“That’s not what I—”
“I’ll find you at supper.” Hale slipped out of the room before the man could levy another demand. He moved quickly to his office and shut himself inside, hoping Mr. Quarles hadn’t seen where he’d gone. He needed just a few minutes of peace. Just a little time to take a breath and get ready to meet the lady his sister would be bringing home any moment.
He stood and moved to the small mirror that hung on the wall opposite his desk. A weary face reflected back at him. Hale frowned at himself before smoothing his hair and tugging at his vest. He squinted at his image. A single line of silver shimmered against the brown hair at his temple. He grabbed hold of it between his fingers and yanked it out. This boardinghouse was aging him by the day.
But having Miss Sutter here should help. A third person would make both Hale and his sister’s workload easier. In her letters, Miss Sutter described some of the dishes she enjoyed cooking, mentioned she was skilled at sums, and talked about how much she enjoyed meeting new people. It was her enthusiasm for all of those things that made Hale choose her from the other women who had written to him.
Selfishly, he hoped she was pretty and a good conversationalist, but a man in his position couldn’t afford to be picky. Besides, it was more important he married someone competent rather than someone nice to look at. If not, he andTansy would be working themselves into an early grave. They loved this boardinghouse and were thrilled it was doing well, but with success came a price.
A knock came at the door.
Hale made a silent plea that itnotbe Quarles before stepping to the side to open the door.
Tansy stood there, smiling. That boded well. He peered behind her to see a lady with hair so brilliantly red he was half-convinced she’d borrowed a wig from an opera house somewhere.
“Miss Sutter, this is my brother, Hale Darby. Hale, this is Miss Isabella Sutter.” Tansy beamed at the two of them as Miss Sutter gave Hale a hesitant smile.
He opened his mouth, searching for words as he stared at her. She wasn’t what he pictured when he thought of a beautiful woman. She didn’t have an even complexion with a mane of soft blonde or chestnut hair, paired with a voluptuous shape and a generous smile from perfectly-shaped pink lips.
Miss Sutter was, however, the most intriguing woman he’d ever seen. That bright red hair, freckles that would send most women running for a tin of powder, eyes that were somehow both green and brown at the same time, and an expression of undisguised curiosity—somehow, all of that made what he’d imagined pale in comparison.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Even if her smile was hesitant, her voice wasn’t. She stuck out her hand like a man, and after a moment, Hale reached out and shook it.
“Likewise,” he managed to say as he tried not to think of how small her hand was in his. He let go before he could dwell any more on that thought.
“Shall we let Miss Sutter refresh herself before we visit Reverend Canton?” Tansy asked.
Hale’s mind caught on his sister’s last words. Visit the reverend. To get married. He swallowed, but before he could speak, Miss Sutter piped up.
“That would be lovely. I’ve never been on a train before. It was a fascinating journey, but it was long, and very hot and dirty.” Miss Sutter laughed a little as she gestured at her skirt. A few streaks smudged the lavender calico.
“All right. Yes, of course. Tansy, will you . . .?” He looked to his sister for help.
“I’ll take her to your room,” Tansy said as if her words weren’t entirely terrifying.
“Yes. All right,” he said quickly.
Miss Sutter gave him a curious look before Tansy closed the door. Hale sank back against his desk. Every doubt he could have ever had came rushing at him all at once. He wouldn’t be surprised at all if Miss Sutter made her excuses and hopped on the next train back to the Wyoming Territory. Especially when he’d done nothing whatsoever to make himself look like a man she’d want to marry.
He tugged at his collar. The open window was doing nothing to dissipate the heat of the day. And he still had to get himself through this wedding.
The very thought of it made him want to lock the door and never emerge. He’d melt in here from the summer heat, but at least he wouldn’t have to try to live up to whatever it was Miss Sutter expected of him.
Not nearly enough time had passed when Tansy came knocking on his door to collect him. Miss Sutter wore a clean white blouse with a pretty red skirt. Her nose had an adorable upturn to it, he noticed, and her smile was gentle but nervous.
“Shall we go?” he managed to say.
Miss Sutter nodded, and Hale tore his eyes away to close and lock his office door.
Tansy chattered on to both him and Miss Sutter—about the housekeeper she’d asked to keep an eye on the place while they were gone, about the most interesting guests they’d had lately, about the new linens she was ordering.
“Speaking of linens, Moira said there was something wrong with the drapes in Mr. Quarles’s room?” Tansy looked at him as they approached the church.
Hale tugged at his collar again. Why did it have to be so blasted hot today? It made it hard for a man to think. “There’s nothing wrong with them. He’s an irritating, demanding—”
“I see,” his sister said, cutting him off before he said something in front of Miss Sutter that he might regret. “We’re here!”
Hale’s stomach turned over as they went inside the church, and he was grateful he’d skipped the noon meal. Reverend Canton and his wife were waiting for them.
