The Determined Groom. Kate Little

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СКАЧАТЬ to Laurel. Phillip seemed to have no sense of a loving, protective instinct toward his younger sister. To the contrary, he was either blaming Laurel for his misdeeds or trying to trick her into covering up one of his messes. How many times had Connor, older and not nearly as trusting and naive as Laurel, stepped in, feeling the need to safeguard Laurel from her own brother’s machinations? Too many, Connor recollected. He and Phillip had found a lot to fight about. But Connor eventually drew the line at fistfights.

      Not that he had ever been afraid of Phillip. Phillip was older, and had been taller and heavier than Connor at the time, but he never got the best of him. It was always Phillip who ran off with a bloody lip or black eye, crying to his father or mother about the rude, crude servant’s son. No, Connor had never feared Phillip, but he had learned to fear his own father’s wrath, for nothing could make Owen Northrup angrier than hearing that Connor and Phillip had gotten in a scrape.

      Owen had disapproved of Connor’s friendship with Laurel and would have forbidden Connor to see her at all if he’d had his own way in the matter. Connor thought Owen permitted it only because Charles Sutherland liked Connor so much and seemed to think he was a good influence on his own children.

      Owen, however, had stubbornly held on to the belief that no good could come of Connor socializing with what Owen called “his betters.” He was also terrified that he and his wife would lose their relatively comfortable and well-paying jobs with the Sutherlands due to one of Connor’s fights with Phillip.

      To the best of Connor’s knowledge, Charles Sutherland had never viewed the boys’ scrapes as such a serious problem. In fact, Connor sometimes thought Charles hoped Phillip would glean some valuable lessons from his encounters with Connor.

      To avoid facing his father’s wrath and the possibility of not being allowed to see Laurel anymore, Connor had often backed off from Phillip’s goading challenges. Phillip would gloat, as if Connor lacked courage. For the sake of keeping peace with his father and protecting his relationship with Laurel, Connor had suffered in silence. Though they all knew Connor could whip Phillip with one hand tied behind his back any day of the week. At least, that’s what Laurel had always told him.

      Connor’s reverie was suddenly interrupted by a heavy hand on his shoulder.

      “Connor! So glad you could come, son.” Connor turned to face Charles’s warm and welcoming smile. “Enjoying yourself?”

      “Yes, of course. It’s quite a party,” Connor replied.

      “Well, I would have preferred something smaller, at our place in New York. That’s where they’ll be married. But it was very important to Laurel to come up here, to have a gathering at this house.” Charles gazed around, his voice taking a wistful, bittersweet tone, Connor noticed. “She misses her mother, you know. We all miss her.”

      “She was a wonderful woman,” Connor said.

      Charles nodded, murmured his thanks and sipped his drink. Connor could see that after all these years it was still very difficult for Charles to speak about his wife. He didn’t know what else he might say and felt it best to say nothing more.

      Coming here had brought back many memories of Laurel’s mother for him as well. At any moment he expected to see Madeleine Sutherland coming through the French doors from the ballroom, moving gracefully among her guests. Laughing, smiling, looking at her husband in that special way that told the world that Charles Sutherland was the center of her universe. She had been lovely and kind, a gracious woman who always had a special word for him and a way of making him feel welcome in her home. Laurel was turning out to be just like her. No mystery there. Madeleine Sutherland had been devoted to her children and particularly close to Laurel. It was sad that she had not lived to see her daughter’s wedding day.

      “This was Madeleine’s favorite place in the whole world, this house and the gardens and beach. She wanted us to retire here,” Charles confided. “I know that’s why Laurel wanted the party here tonight. To feel closer to her mother, as if Madeleine had a part in the wedding plans. I’ve hardly been back since she died.” He paused and took a long swallow of his drink. “I don’t know. Maybe it was a good thing, opening up the house like this, having this party here. Perhaps it will help us all to put the past to rest somehow,” he added, meeting Connor’s gaze.

      “Yes, a good thing,” Connor agreed sympathetically. He could not help but notice the glassy, unshed tears in Charles Sutherland’s eyes. He still missed his wife. Missed her with all his heart. That was love, Connor thought. Untouched by time or separation. Even the ultimate separation.

      Would he ever know that kind of love for a woman? You could feel that way about Laurel, another voice answered. Maybe you already do.

      “Well, enough of this glum and gloomy talk,” Charles replied with a forced, bright smile. He patted Connor jovially on the back. “It’s time we talked about your future, young man. Tell me more about this job you’re starting. Monday, is it?”

      “Yes, sir. Monday morning. Bright and early,” Connor replied, flattered that Charles remembered about his job when the man obviously had so many more pressing matters on his mind.

      “You’ll do fine. The organization is lucky to have you,” he assured Connor in a fatherly tone. “Oh, and before I forget, there are a few people here I’d like you to meet. Good connections for you down in the city. Now, Ralph Walters over there is an investment banker, a big wheel with Morgan Stanley…”

      Connor allowed Charles to lead him into the crowd and was introduced to a few of his host’s influential friends. Charles’s introductions were always glowing, recounting Connor’s achievements and bright prospects to a point that was a breath away from embarrassing. But Connor knew that Charles’s enthusiasm was always well meant. In fact, he could not help but feel as if the older man was proudly introducing his own son.

      Heaven knew, he’d never had an ounce of such encouragement from his own father. Owen Northrup had always denigrated Connor’s ambitions to attend college. More reaching beyond his station in life, was the way Owen saw it. Sure to lead to disappointment and humiliation. As Connor grew older he came to see that his father’s criticism, and even suspicion, of his academic achievements was really due to the fact that Owen felt threatened and surpassed by a son who would outgrow his family and make a life for himself far away from the Cape.

      After conversing with Charles’s Wall Street friends, Connor wandered around the party, waiting for the chance to speak with Laurel again. He caught a glimpse of her now and then, but it never seemed the right moment to approach her.

      Finally, the guests began to leave and the crowd thinned. The party was ending. Connor felt self-conscious and could linger no longer. He saw his chance to say goodbye privately to Laurel and swiftly approached her. He felt confused, overwhelmed, his mind whirling with so many possible things he might say to her. Would she meet him tomorrow if he asked?

      He approached her as she stood with her back turned. “Laurel, I just wanted to say good-night….” His voice trailed off as she spun to face him.

      Her beautiful face, her soft smile, the tender light in her eye as she met his gaze overwhelmed him. Connor felt himself blown away. All coherent thoughts about what to say next escaped him.

      “I’ve been looking for you. I thought you left without saying goodbye.”

      She took a step toward him and lightly touched his sleeve. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk more. There were so many people. I felt like a tennis ball, bouncing from one group to the next….” She shook her head and laughed.

      “I СКАЧАТЬ