Love Be Mine (The Louisiana Ladies Series, Book 3) by Shirlee Busbee Read Free Book Online Page A

have made your quarters at the offices of the company. But then, it is possible, I suppose, for the premises to survive without your presence during the night."
    Cecile smothered a gasp, and Jasper laughed aloud. Hugh smiled, although there was a glint in his gray eyes which made Micaela strangely breathless. He bowed low, acknowledging her barb, but instead of feeling victorious, Micaela stalked away with a sense of having survived a dangerous escape.
    Alain appeared at her shoulder, and she spent several moments conversing with him and recovering her composure. She liked Alain and was flattered by his attention—he was considered a very eligible parti, and there were several other young ladies who would have been ecstatic to have him dancing attendance on them. But Micaela could not bring herself to accept his attentions seriously. François and Jean both had been pushing his suit for several months now. Was that why she could not bring herself to say yes and become betrothed to Alain? Because they wanted it so desperately?
    She hoped she wasn't that disobliging, but she had to admit that she had no good reason for refusing to accept an offer from Alain. He and Francis were close friends, although Alain was nearly a decade older than her brother. They had all grown up together—the Husson plantation was not far from the Duprees'. The Hussons were respectable and wealthy. There was even an indirect tie of blood— Tante Marie. It would be an eminently suitable match, so why was she dithering?
    Unaccountably her gaze slid to the tall Américain near the fire. He was laughing at something her mother had said, his handsome face full of amusement. Across the room Hugh's eyes suddenly met hers, and Micaela felt her heart leap in her breast. Blushing furiously at the gleam which sprang into his gaze, she glanced hastily away.
    Merci! Merci! What was wrong with her? Pasting a smile on her lips, she forced herself to concentrate on what Alain was saying, determined not to spare one more glance at the Américain for the rest of the evening. She managed to do just that until Hugh and Jasper were taking their leave. The Husson family had departed a few minutes previously, and the remaining members of the party were gathered in the entryway bidding each other good night.
    Micaela was standing next to her mother, François and Jean nearby. Jasper had already said his good-byes and was waiting at the door. Hugh bent over Lisette's hand and warmly thanked her for the evening.
    A smile on his lips, he added, "Perhaps you will allow me to return the favor? I would very much like to have you and your family as my guests at one of the hotels for dinner. Will you allow me to arrange it?"
    To her dismay, Micaela's pulse quickened at his words. François and Jean were quick to offer polite protests, but Lisette, paying them no heed, beamed at Hugh. "Why, monsieur, that would be most famous. I am sure that we should enjoy it."
    The door had barely closed behind Hugh and Jasper before François burst out, " Maman! How could you? Tonight was bad enough, but must you encourage the man? He is our enemy. And he has treated Jean and me most cavalierly. Let me tell you what he has done to us."
    As François proceeded vociferously to lay out Hugh's many crimes to his mother, Micaela drifted away, eager for the solace of her bedchamber. Jean's touch on her arm stopped her, and she looked inquiringly at him.
    "A word with you, petite?"'
    Mystified, Micaela followed him into one of the smaller rooms. "What is it?"
    Jean took a turn around the room, then, his hands behind his back, he said, "I wondered if you had made a decision about Alain Husson. He spoke to me earlier this evening before the others arrived. He indicated again how very much he wants to marry you."
    Micaela bit her lip, her eyes on the floor in front of her. "I-I-I h-h-had not thought about it very much."
    "Not thought about it very much!" Jean repeated, dismayed. "How can you not have