Love Be Mine (The Louisiana Ladies Series, Book 3) by Shirlee Busbee Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shirlee Busbee
thought about it? Alain Husson is a very suitable match. He is young, handsome, and comes from a good family. What more do you want in a husband?"
Micaela couldn't answer that question, but realizing that she also could not expect Alain to wait endlessly for her answer, she took a deep breath. Meeting Jean's gaze, she said softly, "I have been most unfair—I should have told you weeks ago that I do not wish to marry him."
"Perhaps you should consider someone else besides yourself before you make a final decision. I know that you are aware that our business affairs have not gone so well of late, but are you aware of the fact that Alain holds a rather large vowel signed by your brother? A debt that is difficult for François to pay?" Jean looked uncomfortable. "Alain has, in the most discreet fashion imaginable, made it clear that the day your betrothal is announced, he will happily destroy the note—as a sign of good faith toward his soon-to-be-brother-in-law."
Dismay filled Micaela. "A gambling debt?"
Jean nodded unhappily. "François is young—he has not yet learned not to be foolish with his money. It is fortunate for us that it is Alain who holds the note."
When Micaela remained silent, Jean crossed to her. Taking one of her hands in his, he said earnestly, "I do not like to put this burden on your shoulders, ma chère, but it is important that you understand that this is a troubling time for all of us right now. Alain is most desperate to marry you—he has even mentioned that a great dowry is not important to him." Steadily holding her gaze, he added softly, "Besides saving your brother from an embarrassing situation, there is much to recommend this match, petite. In fact I cannot think of one reason against it. Do not forget, too, that if you marry Alain Husson, you will, in effect, be keeping the shares of the business in the family. With this Américain underfoot, it is important that as a family we all stick together."
Her eyes searching his, Micaela said miserably, "You have given me much to think about, oncle ... but I must be truthful with you and tell you that I do not want to marry Alain Husson."
"Not even to save your family?" he demanded.
"I do not know," she admitted huskily. "I shall have to think on it. You ask a great deal of me."
Her heart heavy in her breast, Micaela bade her uncle good night and swiftly left the room.
After Micaela had departed, Jean wandered about, his thoughts unpleasant. He had been so certain that she would accept Husson's offer. Something must be done to make her see sense.
François entered, a question in his eyes. Jean shook his head. "She does not want to marry him."
François's face fell. "I do not understand her. Why is she being so stubborn? Does she want to die a spinster? There are dozens of girls who would swoon with delight if Alain wanted to marry them."
"Unfortunately, your sister is not one of them," Jean replied dryly.
"What are we to do? Alain is pressing me for the money—or Micaela's hand."
Jean took a deep breath. "I think that we shall have to make up her mind for her."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that we shall have to arrange a... situation. A situation which will make it impossible for her to refuse to marry Alain."
François's eyes widened. "You mean...?"
Jean slowly nodded. " Oui ," he said heavily. "I find this situation distasteful, but I see no other way out. If your father were alive, he would no doubt simply order her to marry the man of his choice, but we cannot. And so we must stoop to an unpleasant subterfuge." Uncomfortably, Jean continued, "With Alain's help, and I do not doubt that he will be most willing to play his part, we must see to it that your sister is thoroughly compromised and that she has no choice but to accept marriage to Alain Husson."
Chapter 4
The next weeks passed swiftly as Hugh settled into life in New Orleans. He spent long hours at the firm's offices, and by the end of March he was
Micaela couldn't answer that question, but realizing that she also could not expect Alain to wait endlessly for her answer, she took a deep breath. Meeting Jean's gaze, she said softly, "I have been most unfair—I should have told you weeks ago that I do not wish to marry him."
"Perhaps you should consider someone else besides yourself before you make a final decision. I know that you are aware that our business affairs have not gone so well of late, but are you aware of the fact that Alain holds a rather large vowel signed by your brother? A debt that is difficult for François to pay?" Jean looked uncomfortable. "Alain has, in the most discreet fashion imaginable, made it clear that the day your betrothal is announced, he will happily destroy the note—as a sign of good faith toward his soon-to-be-brother-in-law."
Dismay filled Micaela. "A gambling debt?"
Jean nodded unhappily. "François is young—he has not yet learned not to be foolish with his money. It is fortunate for us that it is Alain who holds the note."
When Micaela remained silent, Jean crossed to her. Taking one of her hands in his, he said earnestly, "I do not like to put this burden on your shoulders, ma chère, but it is important that you understand that this is a troubling time for all of us right now. Alain is most desperate to marry you—he has even mentioned that a great dowry is not important to him." Steadily holding her gaze, he added softly, "Besides saving your brother from an embarrassing situation, there is much to recommend this match, petite. In fact I cannot think of one reason against it. Do not forget, too, that if you marry Alain Husson, you will, in effect, be keeping the shares of the business in the family. With this Américain underfoot, it is important that as a family we all stick together."
Her eyes searching his, Micaela said miserably, "You have given me much to think about, oncle ... but I must be truthful with you and tell you that I do not want to marry Alain Husson."
"Not even to save your family?" he demanded.
"I do not know," she admitted huskily. "I shall have to think on it. You ask a great deal of me."
Her heart heavy in her breast, Micaela bade her uncle good night and swiftly left the room.
After Micaela had departed, Jean wandered about, his thoughts unpleasant. He had been so certain that she would accept Husson's offer. Something must be done to make her see sense.
François entered, a question in his eyes. Jean shook his head. "She does not want to marry him."
François's face fell. "I do not understand her. Why is she being so stubborn? Does she want to die a spinster? There are dozens of girls who would swoon with delight if Alain wanted to marry them."
"Unfortunately, your sister is not one of them," Jean replied dryly.
"What are we to do? Alain is pressing me for the money—or Micaela's hand."
Jean took a deep breath. "I think that we shall have to make up her mind for her."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that we shall have to arrange a... situation. A situation which will make it impossible for her to refuse to marry Alain."
François's eyes widened. "You mean...?"
Jean slowly nodded. " Oui ," he said heavily. "I find this situation distasteful, but I see no other way out. If your father were alive, he would no doubt simply order her to marry the man of his choice, but we cannot. And so we must stoop to an unpleasant subterfuge." Uncomfortably, Jean continued, "With Alain's help, and I do not doubt that he will be most willing to play his part, we must see to it that your sister is thoroughly compromised and that she has no choice but to accept marriage to Alain Husson."
Chapter 4
The next weeks passed swiftly as Hugh settled into life in New Orleans. He spent long hours at the firm's offices, and by the end of March he was
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