As Houston made her way toward Kane, one person after another stopped her.
“He looks quite nice, Houston. You’ve done wonders with him.”
“Did you really fall in love with him while you were engaged to Leander?”
“Was Lee terribly heartbroken when you told him?”
“Did you sneak out of your house to meet Mr. Taggert?”
“Houston, you must tell us everything!”
Finally, she made her way to Kane’s side and slipped her arm through his.
“You damn well took long enough,” he said under his breath. “Do you know what those women wanted to know?” he asked in a shocked tone.
“I can guess,” she laughed. “Did you get something to eat?”
“Just a couple of those little sandwiches. A body could eat all of ’em and still be hungry. We have to stay here much longer? Who was that man you were talkin’ to?”
“Reverend Thomas.”
“Oh, yeah. You teach a class for him on Wednesdays.” Smiling, he touched her nose with his fingertip. “Don’t look so surprised. I know lots about you. Why don’t you go sit down and I’ll bring you a plate of food? That’s what I seen the other men doin’ for the women.”
If she were with Lee now he’d know exactly what was proper to do, she thought. And they’d have to leave the party at 3:15 because on Thursdays he—.
“You wishin’ you had a man that knew what to do?” Kane asked from above her, his big shadow blocking the sunlight, a plate of food in his hand.
“Why no, I wasn’t,” she answered, but said no more because a mass of very wet food came tumbling into her lap.
Kane didn’t move but shown in his face was the knowledge that everything he’d feared had just happened.
It was when Houston heard a woman’s smothered laugh—for the entire party had come to a halt—that she reacted.
Quickly, she stood, the food falling to the ground. “Pick me up,” she whispered, but he only stared at her with bleak eyes. “Sweep me into your arms, carry me to the carriage and drive away,” she commanded quietly.
Kane wasn’t used to obeying orders blindly, but he did this one. With ease, he picked her up.
As he carried her toward the carriage, Houston snuggled against him. On Thursdays, Leander took fencing lessons, but Mr. Taggert’s Thursdays were spent in sweeping his intended off her feet.
Kane was silent until they were in the carriage and driving toward the Chandler house. “Why?” he asked. “What good did my carryin’ you do?”
“Because few of the men in there have backs strong enough to carry their wives, and I think any woman would trade a little spilled food for a man who could lift her.”
“You don’t weigh nothin’,” he said.
With a smile, she leaned toward him and kissed his cheek. “I weigh nothing to you,” she said softly.
He stopped the buggy and stared at her. “You’re a real lady, ain’t you, Miss Chandler? A real lady.”
“I hope, so,” she murmured and thought that it could be possible that whatever Kane Taggert wanted her to be, she just might become.
Chapter 9
Houston burst into her mother’s bedroom, where Opal sat quietly embroidering a pair of cuffs.
“Mother! You have to help me,” Houston said.
“Look at your dress,” Opal said, rising. “Do you think it’ll come clean?”