Page 15 of A Late-Blooming Rose
I won’t impose on your hospitality for long. I will seek employment. Perhaps, you can keep your eyes out for someone in need of nursing. I believe your town will soon have a new librarian, although my aunt has not committed to that endeavor, or at least not that she’ll admit to me. But she will. And she’s certainly bringing along enough of Grandpapa’s books to give your library a good start. So I’m confident you can persuade her to take the job.
Hopefully, with both of us employed, we will soon arrange to move into a home of our own.
Sincerely,
Cora Collier
When he finished, Andre kept staring blankly at the paper. Just reading Cora’s breezy letter made his spirits lift.Rose is coming here!
At the same time, his stomach clenched, wondering if he’d just made a huge mistake. He’d broken her heart—both their hearts, really, and although time brought distance and healing, he wasn’t sure what seeing her on a daily basis would do to either of them.
“Papa, don’t keep us in suspense.”
He lifted his head, glanced at his daughter and saw her anxious expression.
“Good news?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Very.” He took a deep breath. “Both the Misses Collier—Rose and Cora—have accepted my invitation to stay with us and will arrive on the first.”
“That’s just six days!” Delia’s eyes sparkled. “Rose Collier, ay.” She gave him a knowing smile. “You and your secrets. I don’t suppose you could have forewarned me?” She turned to Micah, who watched their exchange with curious eyes. “Off to the kitchen, tell Cook to make you a sandwich, and hurry back to school.”
“Yes,Maman.” He flung a grin at Andre and hurried from the room.”
“Goodness, there’s so much to do before your ladies arrive.” She bustled over and dropped a kiss on Andre’s forehead. “I’m going to call you the puppet-master of Sweetwater Springs.”
Delighted with the idea, he chuckled, and then remembered the robbery and Deputy Rodda’s death. “Some things are beyond my powers.”
“I know.” She patted his hand.
“Nothing can take my mind off my concern for our posse.”
“Still, a distraction will be good for you. For all of us.”
He imagined seeing Rose again and lightness lifted some of his heavy spirits.
CHAPTER FIVE
The lightness was short-lived. After breakfast, Andre stood at the side of his four-poster bed, looking at the variety of night attire he’d spread out over the cover, a heavy feeling of guilt sobering him. Gazing out the window, he tried to think of anything else that could make Horace Hatter more comfortable as he convalesced from the assault during the bank robbery.
A knock on the door made him half turn. “Come in.”
Delia entered, looking pretty and fresh in an ocher-and-cream striped dress he’d ordered last month from Constance Taylor, the new dressmaker in town, and amber beads around her neck and in her ears. She carried a big basket in both hands, which she thumped on an empty spot on the bed.
Today he couldn’t even allow himself to feel his usual pleasure in her appearance, but he made an effort. “You look beautiful, my dear.”
Her hand fluttered to her stomach. “I’m lucky. No morning sickness today, although I probably won’t wear this dress again. The waist is already snug, and Dr. Cameron forbade me to wear a tight corset.”
“I’ll order you some more tea gowns,” he said, trying to act normal.
“I have enough clothing, Papa.”
He resolved to do so anyway.Miss Taylor can use the business.
Delia moved closer to Andre’s side. “What are you doing closed away in here?”
“Good timing, actually. You’re just the person I wanted to talk to. I need your permission.”
She glanced at the bed, and her brow creased. “What are you doing?”
