by Caroline Lee
“The city is all abuzz about your arrival! We were just thrilled to receive your invitation!”
“We’re so looking forward to hearing your plans for the students and Annie!”
Serena interrupted her aunts. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Carderock, but Annie was feeling poorly this afternoon. Molly thought it would be best for her to rest instead of joining us, and of course stayed with her. She has invited you to lunch whenever it’s convenient, to discuss Annie’s schooling. If you’d rather postpone this gathering until they can join us, I’m sure th—”
Sebastian cut in before she could suggest that she and her aunts go back home. “I am very much looking forward to meeting Mrs. Barker and seeing Annie again,” He offered his arm to her, “but you can’t honestly expect me to find any reason to cancel a dinner engagement with three of the loveliest ladies I’ve ever met?”
Ignoring her aunts’ tittering—they laughed more than any other old ladies he’d known, and it seemed to make them younger somehow—Serena hesitantly placed one graceful hand on his forearm. It was a delicate touch, but it warmed his skin through his tuxedo jacket and shirt. He wondered how it would feel to touch more of her skin. He wondered what she would make him feel.
He offered his other arm to Miss Agnes, and led all three ladies into the dining room. It was richly appointed in reds and dark woods, but he could barely take his eyes from the pale vision beside him. The dinner was delicious, but he paid little attention to it. He was busy being utterly enchanted by his companion.
Serena was well-spoken, demure, witty, and polite. She had a delightful way of speaking her mind without making it seem forthright that reminded him very much of his mother. He was fascinated to hear more about Serena’s experiences running the Double-S cattle ranch, and her aunts were happy to sing her praises. Serena herself seemed uncomfortable, and she finally confessed—when pressed—that she didn’t care for life on the ranch, and much preferred to experience Cheyenne’s society. It seemed that she was a social creature, and didn’t enjoy the loneliness of the ranch.
“Why don’t you ladies live full-time in the city, then? It seems that you all prefer it here.” He took a sip of the red wine Mr. Ford had chosen for him. It complimented the steak perfectly.
“Someone needs to manage the ranch, to make the decisions. Truthfully, I wish I could just sell it, to be rid of it.”
Sebastian glanced at her aunts. “Can you do that? Just sell your father’s ranch?”
Serena shrugged delicately, her attention not-too-convincingly on the roll beside her plate. “My father was a strong man. A distant man. I don’t share whatever dreams caused him to build the Double-S. I manage it because my aunts and I need the income to live as we’ve become accustomed.”
Agatha spoke up, “We’ve been trying to convince the silly girl that she needs to find a husband to manage it for her, so—”
“We are not, you absent-minded biddy! We were under that impression,” Agnes smiled sweetly at Sebastian, “until we realized that our Serena has no interest in the ranch at all. Now we’re focused on finding her a husband who will keep her here in the city, where she belongs.”
Serena’s eyes were firmly locked on the chandelier behind Sebastian, and she was biting her lower lip. He thought it might have been in embarrassment.
“I was about to say that, you old baggage!” The smile Agatha turned on Sebastian was identical to her sister’s. “We’ve realized that what she needs is a husband who won’t expect her to live on a ranch and manage a bunch of cowhands, but who will allow her to live the life she deserves, and do the sorts of things she likes to do.”
In an effort to draw her back into the conversation, and spare her some embarrassment, Sebastian turned to Serena. “And what do you like to do, Miss Serena? How would you occupy yourself here in town, were you not committed to your ranch?”
The question seemed to surprise her, and she was hesitant when she replied. “Well… I suppose I hadn’t really considered it. Before my father passed away, I was a silly girl, only interested in social functions. And reading.” Her face lit up in another breathtaking smile. “Oh, I’ve always adored reading. It hasn’t occurred to me to wonder how I could support myself here in Cheyenne, but…” She trailed off, and glanced hesitantly at her aunts, who were peering expectantly at her. Sebastian had the impression that they’d never heard these confessions before either. “I suppose I’d like to share my love of books with others. Cheyenne doesn’t have a library, but maybe I could…” He caught a flash of violet beneath her lowered lashes. She took a deep breath, and he forced his gaze not to drop to the expanse of pale skin above her bosom. “I greatly admire what you’re doing, Mr. Carderock. You have such skills and knowledge, and sharing it with others—especially children like Annie!—seems to me to be the most noble of undertakings.”
