Free Courting Susannah by Linda Lael Miller Page A

“hasa way of barging in where he doesn’t belong.”
    While Aubrey was absorbed in the task, Susannah took the opportunity to admire the fine muscled breadth of his shoulders,the way his powerful back tapered to a lean waist. All of this was highlighted rather than hidden by the crisp fabric of hiswhite linen shirt. In addition, he wore suspenders, tweed trousers, and highly polished boots and no doubt would don a proper coat before leavingthe house.
    Guilt struck her with the impact of a charging bull. Whatever their problems might have been, Aubrey had been her best friend’shusband. What had possessed her to think such untoward thoughts?
    She tried to make light conversation. “Do you have other family?”
    Aubrey turned after a moment’s hesitation and regarded her over the rim of his cup. His expression revealed precisely nothing,and so did his tone of voice. “You are a meddlesome creature,” he said, and suddenly she glimpsed that light kindling in hiseyes again, just before he smiled. “Why should you care whether I have one relative or a tribe of them?”
    â€œI was merely attempting to be pleasant,” Susannah said in a stiff tone. His rebuff, framed in good humor though it was, hadstung her, for all that she should have expected it, and she could only hope the hot ache in her face was not accompaniedby a vivid blush. “You needn’t be so rude, Mr. Fairgrieve.”
    He raised the coffee cup in a sort of mocking salute. Susannah wondered just then why Julia had never picked up a gun andshot him. “Not rude, Miss McKittrick,” he countered. “Blunt. There is a difference.”
    â€œIf you say so,” Susannah allowed ungenerously. Then she sighed and stroked the tiny, flannel-covered back with one hand asthe child stirred fitfully against her bosom, perhaps sensing the discord. It seemed only prudent to change the subject. “Thereare things I need for little Victoria,” she said. “I should like to visit the store later today, if that is convenient.”
    â€œNothing in my life is convenient these days,” he replied, “but I’ll send a carriage for you around teno’clock. Of course, you may select whatever you feel
little Victoria
requires.”
    â€œThank you,” Susannah replied primly. What she felt was nothing so noble as gratitude, and she suspected Aubrey knew that,but there was no use in their jibing at each other. What was needed was some sort of arrangement between them. “I believewe can—tolerate each other, Mr. Fairgrieve, if we simply make a civilized effort toward that end.”
    She thought she saw a smile dancing in his eyes again, however briefly, though it did not reach his mouth. “A civilized effort,is it?” he retorted, straightening his string tie. “I must say I thought I was already doing that, simply by not showing youthe road.” He set his empty cup in the iron sink and headed back toward the inner door. “Good day, Miss McKittrick. I’ll letthe clerks know you’ll be visiting the store later.”
    With that, he was gone.
    Half an hour later, Maisie came in, cheeks reddened from the brisk autumn air. She’d walked Jasper to school, then gone downto the pier to buy fresh fish for the evening meal. She kicked the door shut behind her with one heel and set her marketingbasket on the counter.
    Susannah had been reading—or attempting to read—but proper concentration had eluded her. Her mind kept straying to AubreyFairgrieve and the enigma he represented. He spoke so brusquely, when he spoke at all, and yet she’d seen him show uncommontenderness toward Victoria. He disliked his brother, and yet he was willing to suffer the presence of a virtual stranger inhis household, a woman he had not invited and could have turned away without being blamed.
    â€œThere’ll be a carriage coming for me at ten,” she told her friend.