Dacey: Bride of North Carolina (Amercan Mail-Order Bride 12) by Shanna Hatfield Read Free Book Online Page B

number of matters require my attention this morning, Mother. In answer to your question, I will not be able to join you.” The last thing he needed was to spend the day near Dacey.
    Already thoroughly captivated with the girl, he’d be completely smitten if he spent that much time in her presence.
    That would never do.
    Not at all.
    He cleared his throat again. “However, I requested Harry collect Miss Butler’s trunk when the train arrives. With that matter attended to, there isn’t a need for you ladies to venture into Asheville.”
    “Oh, but there is, sweetheart,” Beatrice said, smiling at her son. “Someone needs to introduce Dacey to our lovely little town and I fully intend to handle the responsibility.”
    “I don’t want to be a bother,” Dacey said, looking at Beatrice. “You’ve done far too much as it is. It really isn’t necessary. If I could just get my trunk, I can be on…”
    “Nonsense,” Beatrice interrupted, rising to her feet. “Dacey, darling, go on to your room, freshen up, and put on the hat I had Cornelia leave for you. When you’re ready, we’ll head into Asheville. It’s been ever so long since I had a fun day of shopping. These two men have no interest in such matters, so you’ll be doing me a great favor by keeping me company.”
    Dacey doubted Beatrice needed her company, but she couldn’t argue with the woman. Even she knew it would be impolite, and maybe more importantly, completely pointless.
    Braxton and Daniel stood as Dacey and Beatrice rose and exited the room.
    Before he changed his mind, Braxton hurried outside and asked Harry to bring the carriage around to the door. He busied himself far enough away from the house, he wouldn’t submit to the urge to spend the day with Dacey.
    Yet, he couldn’t help watching as the carriage pulled away from the house and rolled down the drive. He caught Dacey eying him and tipped his head to her.
    She waved and settled back against the seat with an anxious look on her face.
     
    ~~*~~
     
    “Please, Beatrice, you’ve done far, far too much as it is.” Dacey shook her head as the woman held out a luxurious robe in a beautiful shade of peacock blue.
    “Oh, just feel it for goodness sakes,” Beatrice said, lifting Dacey’s hand and setting it on the soft, warm fabric. Dacey could imagine cuddling into such a wonderful robe in front of a crackling fire with a good book to read. A vision of doing so in her room at Bramble Hall made her shake her head.
    Regardless of Beatrice’s assurances, she had no right to be there and no business entertaining any such ideas.
    The dressmaker took the robe from Beatrice and added it to a pile of purchases that left Dacey feeling indebted and unsure of herself.
    Under the pretense of ordering a gown for the upcoming Harvest Ball, a ball Dacey wasn’t convinced she should attend, Beatrice soon added half a dozen other gowns to the order.
    Before Dacey quite knew what had happened, Beatrice accumulated a pile of purchases including two corsets, stockings, nightgowns, chemises, bloomers, and petticoats. There were gloves, a shawl, and a parasol. That last item was entirely frivolous, considering winter waited just around the corner.
    “I can’t accept all this.” Dacey waved her hand toward the clothing on the counter.
    “Please, darling, indulge me. I always wanted daughters to dress up and I have one, at least as long as you stay with us. Please allow me to buy you a few things.”
    “But, Beatrice, it seems so excessive, so expensive,” Dacey fretted, as the woman settled a hat bedecked with velvet roses and ostrich plumes on her head.
    After a slight adjustment, Beatrice stepped back with a smile. “That looks perfect. We must get that for you.”
    Dacey removed the hat. The dressmaker took it from her and added it to their purchases. “It ain’t that I don’t appreciate everything, but I…”
    Beatrice shushed her. “Not another word about it, Dacey. Truly, this is the most fun