Chapter Two
Ballard blinked, then stared at her blankly for a moment. He noted a little dazedly that her soft ivory skin was now tinted a lovely rose. Finally he shook his head, but that did not dislodge the words he had just heard.
“Did ye just ask me to marry ye?” he asked cautiously, still afraid that he had misheard and would now embarrass himself.
“Yes, I did. Oh, I am dreadfully sorry,” she said, her meager courage swiftly waning. “I am doing this all wrong, terribly wrong. I had it all planned out so that I would approach the matter slowly, asking a few questions, then explaining a few things, and only then putting forth my proposition, but you started to leave sooner than I had planned. That put me into such a state of confusion and—” She stared at him, wide-eyed, when he lightly placed one long finger over her full mouth.
“Ye are getting yourself into a dither, lassie. Why dinnae ye just start all over again, doing it just as ye planned to? Ask me your questions, make all yourexplanations, and we can see how it rides. Weel, what did ye want to ask me?” he prodded gently when she hesitated.
She sighed and nervously smoothed her skirts. “All right. Why did you want to marry Sarah Marsten, aside from the fact that she is very comely?”
“Weel, I did notice that first,” he admitted.
“Ye-es, I am certain you did,” she drawled.
“Also, she showed some interest and was willing to let me call on her. She is a lady and all, with learning and fine manners. I am a rough mon, I ken it, and I live a rough life, but Kentucky is getting settled. ‘Tis a state now and ‘tis becoming mighty civilized. I reckon I was looking to take some of that culture back home with me. How did ye feel about that Thomas fellow?” he asked in an abrupt change of subject.
“That can wait. I am not finished with my questions yet.”
“Fine then, ye ask me a few more. Then I shall be wanting an answer.”
Clover was about to tell him that it was none of his business how she felt about Thomas, but quickly bit back the tart words. It certainlywashis business if he accepted her proposition. If he was to be her husband, he had every right to know all about her former beau.
“There is only one more question,” she said. “Did you think of marriage only when you saw Sarah Marsten or was the thought of marriage already in your head and she just seemed suitable?”
“I was thinking of marriage when I set out from Kentucky. This summer I will see in eight and twenty years. I have got my house built, my land’s all cleared and is producing nicely, and the horses I breed arefetching a fair price. So now I am able to set aside some coin and spend it on more than just staying alive. Decided it was past time I had me a family.”
“Are there no women in Kentucky to choose from?”
“Few who are nae already married or are old enough. A mon comes out to Kentucky to make a start. He might bring his wife with him, but many come out alone, just as I did. They want to get settled some before they start a family. Aye, there are a few single lasses about my home, but I wasnae of a mind to put my name to them. What about Thomas?”
“Oh, all right, if you must know.”
“I must.”
“Thomas and I were engaged for three months. Before that we knew each other for nearly a year, and sometime during that year, he became a beau. Two weeks ago my family fell upon hard times rather abruptly. As a result Thomas sent me a letter this morning in which he formally ended our betrothal. I should have anticipated it, for he has assiduously avoided me since my family’s troubles began.”
“But how do ye feel about that?” He wondered if she was just trying to salvage her pride when she asked him to marry her, thus showing Thomas and the world how quickly she could replace the man.
“I told you—I have not really thought on it. When I begin my explanations, I believe you will understand why. I am angry, very angry. That much I do know.” She frowned as she sought the right words. “I feel deeply betrayed, but that comes mostly from the fact that I counted on Thomas and he failed me. I suppose my heart ought to be breaking, yet it doesnot seem to be. However, the poor thing has suffered so many blows just lately that it may be beyond pain.”
“What are these troubles ye keep talking about?” he asked gently, deciding that he would get no better idea of her feelings for Thomas. She seemed to be very confused on the matter.
“It would be best if I started from the beginning. Two weeks ago my father came home, went into his study, and put a pistol to his head.”
Ballard cursed softly and took one of her tiny hands in his. “I am powerful sorry, lass.”
“Thank you.” She found herself briefly speechless, strongly affected by his touch, and nervously cleared her throat. “Well, to continue—we barely had time to see to Papa’s burial when the reasons for his suicide became all too clear. My father was a naive, trusting man, and he had put his faith in the wrong people to invest his money. Once he began to lose money, he borrowed in a vain attempt to recoup through other schemes—all dismal failures. The debts he left behind were very large ones. They have been paid, but we have no money left and in two weeks we shall have no home. All that remains to us are our clothes and furniture. All lands, silver, jewelry, and such assets went to pay off those debts.”
“And when Thomas heard that he jilted ye.”
“That he did. Not only have I lost my dowry, but my brothers and my mother would have become his responsibility as well.” She watched Ballard MacGregor closely, for she knew it would be those dependents who would be the biggest impediment to their union.
“Ye have no kin to help ye?”
“Only one,” Clover replied slowly as she fixed hergaze upon a familiar carriage that was coincidentally just now drawing to a halt before the house. “But she will not help. In fact, this is she now. Hello, Alice,” she said as her elder sister approached and Ballard stood to greet her.
For the thousandth time Clover wondered how someone as lovely as her sister could be so mean and small. As always, the voluptuous, blond Alice was adorned in the height of fashion, but Clover noticed that her sister’s much admired rosebud mouth was beginning to look pinched. Alice’s inner self was starting to alter her angelic features.
