Magnate Read Online Free Page B

age.”
    While Lizzie appreciated her older brother, she’d always wished for a sister. Borrowing clothes, sharing stories, discussing young men . . . A sister would have been a friend and confidante to help ease the lonely years of adolescence. Will had done so much for her, but his responsibilities at the company and finishing his schooling hadn’t left much time for his younger sister.
    â€œIt is, especially since Mama died when I was born,” Claire said.
    Lizzie’s chest tightened. She knew all too well the hole a mother’s absence left in a little girl’s heart. “I’m sorry. My mother died when I was young as well.”
    Both girls gazed at her with solemn understanding. “Do you remember her?” Katie asked.
    â€œVery little, I’m afraid.” Lizzie had been four when Caroline Sloane died in childbirth, along with the baby. She could recall brushing her mother’s long, blond hair at night. The ghosts of a few other brief moments existed—a kind word or a kiss on the forehead—but never as many as she’d wished. Will had provided Lizzie with most of the memories, often telling her stories of her parents. Did Emmett do the same for his half sisters?
    Lizzie refocused on the young girls. “I’m sure your mother loved you both very much.”
    Katie smiled. “Brendan tells us about her all the time.”
    â€œBrendan?”
    â€œOur other half brother,” Katie said. “We all had the same father. Emmett’s the oldest, then Brendan, then us. Emmett and Brendan’s mother died, too. Before our father married our mother.”
    â€œWe spend a lot of time with Brendan. Emmett’s usually too busy for us.” Claire swung her booted feet, her legs too short to reach the carriage floor. “He works all the time.”
    Lizzie could well imagine, considering Will’s hectic schedule. Empires did not run themselves. “How long have you lived with your brothers?”
    â€œI was almost three. Claire had just turned one.”
    So Emmett, then only a young man himself, had taken in the small girls and assumed responsibility for them. What had happened to their father?
    â€œWhere do you live?” Claire asked Lizzie. “We used to live near Union Square, but Emmett had this big house built a few years ago, and we came to stay here. This house is so gigamtic. It has seventy-eight rooms.”
    â€œ Gigantic, ” Lizzie corrected. A short conversation with these two little girls had provided more information about Cavanaugh than a year’s worth of newspapers. “That is very big. It must be fun, though, having all that space. I live on Washington Square with my brother.”
    Katie’s eyes went big. “The park there used to be a graveyard. Do you have ghosts? We’ve always wanted to see a ghost.”
    â€œI haven’t seen any ghosts, but I’ve never really searched for one. Perhaps you’d like to visit sometime and we could go ghost hunting.”
    Both girls grinned, their expressions hopeful. “Truly?” Katie asked. “Do you mean it, Miss Sloane?”
    â€œAbsolutely,” she said, and realized she meant it. A ghost-hunting excursion with two adorable young girls sounded like fun. Perhaps she could convince her friend Edith to join them. “I’ll speak with your brother about it. By the way, do you girls have a governess? If so, I imagine she’s looking for you.”
    â€œYes. But we snuck out,” the older girl said.
    â€œShe thinks we’re practicing our music. I play piano, and Katie plays the clarinet.” Claire mimicked piano keys with her fingers.
    â€œWon’t she be worried if she discovers you missing?”
    Katie lifted a shoulder. “Probably, but we had to come down to see what you looked like.”
    â€œLadies never call on Emmett,” Claire elaborated, fingering the satin bow on her dress.
    â€œWell,