Sebastian was so stunned that he actually sat back in his chair. She thought him noble? For teaching? That was certainly a first. His family’s society thought him at best an eccentric, and at worst a wastrel. Even in England, he’d never met anyone who considered the art of education to be a noble profession. But she’d articulated what he enjoyed about his career; he had the same skills as his father and brothers, but rather than use them to expand his wealth, he shared them with others.
Serena was emboldened by his silence. “My closest friend—Annie’s sister Wendy—is the one who taught me to love books. She enjoys the classics, but I’ll confess a weakness for adventure tales.” Her grin was impish, unapologetic, and he was lost in it. “Wendy went to teach in St. Louis, but left her position to become a private governess for a family with a deaf child. She’s been using special techniques to teach him, and before I met you, I thought that she was alone in her endeavors. But you…! Mr. Carderock, I…” she trailed off, and Sebastian found himself arrested by two deep pools of clear violet. Without thinking, he placed his hand near hers on the table, and in her excitement, she grabbed it. The jolt was sudden and beautiful and made him warm all over. He smiled slowly and turned his hand over, to squeeze hers. Her eyes went wide and she gasped slightly, but didn’t look away.
Her breathing was shallow, but Sebastian wouldn’t allow her to disengage. “I think…” she took a deep breath, “I think that your profession, Mr. Carderock, must be very interesting and enriching.”
“Please, Miss Serena. I would be honored if you called me Sebastian.” Her blush was immediate and endearing, and she glanced away quickly. To lessen her discomfort, Sebastian turned smoothly to her aunts—who had been watching as intently as any tennis spectators—and said, “If you would all call me Sebastian? I feel that we’ve become fast friends,” he squeezed her hand once more, “to allow the liberty.”
Instead of tittering childishly like they had earlier, the two women smiled hugely at one another, and then turned to him and said in unison, “We would be pleased to, Sebastian.”
“And you, Miss Serena?” He squeezed her hand again, and drew her gaze once more.
“Of course, Sebastian.” Her whisper was the barest breath, but sensual all the same. His pulse leapt to hear it, and he found himself leaning towards to her.
“Well, a teacher? I never considered that.” Agatha interrupted their shared moment. “But it’s a lovely idea.”
“Oh yes!” Her sister chimed in. “In all of those romances, the impoverished heroine takes a job as a governess, remember?”
Agatha nodded, “It’s a perfectly respectable job for a lady. It might not actually support her in the manner to which she’s become accustomed…”
“But two teachers’ salaries would, I think.” Both ladies smirked a bit and sent him sidelong glances, which Sebastian pretended not to see.
“Besides,” Agatha continued, “If she sold the Double-S, she could live comfortably, and—”
“And it would allow her to stay in the city, to continue her other pursuits!”
In order to forestall Agatha’s irritation at her sister’s interruption
s, Sebastian drew Serena into the conversation. “Other pursuits, Miss Serena?”
Her voice was still a little breathless when she replied, “I often join my aunts in their charitable projects and social committees.” He wondered if it was their joined hands that made her so uneasy. Sebastian rubbed his thumb over the smooth skin on the back on her hand, and was rewarded with a slight shudder across her delicate shoulders. Hiding his smile, he released her hand and sat back. She hurried to draw her hands back into her lap.
Picking up his goblet, Sebastian took a sip of wine and smiled charmingly at her. Instead of blushing, he was intrigued by the way she met his gaze and smiled hesitantly back at him. He admired the way she seemed to embody genteelness and spirit at once, and wanted to discover all of her secrets, to find out what made her like this. She was the most intriguing woman he’d ever met, living in the most intriguing city he’d ever seen.
