late husband. He was killed in the war with Mexico, you know.”
    “I’m sorry.” What else could she say? Sarah knew all too well the sense of loss and loneliness caused by the death of a family member.
    “If Mr. Bramble had lived, David’s and my lives would have been different.” Mrs. Bramble’s eyes flashed with something Sarah thought was pain. She closed them for a second, as if trying to control her emotions. When she opened her eyes again, Mrs. Bramble shook her head slowly. “Forgive me for speakin’ of death when you just learned of Austin’s.” She reached over to pat Sarah’s hand. “It’s downright dreadful that you come all this way for naught.”
    “It wasn’t for naught. I plan to make Ladreville my home and Thea’s.”
    Mrs. Bramble’s confusion was obvious. “I don’t understand, unless . . .” She gave Sarah another of those long, appraising looks. “Has Clay offered to marry you?”
    “No, ma’am.” This was the opening Sarah needed. It was time to tell Mrs. Bramble her plans and see whether she was willing to be part of them. “I don’t expect to marry, but I do want to stay and make a home for myself and Thea.” Mrs. Bramble raised an eyebrow, encouraging Sarah to continue. “The Rousseaus have offered me a job in their store.”
    For a moment the only sound was Thea’s conversation with her doll. At last Mrs. Bramble spoke. “I see.”
    Though the words were simple, Sarah thought she detected disapproval. Perhaps the older woman was so opposed to the idea of Sarah’s working that she wouldn’t agree to help her. There was only one way to find out.
    “I have a problem, though. The store is not a good place for a child of Thea’s age.” As Mrs. Bramble nodded, Sarah took a deep breath. “I wondered whether you would consider caring for her during the day. I’d pay you, of course.”
    The older woman’s expression was guarded. She looked at Thea and then back at Sarah. “It’s been more than twenty years since I had a child that age.”
    She wasn’t going to agree. The tone of her voice told Sarah that. She hoped her own expression didn’t reflect her dismay. There were other women in Ladreville, Sarah reminded herself. But would any of them have the same rapport with Thea that she’d seen here?
    Mrs. Bramble stared