The Gold Miner's Wife: A Young Woman's Story of Romance, Passion and Murder by Amethyst Creek Read Free Book Online

about Simmons’ successful mining venture.  Jack did not approve of Mansfield’s attentiveness to Susannah – he acted like a Frenchman who had just found a truffle, and he wondered what his friend Thomas thought of Mansfield or if he thought of him at all.  While he answered the questions Mansfield put to him about the mine, it seemed something was off kilter.
    To an astute observer of the human condition, it was a truth universally acknowledged that if someone who is powerful and of good reputation approves of you, then this endorsement automatically elevates your standing in the eyes of others.  Friendship with respectable people bought one counterfeit respectability.  By applying that logic, Jack Simmons should have accepted Mansfield’s status as someone in Susannah’s circle of friends, as a given.  He had to admit that Edward Mansfield had been known to Susannah for some years, but he was still suspicious of him.  Mansfield’s manners were practiced and he seemed overly curious.  Soon the pocket door separating the parlor from the dining room was slid open, the guests were seated and the feasting commenced.
                  “We are anxious to hear of your visit to the Philadelphia Exhibition,” John Gibson, who it was revealed was a banker, said to the Mansfields.  “I understand you had a lively time.”
                  “Where to begin?  There was so much to see!” Charlotte answered.  “We spent a week and exhausted ourselves, but still did not manage to see everything.  I did so much walking,” she groused, “and it was hot and my clothes too warm.  The Main Exhibit Building was 1876 feet long!”
                  “On a couple of days, we took the rolling chairs for two hours and saw much in a superficial way.  The grounds were not open on Sundays,” added Edward.  “It seems the directors refused to allow anything to break the Sabbath.”
                  “I glimpsed the Empress of Brazil at the Ladies Pavilion,” said Charlotte, to the amazement of the others.  “On another day we had coffee dispensed after the fashion of Turkey in the Turkish Bazaar.”
                  Charlotte turned to Jack who was seated next to her.  “Have you ever tasted Turkish coffee Mr. Simmons?”
                  “I have not had the pleasure, no,” he answered.
                  When she requested that he pass the butter, she gave him a flirtatious look that was unmistakable.  Jack had not formed an opinion of the effusive Miss Mansfield, only that she was well padded in all areas.  He regarded her with courteous disinterest.
                  “Have you visited Philadelphia, Mr. Simmons?” Charlotte asked him.
                  “Of course,” he replied.
                  “Did you not find it to be unbearably hot?” she complained.
                  “I do not remember,” he answered.  Miss Mansfield certainly never ran out of questions.
    “A man by the name of Bell demonstrated his galvanic muttering machine ,” said Edward.
                  “What in the world is that?” asked Susannah.
                  “Bell talked into the device and someone in a different location at the Exhibition answered him.  They had a conversation without being in the same room with one another.”
                  “How extraordinary!” exclaimed Evelyn who had been listening with rapt attention. 
    “Well, he certainly believes it to be an invention of the future,” said Edward with haughty disbelief. 
    “Oh, papa,” Evelyn implored, “you must take mamma and I to see these wonders before it is too late and they are gone.”  Her father gave a noncommittal shrug.
                  “The Japanese House was popular with everyone and so was the Moorish Villa,” Charlotte observed.  “This trout is delicious Susannah,” she