Rose (Suitors of Seattle) Read Online Free

his head.  “I’m really not certain.  He didn’t know who she was at first.  That much is certain.”
    “Are we making a mistake by introducing them?”  Harriett was concerned that Rose would be hurt by the man.
    “I think Miss Rose is much too wrapped up in herself.  Being rejected by a man would be good for her in a way it wouldn’t be for other young ladies.  I don’t think we have much to worry about, though.  I don’t think he’d ever hurt her.”
    Harriett nodded.  “I hope not.  She’s a sweet girl, and she doesn’t deserve that.”

Chapter Two
     
     
    Rose stood in front of the looking glass in the bathroom at her house brushing her teeth.  She’d bought a brand new toothbrush for the occasion and she was going to make sure her teeth sparkled. Normally when she got ready to go out somewhere, she spent most of her time on her hair, but he was a dentist.  He wasn’t going to notice her hair.  He’d only notice her teeth.  Besides, her hair was already perfect as usual.
    Her mother had told her she had to take one of her sisters to dinner and she’d chosen Lily.  Lily was always the easiest to take around men, because no one could ever be interested in Lily’s hoydenish attitude.  You never knew if she was going to pick her nose or chew with her mouth open just to get a reaction.  She’d been taught proper manners just as all her sisters had, but with Lily, they just didn’t seem to take. 
    In a way, Rose felt sorry for Lily.  In another year and a half, she’d be old enough to marry, but no men would be interested in her for anything other than their father’s wealth.  Each of the sisters had a sizable dowry, and in a town like Seattle, that was common knowledge. No one had ever been interested in Rose for just her money, of course, but what else did Lily have to offer?  A dinner she’d shot herself?
    Rose cringed slightly.  Maybe after she and Dr. Shawn were married, she could take Lily under her wing and try to teach her to be more ladylike.  Once Lily saw what a perfect life Rose had, she would surely want to have the same thing.  Wouldn’t she?  What woman wouldn’t want to be married to a handsome man and living a life of ease? 
    She finally stopped brushing her teeth because her gums were starting to bleed and stepped into the hallway.  Lily was leaning against the wall , waiting.  Rose decided to be kind.  “Lily, you should put your hair up tonight.  The dress mother picked out for you is beautiful, but if you put your hair back, you’d look so much better.”
    Lily shook her head.  “I like having my hair in braids.  I don’t need to have some fancy hairstyle, because I’m not trying to catch a husband.”  She walked past Rose into the bathroom and shut the door in her face.
    Rose just shrugged.  She didn’t know why she even tried.  Lily obviously was much too immature to be able to understand how important appearance was to a young lady.
    Rose felt like she had butterflies in her stomach the entire ride over to her uncle’s house.  She knew she’d make a good impression, because she always did, but she needed to make the best impression she’d ever made.  He was going to be her husband and the father of her children, after all.  There wasn’t a more important man to her.
    He had just pulled up in his buggy and parked it in the street when their driver stopped in front of Uncle Max’s house.  Lily jumped down quickly, but Rose waited for Dr. Shawn to come to the buggy and help her down.  He did so like a true gentleman, holding her hand and smiling at her.
    He placed her hand on his arm and walked with her toward the house.  She smiled up at him, her lashes mostly covering her eyes.  She wanted him to see how ladylike and sweet she was.   She’d perfected the moves when she was sixteen and all the boys in the area had fluttered around her like bees to honey before her aunt had married her uncle and ruined everything.
    “Were