He was pretty certain that he was falling hard for Miss Serena Selkirk… and he’d only met her twice. And he couldn’t deny that he’d already fallen for Cheyenne, this astonishingly modern metropolis in the middle of the Wyoming emptiness.
“Tell me about these projects and committees. I should know all of the best ones, if I’m going to be living in Cheyenne.”
Her face lit up with another one of those brilliant smiles. “It would be wonderful if you stayed, Mr. Co—I mean, Sebastian. Cheyenne is the most delightful city, and we’d be so lucky to count you as a citizen.” Her flattery made her blush slightly again, but she met his gaze.
He fell into those violet eyes. “I am finding many intriguing reasons to stay, Miss Serena,” he murmured. Her cheeks turned pinker.
Agatha cleared her throat, and he turned an innocent expression towards the older woman. He knew he was flirting shamelessly with Serena, but she was such a delight that he couldn’t make himself stop. And while her aunts were allegedly there as her chaperones, he suspected that they would be perfectly content with his courting of their niece. He’d ask them formally, of course, but the fact that they’d made no objections so far to his flirting—and in fact stated that they were looking for a man like him to woo her—made him suspect that they were firmly in his court.
“We are involved in several women’s organizations, mostly through the churches. I suspect that you would be happiest joining the Cheyenne Gentleman’s Club down the street.”
He lifted his glass towards Agatha. “I’ve dined there, and was impressed. Perhaps I will investigate membership.” The two older ladies shared a satisfied glance, and Sebastian knew that the comment had been a way to find out how much he was worth. A man surviving on a school-teacher’s salary wouldn’t be able to afford membership… but he’d been raised in luxury, surrounded by businessmen, and saw no reason to deny himself familiarity like that just because he wasn’t in New York anymore.
“Of course,” Agnes spoke up, “Most of the organizations cooperate several times a year for big events or festivals.”
“Oh yes!” her sister interrupted, “and the Independence Day celebration next week is sure to be a memorable one.”
Sebastian turned to Serena. “Tell me about it.”
He was gratified to see her face light up in excitement. “Oh, Sebastian, it’s the best part of summer! We have a grand parade and a bonfire and fireworks!”
“Really?” He was continually surprised by Cheyenne’s sophistication.
“This year I’m helping to organize—”
“Doing most of the work, she means!” Agatha interrupted.
“—the children’s games and contests.” Serena ignored her aunt’s interruption. “I love to see how proud the winners are, with their sweet little faces. But all the ladies have been working hard on the celebration this year. We’re lucky we got here in time to help.”
“Don’t forget the best part…” Agnes said, and then finished in unison with her twin, “the picnic!”
Agatha continued, “The food is always delicious—everyone brings her specialty—and we barbeque whole hogs and more beef than you can imagine.” She sighed happily.
“And,” Agnes was glaring at her sister, as if blaming her for forgetting something, “There’s the charitable fund-raisers like the basket auction.”
“Oh yes, thank you for reminding me.” Agatha glared back, and Sebastian felt the table jump, as if someone had kicked someone else’s shin. But both sisters turned angelic smiles towards him.
“You see, the eligible young ladies of the city make up baskets filled with all sorts of homemade goodies and savories. Serena’s is bound to be very popular.”
“The bidding is fierce.”
“Would you be interested in bidding on her basket, Sebastian?”
“It’s traditional that the man who wins the basket has the honor of the young lady’s company at the barbeque and bonfire.”
“And any time after that. Bidding on a basket indicates interest in the young lady, if you catch our meaning.”
“Are you partial to blueberry jam? Serena makes delicious jam, and there will be two jars of it in her basket.”
Sebastian could barely hide his smile at the way her aunts seemed to be able to think in unison. He glanced at Serena. Her skin was awash in pink, and she actually had one delicate hand resting over her eyes, as if she was so embarrassed she couldn’t stand to watch any longer.
He allowed himself a small smile then, and leaned in closer to her. “It happens that blueberry jam is my favorite flavor, Miss Serena.” He saw a flash of violet as she peeked between her fingers, “But I’ll be bidding on your basket for an entirely different prize.” She dropped her hand, and he reached across to take it. “The pleasure of your company would be worth any price.”
