Page 19 of A Soft Kiss in Summer
They were starting to attract attention.With as loud as Edwin was being, it was little wonder.
“Then marry her as any decent man would.”
Violet glanced around at those watching them and scowled.“Lower your voice, Edwin.I don’t need the entire town knowing our business.”
“What business?”he said, near to shouting when he added, “I just assumed everyone knew you two were engaged to be married.”
Someone gasped.
As if they’d planned it in advance, everyone within hearing distance stilled, their attention focused solely on them.
“You’re engaged?”
Josiah wasn’t sure who said it but it only took seconds before someone else asked the same question.Then the entire area exploded with noise.
Violet’s eyes closed as she blew out a long breath, small lines bracketing her mouth.
“When did this happen?”Josiah looked Hazel’s way when she spoke.Of all the people to hear Edwin, it had to be her.The woman gossiped as if she were paid to do so, and he knew this little scene would be the story of the week for her.
Violet glanced at those now whispering and shooting questions at them and threw Edwin a look filled with so much rage, that he took a step toward her.
“Violet, why didn’t you tell us?”
Gertie had moved closer, the smile on her face matching everyone else’s he looked at.Within minutes, congratulations were being shouted and claps landed on his back hard enough to make him shift on his feet.
When the noise died down, Ewan stepped into his line of vision.The old man was eccentric, but he didn’t miss much and the look on his face told him he knew something wasn’t right.“Ye been hiding something from your family, Violet?”
She met his gaze briefly, whispering, “I’m sorry,” before turning to her grandfather.“We’ll talk about this later, gramps.”
“What’s there to talk about?”Edwin’s smug expression wasn’t missed by anyone.“You accepted a marriage proposal from the good marshal here, even though you’d already promised to marry me.”
“I did not tell you I’d marry you, Edwin.”She hissed the words in a soft whisper, her face reddening as she stared at him.“You need to leave.”
“When are you getting married?”someone asked.
“Why the big secret?”someone else yelled.The questions and comments flew at them after that.
Someone shouted, “We all knew you were sweet on the marshal, Violet!”
Violet’s face turned a blistering shade of red before someone else said, “It’s about time!”
Gertie clapped her hands as if to get everyone’s attention and proclaimed, “Our picnic is now an engagement celebration!”
The noise grew as everyone continued to shout loud enough no one was focused on anything but them.The music had even stopped.Violet finally held up her hand and everyone quieted.
She glanced at him briefly before turning back to the crowd.“No one was told because….it just happened.”
So she’s sticking to the lie.
“When’s the big day?”someone yelled.
“Yes,” Edwin said.“When is the big day?”
“We haven’t set a date.”She scowled at Edwin before loosening a nervous laugh.“Honestly, we haven’t thought that far ahead yet.The circuit preacher doesn’t even come around but every so often, so there wasn’t any rush to mention it yet.”
“One is here now.”
Her head whipped around to Edwin when he spoke.“One what?”
