The Seventh Suitor Read Online Free Page A

unfeminine enthusiasms.
    Mrs. Montgomery was quite as pleased as her husband to have Kate home; for although Susan was perhaps her favorite, being the baby of the family, the older woman was fond of her first daughter and relied on her to run the household more capably than she herself. Things went on so much more smoothly when Kate was home, her mother thought, smiling over her toast and tea. Such a dear girl. Though not so young anymore, she realized, and a frown ruffled her brow.
    “Is something the matter, Mama?” Kate asked.
    “No, dear. I was just thinking that you are getting on in years now, and we should be looking out for a husband for you.”
    Susan was shaken by a fit of giggles at this, and Kate threw her a warning glance. “You fear I shall be forever on your hands, dear Mama?” Kate quizzed her.
    “I’m sure you are a great comfort to me, my love, but there is nothing like an establishment of your own. It is a woman’s duty to marry and have a family.”
    “Her duty to whom?” Kate asked quietly before taking another sip of chocolate.
    “Why, to herself, I suppose. Or to . . . well, to fit in with everyone else, you know,” her mother fumbled.
    “As to that, I cannot imagine that anyone else cares a fig whether I marry or not. And for myself, yes, I should like to marry, but not just to be married. I wish you could have seen Aunt Eleanor and Mr. Hall, Mama, for they are so very well-suited and so fond of one another.”
    “No doubt, my love, though why Eleanor should wish to remarry at her age is more than I can understand. Sir John left her well provided for. It must be quite uncomfortable to have to learn all those little things she must do and not do to make her new husband happy.”
    “I cannot think she will mind, dear Mama. Mr. Hall has the most accommodating nature, and I’m sure they will rub on very well together.”
    Mr. Montgomery glanced up from the paper to comment, “I, for one, wish them happy. You say they are to visit us on their return from their trip abroad, Kate?”
    “It’s their intention, though it will be several months, I imagine.”
    The conversation, thus successfully diverted from the subject of marrying Kate off, dwindled to a companionable silence. Susan nudged her sister and grinned. “Shall we walk to the village this morning, Kate?” she asked. “I am in need of some trimming for one of my bonnets.”
    They set out on this expedition shortly after. Kate told her sister of her meeting with Wayne Norris that morning, and Susan wanted to know whether his brother had been with him.
    “No. I think Wayne was coming to apologize, and I doubt that Charles will do so.”
    “If Wayne was so against the scheme, be should not have partaken in it,” Susan remarked scornfully.
    “It appears his brother wanted moral support should their guardian learn of it. Are you still angry with Charles?”
    “I am. He shall learn that he cannot play with my affections,” Susan sniffed.
    “I should shake were I in his boots,” Kate allowed. “Speak of the devil!”
    Striding down the muddy street toward them was Lord Norris himself, making a most determined effort to appear casual and at ease. This was belied, however, by the determined set of his smile and the quirk in his eyebrows. “Kate, Susan, a pleasure to meet you this morning. May I accompany you to your destination?”
    Kate greeted him kindly, but Susan lowered her eyes and refused to speak to him. “I told you she would be annoyed, Charles,” she whispered as she placed her hand on his arm. Susan would have looked awkward if she had trailed behind them, so she stiffly laid her hand on his other arm and paced reluctantly down the street with them. Kate maintained a conversation with Lord Norris, but her sister refused to respond to his repeated attempts to draw her out.
    In exasperation he finally turned to her and blurted, “It was only a joke, Susan, and your sister has obviously accepted it as such. Why