Her perfect little bow-shaped lips formed a perfect little “Oh”, and his smile stretched from cheek to cheek. She really was stunning.
The rest of the meal was delicious, but Sebastian wasn’t really paying attention. He was utterly enthralled by Serena Selkirk, and by the time he escorted them to the curb and lifted her into the waiting carriage, Sebastian was willing to admit that he was smitten.
Getting ready for bed that evening, he thought about all the efforts his mother had made over the last year to get him to marry, and how resistant he’d been to the idea. It wasn’t marriage itself that deterred him, but the lack of interesting partners. But within days of arriving in this new and exciting city, he found a lady he was seriously considering courting.
Serena Selkirk was everything he—and his mother—could ever want in a bride. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. She had an inner strength he’d seen when she spoke of the ranch, and a kindness and compassion that had come out when speaking about her fellow Cheyenne citizens. And patience to live with her two bickering aunts. And a passion for helping others that manifested as a desire to teach students like Annie.
Yep, Sebastian was smitten.
He was lying in bed, his hands stacked behind his head, staring at the ceiling. His family fully expected him to return to New York in a year, to join them at the reins of Carderock Investments. But Cheyenne was in his blood now, and he was excited to call this place his new home. And Serena Selkirk was certainly a compelling reason to stay right here.
He had a luncheon date with her family planned for later in the week, and he already was looking forward to seeing her again. It would be nice to meet Mrs. Barker, and get to know Annie a little better; but it didn’t take much honesty to admit that it was Serena he wanted to see.
He wanted to see a lot more of her. Sebastian grinned in the dark. He wanted to see all of her; she really was exquisite. Her touches made him warm, and the sight of all that pale skin this evening had been… overwhelming to his senses.
Oh yes, Sebastian wanted to see more of her, and he was beginning to think that he wanted it enough to go about it properly. He was going to have to court Miss Serena Selkirk, and then marry her, and then spend the rest of his life enjoying her.
CHA
PTER SIX
Molly started cooking immediately after helping Brixley clear the breakfast dishes. She knew that the older man, who’d grown up in slavery and still maintained the staid ‘old family retainer’ air, appreciated her help. He’d been with the elder Misses Selkirks for years, and they’d all adjusted to each other’s habits and preferences. But it had to be an imposition, to suddenly expect him to cook for four additional mouths, so Molly and Annie always did their best to help around the house when they visited. And as good a cook as he was, he was always happy to step aside in the kitchen and let her prepare meals—and desserts—provided he got a generous helping himself.
She was determined to impress Mr. Carderock today. Agnes and Agatha had been pleased to tell all that happened at the dinner a few nights ago, so Molly knew that their guest really was as cultured as the rumors claimed, and would be used to fine fare. Now that Annie was feeling well enough to receive visitors—summer colds were the absolute worst!—Molly could pour her creative energies into preparing a luncheon feast that Mr. Carderock would appreciate. To that end, she’d splurged a little at the butcher’s and market, rather than using items from their store. The glazed pork loin with apples would go well with the tartness of the braised Brussels sprouts. There would be a big bowl of summer berries with sugar sprinkles, and her fluffy butter rolls as well. And for dessert, she already had chocolate custard cooling for a special pie.
It had been raining steadily for several days, but with today being a special occasion, Molly had flat-out refused to allow her sons to go outside to “play in the puddles”. They were used to playing together, but here in Cheyenne there were all sorts of exciting new ways to get into trouble, and plenty of neighborhood boys to help them along. It could be exhausting being the mother of two boys, but she loved the little dirt-devils fiercely. Sometimes the difficulties of motherhood would fairly overwhelm her, and she’d want to sit at the kitchen table and cry. And then again sometimes she’d remember that her youngest was three, and long for another tiny baby to cuddle. In fact, she hadn’t even mentioned it to Ash yet, but she suspected that she might be pregnant again. Only time would tell, and since she was blessed with easy pregnancies anyway, there was nothing to keep her from doing the things she loved.
