Aurelia by Anne Osterlund Read Free Book Online Page B

year, he rescued his society daughter from the wealthy boardinghouse where she was staying and brought her to court."
    "you're still not telling me why you dislike her." robert tapped the bridge railing with the flat of his hand.
    exasperated, Aurelia gave in. "she lives and breathes her father's money. If your cousin doesn't watch himself, he'll find she's built her nest right on top of his inheritance. she's not just another lady's maid he can dangle without consequences."
    "Jealous?" There was an odd tone in robert's voice.
    "Hardly." Aurelia scolded him with her eyes. "I don't like people being used, especially those I care about."
    robert leaned back to peer up at the sky. "I wouldn't worry about Chris. I can't imagine him doing anything as respectable as courting a wealthy debutante."
    "He didn't seem that worried about spreading his feathers for her tonight." The sarcasm was back in her voice. An unattractive habit, she thought. I ought to correct it.
    robert smiled. "Ah, but then you see, he didn't; a rooster did. you are not the only one capable of walking that hazy tightrope."
    "If you stay on the tightrope long enough, sooner or later you are going to fall."
    "enough," he said. "When the conversation has dwindled to metaphors, it is time to find a new topic."
    "you say that only because you were losing your argument."
    "Who says that every point of a discussion has to be an argument?"
    "No one." she grinned. "but with you it always is."
    "Only when I'm talking to you."
    He was telling the truth. most of her memories of him involved verbal debate, whether during class discussions, in-depth study sessions, or casual conversations. she and robert were too much alike: competitive, intrigued by new ideas, and determined not to give in when they felt they were right. What saved them from hating each other was that they could each be persuaded to change sides when confronted with a strong enough argument. perhaps that was why they enjoyed debating so much. There was always a chance either might persuade the other to take up his or her case.
    "Fine, then, let's talk about you," she suggested, both because she was curious about his new life and because she did not want the conversation to loop back to her. "What is life on the frontier like?"
    He shrugged. "It's a lot of hard work, but I like it. Not the farming that much. Father and I also train horses. The stubborn ones enjoy trying to land me on the ground, which is how I get the bruises I mentioned last night. still, there's always a need on the frontier for a good mount."
    she nodded to show she was listening and did not want to interrupt.
    "The life suits my parents," he continued. "I think they are happier having their own place, something they've worked to build. It may not rival the palace for glory and comfort, but they have each other."
    "And control over their own destiny." she could not keep the longing from her voice.
    "exactly," he said. "I think that's why they wanted to leave. They'll never come back. I'm not sure they could even be persuaded to visit."
    That surprised her. "Not even to see family? you don't think your father will ever visit your uncle again?"
    "I guess Father thinks uncle Henry is just as capable of coming to see him, and I doubt it would ever occur to uncle Henry to travel to the frontier."
    Aurelia blushed. she supposed robert was right. Travel without roads was too difficult, and the rugged land was too sparsely populated to ensure safety for a lost or weary traveler. No one she knew would consider the trip unless he or she had plans to live there. It had never occurred to her that people on the frontier might feel just as reluctant to make the same journey in reverse.
    "but you came," she said.
    "yes." The clipped response indicated he was not going to elaborate.
    "do you think you'll want to stay there? On the frontier, I mean."
    "I don't know. How do I know if it's where I really want to live when there are so many places I've never