Page 8 of If The Fates Allow
“That was quite the scandal last year.”
“I don’t know if Mother has ever forgiven her.”
Stopping to lay a hip on the railing, Willa observed her sister. Brown dress or not, Lucy remained dazzling. “And what about you?” she asked. “Are you feeling good about tonight?”
“I’ve missed Paul.” Lucy released a sigh so thick with longing it nearly sent Willa tumbling over the railing. “I can’t tell you how hard it’s been to restrain myself from marching right over there now that he’s home. The only reason I haven’t done so is because I’m angry at him for not stopping by when your new doctor came to Haven yesterday.”
Her new doctor.
Dr. Anderson.
Noah.
Turning to face the bayou, Willa tried to hide her smile. The number of times Dr. Noah Anderson had entered her thoughts since their meeting had become too many to count.
But count them, she did.
And it was one hundred and thirty-six.
Lucy let out another lovesick sigh. “Do you think Paul has forgotten me?”
“It’s all but agreed upon, Lucy.”
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
“Any man who could forget you is not worth the worry,” Willa said, deciding it was better to be honest than not. “I think it’s time you let it be known that you’re ready for him to stop dragging his feet.”
Her sister beamed at the suggestion, looking as radiant as the sunset. Every so often, Willa could see traces of Grace in Lucy. “I think I will.”
As they neared the rear of the house, the buzzing murmur of staff working below carried up on the wind, with Bonnie’s voice ringing loudest of all.
“Bonnie is certainly in a tizzy tonight.” With her hands on the concrete railing, Lucy leaned over the edge to have a peek. “Mother said she hired some Port Michaelson girls to come work in the kitchens. They’re staying over through the winter to help get the house to rights after The Gathering and so we’re running smoothly for the holidays.”
That would explain the high-pitched giggling heard between Bonnie’s orders. “Isn’t that Jennie?” Willa joined Lucy in watching. They had never hired outsiders for such a long period. “The pretty one who brings the milk on Tuesdays?”
“You mean the one Cal can’t take his eyes off whenever she comes around?” Lucy pointed to the group of four women currently being inspected by Bonnie on the lawn. “The very one.”
“Oh, he’s prowled around after her for at least two years, and now she’s going to be here through the holidays?” Willa grinned at her sister. Their brother’s reputation with women was quite improper for theirears, but the whispers made their way to them, nevertheless. “Perhaps The Gathering won’t be so boring after all.”
The Gathering was abysmal.
But not boring.
Standing on the stairs, Willa waved her satin hand-painted fan to circulate the stifling air and attempted to appear engaged with partygoers. She smiled here and inclined her head there, but thankfully, she was never required to converse.
John Richards arrived with his sister and with—miracle of miracles—nary a child in sight. Yet, when an hour passed, and he never made even the slightest bit of eye contact with her, too busy conversing with Lucy who had gone out of her way to be friendly with him, Willa began to think that perhaps the rumors weren’t true.
And life as a spinster might be her fate after all.
Much to her mother’s dismay, the Andersons arrived late, drawing the attention of the crowd. Willa wasn’t at all surprised by the reaction. Not when dealing with a family such as the Andersons. Each more beautiful than the next, the lot was like nothing else in the area, and the arrival of Noah and his brother had only upped the ante. The trek to Haven House from both Hollingsdale and Port Michaelson wasn’t easy, but it seemed that didn’t matter. There were many Mamas in attendance tonight, all ready to thrust their eligible daughters into the fray.
It was like a pageant of the very best the county had to offer. Women of marriageable age filled the halls of Haven, ready to battle for the attention of Paul or poor Beau, who didn’t quite know what to do with all the females surrounding him.
Not that Noah didn’t have his fair share of attention. As a doctor, he came in last amongst the available men. Never to accumulate the fortune his cousin or brother would one day share, he was the least desirable of the lot, even if he was by far the most attractive.
In Willa’s opinion, at least.
Cal was being sought after as much as the Anderson men. Watching from her perch, Willa snickered at the flock of girls following her poor brother from room to room as he himself chased after the serving girl, Jennie.
