An Irresistible Temptation Read Online Free Page A

see that Eliza had grabbed
a kitchen rag and was wiping the bench with it.
    Sophie smiled. She had done the same thing a
couple days earlier, but had gotten used to the fact that this town
was dusty; without the paved streets of Boston, the dirt seemed to
track in at every turn.
    Eliza saw her watching and returned a sweet
smile. “My dress is new,” she explained.
    Sophie nodded; it was a lovely dress indeed,
all pinks and creams, and seemed the height of foolishness in this
environment, but that was not her concern.
    When the tea was poured and Sophie had taken
a seat, a few moments of uncomfortable silence passed, but Eliza
merely looked around and sipped her tea.
    “It was nice of you to call on me,” Sophie
offered, though she would rather be playing the piano . . . and
brooding, as she found herself doing more and more.
    “It has been many years since I was in
Charlotte’s house,” Eliza offered.
    Oh. Suddenly it was clear to Sophie. Eliza
had to be one of Charlotte’s old friends and had come for news of
her. She relaxed; it didn’t seem so odd at all.
    “She is doing very well,” Sophie said. “It
was an uneventful pregnancy and Emory came out healthy and
hearty.”
    “So she had a baby?” Eliza looked smug.
“That’s what happens when—”
    “Yes, Reed is over the moon happy.” She
smiled at the memory of her brother’s extreme delight.
    Eliza’s mouth pursed slightly for a moment.
“Still together, then?”
    “But of course,” Sophie said, her smile
faltering. “I thought you would know that. They were married last
year.”
    “Before the baby?”
    Sophie’s mouth opened in shock. Sophie
started to get the first inkling that Eliza might not have been a
friend after all.
    “Mr. Malloy and Charlotte,” Eliza continued.
“What a surprise that was. Right under all our noses.”
    “I guess it must have been a surprise,”
Sophie agreed. “And perhaps not entirely welcome, to have Spring
City’s famous author whisked away to Boston.”
    Eliza leveled her gaze. “Oh, I’m not sure she
is all that famous. I, for one, have never read any of Charlotte’s
writing. But her carrying on like that, in this very house.” She
shook her head slowly, her blond curls swinging right and left.
“With those two children nearby. Well, she nearly became infamous , if you ask me.”
    “They fell in love,” Sophie said.
    “They fell into bed,” Eliza snapped.
    Sophie set down her tea cup. “You are
speaking of my brother and my sister-in-law. They are good,
upstanding people. They deserved—”
    Eliza put up her hand and smiled a most
beatific smile. “They deserved each other. I’m very happy for
them.” Her happiness didn’t reach her pale blue eyes. “And what of
Charlotte’s brother? Is he faring well?”
    Sophie shrugged lightly. “I have no idea
about Thaddeus.” It was clear that the woman was looking for more
gossip about the Sanborn family.
    “Miss Prentice,” Sophie began.
    “Eliza, please.”
    Sophie started again, “I don’t wish to be
blunt, but did you come calling for a particular reason?”
    The golden-haired angel seemed to take no
offense. “When the first Malloy came to town, he made such an
impression on everyone, I was eager to meet you. I’m quite curious
as to why you’d follow in his footsteps. Also, I wanted to ask
after Charlotte and her brother, too, of course.”
    Sophie rose. This tea was over. The woman was
a snoop and a busybody, and Sophie wanted her out of the house as
soon as possible.
    “Thank you for coming over,” Sophie said,
stepping into the hall, so Eliza had to stand up and follow. “But I
have to get back to the packing. I’m trying to get Charlotte’s
things on the train in the next day or so.”
    It wasn’t a lie, though Sophie had spent more
time playing the piano and sitting on the porch swing than
packing.
    “So, you’ll be leaving soon?” Eliza
persisted.
    “Yes, I believe I already said that.” Eliza’s
obvious interest in