The Secret Bliss of Calliope Ipswich Read Online Free Page A

brightened. She smiled and strongly affirmed, “Yes! We are Ipswiches.”
    Calliope and Evangeline linked arms then, straightened their postures , and walked more quickly toward home.
    A thought struck Calliope then, and she began to giggle.
    “What is it? What’s so amusing to you?” Evangeline inquired.
    Still giggling, Calliope answered, “A baby lion in a manger! Ha ha ha ha!”
    Evangeline burst into laughter then as well , and they were still laughing when their little sister, Shay, scurried down the front porch steps to meet them both with such loving hugs and kisses that their laughter continued—long after they had reached their destination of home.
CHAPTER TWO
     
    When Calliope awoke the next morning, she didn’t feel quite as rested and refreshed as she usually did , even for the gentle coos of the mourning doves outside her bedroom window and the cool morning breeze wafting in through it. She’d slept fitfully all through the night, for the sake of something Evangeline had mentioned the evening before. What if Fox Montrose actually did approach Calliope’s father and ask permission to officially court her?
    The truth was that any of the eligible young women in town would simply swoon with euphoria at the mere prospect of the handsome, charming Fox Montrose calling upon her father to ask permission to court her. Fox was, after all, a wonderful young man—polite, kind, hard working, and ambitious. His family was certainly wonderful, as well. His sister, Winnie, was one of Calliope’s dear friends. His mother, Dora Montrose, was pleasant company, always kind and making certain that everyone felt important. And his father, Dennison Montrose, was sheriff of Meadowlark Lake, very often working with Calliope’s own father, Judge Lawson Ipswich, in matters of the law.
    Hence, there really wasn’t any commonsensical reason why Calliope herself shouldn’t have been elated at the fact that Fox seemed, for all outward appearances, to have settled his interest and affections on her. And it was well accepted through town that of all the lovely young ladies of Meadowlark Lake, Fox Montrose obviously favored Calliope Ipswich—well accepted by everyone save Calliope herself. Lucky as all her friends thought her to be, Calliope was greatly unsettled. Oh, she liked Fox well enough—enjoyed his company, but only in moderation—and Evangeline’s question of what Calliope would feel if Fox did decide to ask their father for permission to officially court her had caused a great anxiety to begin stirring in her.
    Therefore, as she sat at the kitchen table with her family enjoying a comforting breakfast of warm biscuits and soft butter, bacon , and poached eggs, she decided to broach the subject of Fox Montrose’s possible intentions with her father before her fretfulness swelled any further.
    “Daddy,” Calliope began.
    “Mm hmm,” Lawson Ipswich mumbled as he broke open a steaming biscuit and slathered butter on it.
    “You know Fox Montrose?” Calliope ventured.
    Immediately Lawson looked up from his biscuit, glanc ing to Calliope and then to his beautiful young wife, Kizzy. “Mm hmmm,” he answered.
    “Well, I was just wondering …I was wondering that if…well, if Fox ever came round asking to court me—you know, officially, and of course this is only if he ever came round asking to court me, which he probably never will—but if he ever did…” Calliope stammered awkwardly.
    “Mmm hmmm,” Lawson urged, grinning with amusement at his daughter’s discomfort.
    “Well, would you please refuse your permission for him to court me, Daddy?” Calliope blurted.
    Lawson’s eyes widened with astonishment , though Kizzy smiled with a woman’s understanding.
    “What?” Lawson asked. “You…you’re telling me you don’t want Fox to come courting you?”
    Calliope sighed. “No, Daddy. I don’t.”
    “Calliope don’t like Fox Montrose in that romantical way, Daddy,” Shay interjected.
    “Calliope