“Why are you so distrustful? Has your oh so short engagement to Lillian Piersal soured you in some way?”
“Not at all. I’m simply more aware that things are not always as they appear.”
“And you suspect me of something? Is it something dastardly? Oh, I hope so,” she teased excitedly, her hands clasped in front of her. “I’d so love to be remembered as more than a beautiful songbird when I move on.”
At that moment, Jane sailed through the doors, catching the last part of the conversation.
“Who’s doing something dastardly? Oh, do tell me,” she pleaded excitedly, rushing to Fancy’s side. “Is Lilly up to no good again?”
Fancy laughed and slipped her arm around Jane’s waist. With her other hand, she brushed a stray blonde curl from her cheek.
“Nobody is doing anything, my dear,” she replied. “I’ve missed you, Jane. Are you happy seeing so much of the good doctor?”
“I’m ecstatic,” Jane said. “We’ll be married soon, and I can’t wait. His kisses are so divine,” she sighed breathlessly.
“Why Jane,” Fancy said in surprise. Turning Jane in her arms, she placed both of her hands on Jane’s shoulders. “You love him!”
“Oh, I do, I truly do,” Jane admitted happily, her blue eyes shining. “He’ll be my husband, and at times my Papa, but that’s fine with me. I don’t think I’d like to marry a man who expected me to be perfect and behave all the time. You know that’s not always easy for me and I wouldn’t want to be a disappointment.”
“Sweet Jane, any man would be lucky to have you, even with your very tiny flaws,” Fancy insisted, giving her a small shake before pulling her close for a hug.
“That’s exactly what Horace says,” Jane replied.
“I couldn’t be happier for you. Now, come over here and listen to my new song and tell me what you think,” Fancy encouraged, taking Jane’s hand and leading her across the room to the piano.
For a moment she shot a glance at Morgan and Mead, wondering if Mead’s suspicions had faded away. They seemed to have done so, for he was no longer watching her, but having a private conversation with Morgan, their heads close together. Perhaps she should take up acting, she mused as she took a seat at the piano and began to play.
* * *
Micah tookhis time walking through town. The sights, the sounds, the smells were exactly as Mead had described. It was a fascinating and surreal experience. He felt as though he were on a movie set and half expected to hear a director yell ‘cut.’
Chuckling, he entered the mercantile and spent a good while perusing the wares. It was unfortunate the merchandise hadn’t been available to him when he was trying to come up with authentic clothes for his journey. That had been the most time-consuming task he’d faced while getting ready to go after his wife.
He’d thought often about Cara’s reckless behavior. She had to be punished, of course. He could never let something this dangerous go; such a thwart to his authority could not go unanswered. At first, he spent a good part of each night fuming and pondering various methods of discipline. It had to be severe enough to convince her she would never want to do such a thing again!
However, as time went on and he prepared to go after her, he began to understand exactly what she’d gone through when he’d disappeared. It was even worse than what he was experiencing, for she had no idea what had happened to him, while he clearly understood what she’d done.
His heart got heavier by the minute. He missed her, feared for her safety, and worried incessantly. His body longed for hers and the sweet comfort she brought him simply by being in his arms. Even eating seemed a chore, distraught as he was. But his mind told him he would need to be in top form to make the journey, especially as he had no clue what the situation would be when he arrived.
Finally, he decided a severe spanking would be punishment enough, but even that had fallen off the table when he saw her this afternoon. He discovered he had zero desire to do anything other than take her in his arms and love her, treasure her, and make her promise never to leave him again.
He now understood her desperation, for he’d felt the same. Life without her would not be worth living. While she’d clearly taken a chance he would not have advised, and was in fact dead set against, she’d done what she felt she had to. In her mind, she was doing it to secure their future. How could he punish her for that when, by following her, he’d done the same thing?
No, he would not punish her. Instead, he would devote his efforts to helping her. Purchasing a prettily decorated box of imported chocolates which cost the moon and delighted the shopkeeper, he started back to The Duchess.
CHAPTER 17
“You’re back,” Mead called out when Micah came through the doors. “What do you think of our little town?”
“It’s remarkable; exactly as you described it. I was fascinated. That’s what took me so long. Is Cara…I mean Caroline down yet?” he asked, looking around to see if anyone had overheard his mistake.
“She’s in the kitchen with Annalise. She’s in a tizzy. Ty Wainwright is insisting he won’t be put off any longer. He wants Annalise to go to Topeka with him and get married there. They’ll have a reception later out at the Wainwright ranch.”
“And this is a problem?”
“It is for Annalise. She’s worried they won’t be back for Marilee’s and my wedding. It’s caused quite conundrum, apparently.”
“Where is your bride to be? I’d like to meet her.”
