Free Rescuing the Heiress by Valerie Hansen Page A

chuckled. “I surely do hope not. I have me eye on a houseful of grandbabies just as feisty and handsome as you are.”
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    Tess was walking several paces ahead of mother and son and the crowd was creating a loud murmur that kept her from overhearing everything they said. The few words she had picked out, however, were enough to make her blush. Unlike Mary, Papa had never mentioned the next generation, nor had he pushed her to court more often than she had wished to. At least not yet.
    Eyes downcast, she glanced at the expensively tailored coat sleeve where her gloved hand rested and recalled a few times when this man’s name had come up in conversation. It was starting to look as if it was no accident that her father had chosen to send Phineas on this particular errand. He was young, single, well-born and a rising star in the banking business. Not only that, the Edgerton family was one of the richest clans on the west coast.
    Tess shivered. Surely Papa wasn’t trying to play matchmaker. Or was he? It would be just like him to try to manipulate her into joining two prominent families through matrimony, for the sake of increasing the influence and holdings of both.
    Pulling her hand from the banker’s sleeve, Tess eased away from him.
    â€œIs something wrong, Miss Clark?” he asked, doffing his bowler and removing his gloves now that they were inside the hall.
    â€œNo. Nothing. It’s just very crowded in here, don’t you think?” She dropped back until she was beside Mary. “I see the front rows are already full. Shall we sit back here?”
    â€œFine with me.”
    To Tess’s chagrin, the older woman immediately edged into the nearest row and led the way.
    Both men stepped back politely, eyeing each other like two feisty roosters in a barnyard. Tess balked. According to proper etiquette, she should follow Mary. That would place her between Michael and his mother, or, even worse, would leave poor Phineas sitting next to her on one side with the surly fireman on his other.
    She glanced back and forth, unable to decide what was the best move. Michael looked ready to explode and Phineas was acting so proper and stuffy she wanted to shake him.
    Her eyes locked with Michael’s and she tried to will him to understand. It almost seemed as if he did comprehend her dilemma when he bowed slightly and said,“If you all will excuse me, I’ll be waiting for you ladies outside like I did the last time.”
    Tess wanted to thank him, to let him know that she was grateful for his sensible choice. Unfortunately, she had no chance to speak before he quickly wheeled and stalked back up the aisle.
    Phineas, however, seemed smugly satisfied, giving her further proof that he was far too much like her father to suit her. He gestured for her to follow Mary, then, hat and gloves in hand, joined her.
    Having that man seated so close felt nothing like it had to have Michael beside her. There was no thrill, no warmth, no sense of strength or power. Phineas was simply there.
    If she hadn’t been with Mary, Tess would have left the lecture hall and abandoned the unpleasant man without a moment’s hesitation. Her wish to do so doubled when Phineas leaned closer and whispered, “What did that ruffian mean by the last time? ”
    Tess merely folded her hands in her lap, faced forward and pretended she hadn’t heard the question.
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    To Michael, standing idle outside, it seemed as if the meeting was lasting forever. He hoped his mother had gotten the women’s movement out of her system by now. He’d certainly had enough of it.
    The whole premise was crazy. Women had men to take care of them. They didn’t need to be standing on a soapbox and yelling for more rights. It was bad enough that there were already a few female dentists and doctorspracticing in the city. Why, a committee of misguided ladies had even petitioned the Board of Supervisors to allow women in