Valentine's Rose Read Online Free

the first word. L-a-g-o-n-d-a . It could be a name.
    She’d only gotten as far as reading simple words before she’d left school so she could help her mother take in more washing and mending. Her days had been filled with scrubbing other people’s clothes and her nights with caring for younger siblings while her mother continued to work. Schooling had been a luxury they couldn’t afford, though she’d argued with her mother about having to give it up.
    Her throat tightened, and then her eyes began to sting. She would give up anything to have her family back again. That wasn’t possible, so she had to stop dwelling on the past and accept that she was alone. Unloved.
    “Miss Muldoon?”
    Hearing her name snapped Rose out of her daze. Mr. Hardt sounded concerned. Even stranger, he appeared to have brought them home with him. She glanced around at the paneled walls in the front hallway and the nice furnishings
    “Are you unwell?” Susannah put her hand on Rose’s arm in a motherly gesture. She was only a few years older, but she’d stepped into a mother hen role. It reminded Rose that she wasn’t alone, and someone did care about her.
    She straightened, determined not to be a burden. “I’m fine. Just tired.”
    “It’s been a long day,” Susannah murmured, and looked pointedly at Mr. Hardt.
    He smoothed down wavy black hair as he hung his hat on a hook attached to a high-backed chair. A looking glass was mounted on the back. Rose gazed at her wide-eyed reflection. A hall tree was what they called it. She’d seen them on occasion when she’d delivered clothes her mother had mended for wealthier customers.
    A gray-haired lady chatted amiably with the other women. She ushered them into a front parlor. The woman looked too old to be his wife. His mother, perhaps?
    “Is this your house?” Rose asked him.
    He looked surprised that she’d asked. “Mr. and Mrs. Fry own the Lagonda House. It’s the only hotel in town.”
    Rose felt her eyes widen. She didn’t want to admit she had never been in a hotel. She hadn’t ridden a train before either, until a few days ago. In fact, she hadn’t ventured beyond Five Points for most of her life.
    “You ladies can freshen up here before we go over to the courthouse.”
    Mrs. Braddock narrowed her eyes at the railroad agent’s remark.
    He stared right back at her, giving no indication of being ruffled by her anger.
    She spoke softly to her son, instructing him to go wait in the parlor with the others while she had a word with “the nice gentleman.” As soon as Danny was out of earshot, she dropped the sweet tone. “Are we to assume this is where we’ll remain until such time we choose to wed?”
    “Until later this afternoon, yes,” he returned smoothly. “You do recall signing an agreement stating you were willing to be married.”
    Susannah’s chin went up. “I have every intention of marrying. When I am ready to do so.”
    Challenging a stubborn man wouldn’t get her anywhere. Rose knew this well, having lived with her father, the stubbornest man ever created. She hugged her shawl, debating whether she ought to step into the fray. She didn’t want to contradict her friend or offend the railroad agent, but this concerned her, too. She’d been able to reason with her father, so convincing Mr. Hardt to compromise seemed an easy enough task.
    “We’re all in agreement about marrying, sir. What Mrs. Braddock is wanting, I think, is a little time to get used to the idea.” Rose held the railroad agent’s gaze, which wasn’t difficult, as they stood eye-to-eye. Most men were uncomfortable with her being the same height—or worse, taller.
    Mr. Hardt had no visible reaction. His thoughts remained shuttered behind eyes as dark as the deep blue sea.
    Rose’s heart hammered against her chest. When all else fails, try a friendly smile . “If you was to grant us a night’s sleep, we’d all be chirpy and looking our best in the morning for them coves you picked