Lily (Song of the River) by Aaron McCarver, Diane T. Ashley Read Free Book Online Page A

tickling her cheek. Lily caught it between her fingers and pleated it with restless fingers.
    “Quit fidgeting, child.” Aunt Dahlia’s frown deepened. “It’s no wonder Jasmine is so restive.”
    Grandmother closed her eyes. “That’s enough, Dahlia.”
    Aunt Dahlia’s mouth dropped open. She was not used to anyone challenging her opinions. She unfurled her fan, whipping up a breeze to cool her reddened cheeks. “I suppose I should not be surprised, Mother. You never have exercised enough control over your granddaughters. If you are not careful, Lily will become a spinster and rely on you to provide for her the rest of her life.”
    Grandmother stepped closer to Lily and took her hand. “You’re being ridiculous, Dahlia. Lily is barely eighteen years old. She has plenty of time to choose a husband.”
    “That might be true if we were speaking of Camellia. But Lily is no raving beauty.”
    If she had not been so numb, Lily supposed the cruel words would have hurt.
    “Lily has a great deal to offer any man lucky enough to win her affection.” Grandmother’s defense had the same effect as Aunt Dahlia’s attack.
    “Win her affection?” Aunt Dahlia blew out a harsh breath. “It’s not as though the whole town is lined up at my niece’s door. As far as I know, she doesn’t have a single suitor.”
    Lily wasn’t surprised at her aunt’s remarks. It was true. No perspective beaus were knocking down her door. And why should they? Although she expected to inherit a respectable dowry from her grandfather, the bulk of his money and his entire estate would go to Aunt Dahlia and Uncle Phillip.
    And Lily had never been under any misapprehension about her looks. She was too short to be considered fashionable, and her waist was several inches thicker than her middle sister’s. Instead of Camellia’s changeable blue gaze or Jasmine’s exotic violet irises, she boasted dull brown eyes that refused to sparkle no matter the number of candles in a room. Her hair was lifeless, too. No long, fat ringlets for her. Instead, Lily had to be satisfied with a sensible bun at the base of her neck.
    Aunt Dahlia snapped her fan shut. “Luckily for you and Lily, Phillip and I have not been sitting idly by. I believe we have found a suitable candidate who is interested in courting Lily. He met her at the Champneys’ party, and even though we had to leave unexpectedly, he has assured Phillip he finds my niece acceptable.”
    Clarity struck Lily with the suddenness of a lightning bolt. Her stomach clenched. The man from the party. The old man. She could stomach her aunt’s unflattering assessment of her chances to find a husband, but she refused to consider linking herself to a man who was at least twice her age.
    Grandmother drew her shoulders back. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Dahlia Leigh. We are still grieving. All but you. You and your husband are both too busy trying to take over the estate.”
    “That’s not it—”
    “Stop right there, Dahlia.” Grandmother pointed her fan at Lily’s aunt. “I have listened to you, and now you will pay me the same courtesy.” When Aunt Dahlia said nothing, she continued. “Have you forgotten that you told me the Champneys’ son danced with Lily? She lacks none of the social graces, and while she may not be a raving beauty, she has many admirable qualities.”
    Lily was thankful for her grandmother’s defense, but part of her wished she were as beautiful as either of her sisters. Why did she have to be the one with admirable qualities? As young as Camellia was, men were already drawn to her whenever she was in public. Ashamed of the envy trying to take root in her heart, Lily tamped down her thoughts and concentrated on her relatives.
    “Even if you were right, Dahlia, which I do not for one moment believe, Lily will always have a place of honor in my home.”
    “Surely you’ll not reject this man before you meet him.” Expecting an explosion of rage from her