He did as she asked, but sat at the end of the chair, his back straight. Rebecca attempted to make herself comfortable on the settee, but comfort was impossible. Not when she knew exactly why Mr. Whiteside was here.
He cleared his throat. Any moment now, he would ask her for an answer. He was a handsome man, with dark gold hair that curled just ever so slightly, a tanned face, a strong jaw, and clear hazel eyes that Rebecca thought sometimes could see straight into her soul. He seemed straightforward enough, and he’d made clear his goal to improve the land he had owned with his brother to a profitable, working farm. And while he almost appeared afraid of her children, there was something else about Mr. Whiteside that intrigued Rebecca. She couldn’t place a finger on it, and he’d offered no hint at his past, but there was a strength there that made her feel as if he would be a good protector.
He’d also gone out of his way to be an honorable sort of man, paying for this boarding house and offering to marry her when she’d arrived to wed his late brother. Learning that Edward Whiteside had recently passed away was hardly morethan Rebecca could bear. She hadn’t truly known the man, but she’d already been through so much. It seemed she was meant for difficulty—but then Levi Whiteside had come forward and made her an offer she never could have expected.
And now he needed an answer.
“Would you like some refreshment?” Rebecca twisted her fingers together, buying time before either of them had to address the question that lingered in the air. “I could fetch you some tea, or perhaps some coffee.”
“No, thank you. I’m not particularly thirsty.” His voice was deep, and Rebecca tried to imagine hearing it every day.
Mr. Whiteside turned his hat in his hands before setting it on the little table adjacent to his armchair. He cleared his throat again. “I trust you’ve thought about my proposal?”
Rebecca’s heart thumped so hard she was certain he’d be able to hear it. “I have,” she said, her voice higher pitched than normal.
He sat even straighter, which Rebecca would have thought impossible. Could she do it? Could she marry this man she hardly knew?
You know him better than you knew his brother, she reminded herself. She’d agreed to marry Edward Whiteside sight unseen. At least she’d had conversations with Levi. By all appearances, he was upstanding and hard-working.
And she had no other choice—at least none that would keep her children fed and a roof over their heads.
Before she could change her mind, Rebecca nodded. “Yes. My answer is yes.”
“Yes?” Mr. Whiteside repeated, as if he couldn’t believe she’d actually agreed to his proposal. He nodded and repeated the word before she could speak. “Yes. All right. I’ll make the preparations.”
He stood, and she followed his lead. He waited there for a moment, and Rebecca thought that she’d never felt so awkward in her life. Was she to thank him? To wait for him to say goodbye? Or—oh, heavens—would he kiss her?
Just as her face flushed with the thought, he reached for her hand, lifted it, and pressed his lips against the back of her hand.
Rebecca didn’t have time to react, because at that very moment, a tiny girl with blonde ringlets sailed into the parlor and wrapped her arms around Rebecca’s legs.
“Mama,” Emmy said, the word smothered against Rebecca’s skirts.
Rebecca rested a hand on Emmy’s head just as Gwynnie paused at the door.
“I’m sorry,” Gwynnie said. “She got away from me. Good afternoon, Mr. Whiteside.”
“Good afternoon,” Mr. Whiteside replied, looking somewhat startled at the intrusion as he took his hat from the table. Emmy watched him with wide eyes as he retreated toward the door.
“I’ll pay a call as soon as I have the arrangements made.” The moment the words were out of his mouth, he’d disappeared past Gwynnie and was gone.
Rebecca bit down on her lip, the nerves unspooling inside. All she could hope was that she’d made the right decision.
Chapter Two
