Free Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart

that assessment. Sometimes not even my father.” Adriane wished the words back at once, but words spoken could not be edited and changed. So instead she hurried on. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I do believe Stan needs my help with Mrs. Wigginham.”
    “I’m sure he does. I wouldn’t be surprised to discover young Stanley needs someone’s help with everything,” Blake said. “You have my sympathy.”
    “I beg your pardon,” Adriane said coldly.
    He did not take back his words. “You heard what I said.”
    “Stanley is a wonderful young man from a very influential family.” Adriane was careful to sound as if she meant each word and then wished she hadn’t bothered to defend Stanley. What difference did it make what this man, Blake Garrett, thought?
    “With a great deal of money, I hear. Congratulations, Miss Darcy. Your future should be quite comfortably secure.” His dark blue eyes burned into hers.
    Adriane knew she should look away, but she couldn’t. She did manage to keep smiling even as the word “secure” echoed emptily in her mind. She felt anything but secure as the flood pushed against her, threatening to rip her away from all she’d ever held dear.
    “So it seems,” she murmured. Dear Father in heaven, she thought, how will I survive this? No answer came to her silent prayer as the man’s eyes kept probing her as though he could see beyond her words.
    “Yes.” His smile disappeared as he pushed his next words at her. “Just think of it. In forty years you may very well be the next Mrs. Wigginham, playing your parlor games with the people who come to pay you homage for being so rich. What causes do you think you might espouse, Miss Darcy?” He raised his eyebrows at her.
    His words and look infuriated her, but she refused to give him the pleasure of seeing he’d been successful at upsetting her. Instead she smiled coolly up at him. “It’s been an interesting experience meeting you, Mr. Garrett. I’m sure our paths will cross again in the months to come.”
    “I certainly hope so.” His smile returned, wide and unforced. “I enjoy a good duel of words whether I win or lose.”
    Adriane laughed sweetly. “Why, Mr. Garrett, I have no idea what you could mean. If there is any dueling of words, I’m sure I must leave that up to you and my father.” Quickly before he had a chance to respond in any way, she turned away from him and began making her way across the room to Mrs. Wigginham and Stan.
    Because she didn’t want to seem to be fleeing the man, she stopped to chat with this or that group of ladies. She asked several of them about the efforts to acquire more books for the library, and they all answered with care just in case their words should appear in the Tribune .
    No one mentioned her engagement to Stanley Jimson. After all, that was supposed to be a secret until evening. But the old women beamed at her as if she’d succeeded, at last, in doing something right, and the younger ones hid their giggles behind their fans while their eyes darted from Adriane to Stan and back.
    By the time she joined Stan and Mrs. Wigginham, Adriane’s face hurt from so much smiling, but she dared not stop. Mrs. Wigginham sent Stan after some fresh tea and waited until he was out of earshot before she said, “I trust you found Mr. Garrett amusing.” She was regarding Adriane closely.
    “Yes, indeed. I’ve looked forward to meeting him.” She didn’t let her smile waver as she looked at the woman. “How kind of you to arrange an introduction.”
    “I fear I may have delayed my kindness too long,” Mrs. Wigginham said.
    “Delayed too long in what way, madam?” Adriane asked, totally puzzled by the old lady’s remark.
    Mrs. Wigginham didn’t seem to hear Adriane’s question as she stared across the room toward Blake Garrett. He was surrounded now by young ladies who were perhaps hoping one of his flashing smiles might be directed their way. After a moment, Mrs. Wigginham said, “He is a