Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan Page 0,30

Adele. He knew as well as her that this wasn’t a good idea. Her friends would be laughed off the stage!

“Here’s the list of musicians your mother made for us,” Betsy pulled a piece of paper out of somewhere and offered it to Adele.

She took it and perused the names. Basically it was everyone she’d thought of, and one she hadn’t. “Benedict Comfort?”

“Major says he plays the piano quite well,” Mother said.

“That will make Lucinda happy,” Adele remarked. “We won’t need two piano players.”

“She’s quite right,” Leona said. “I’ve never attended a musicale with two, unless there was a duet.”

Adele gulped again. “Trust me when I say this: this is not going to happen.”

“I should say not,” Liam muttered under his breath.

Adele couldn’t help feeling a camaraderie with Liam in that moment. They both held the same pity for everyone on the list.

“Why don’t you help her, Liam?” Mother suggested.

His eyes popped wide. “What? Me? Everyone on this list is friends with Adele, not me. And if she thinks they can’t do it, they can’t do it.”

“You could talk to Benedict,” Adele said. Talk him out of even considering it, she thought.

Liam sighed. “All right. But I can’t guarantee anything.”

“We understand,” Mother replied. “But it would be another social function around here. The following Saturday would be nice.”

“Mother, are you mad?” Adele blurted. “That’s only a week after the dance and doesn’t give them enough time to practice together even if they were professional musicians.” Which none of them were or ever would be.

“Of course it does, dear,” Leona said. “All they have to do is play some hymns from church. That’s easy enough, isn’t it? After all, they already know the tunes.”

Betsy glared suspiciously at Adele. “They do know how to read music, don’t they?”

Adele rubbed her forehead. She felt like she was facing an inquisition. “I think so. But that still doesn’t mean –”

“Splendid!” Leona clapped. “It’s all settled. The two of you will speak to everyone on the list and tell them when the musicale will take place.”

“But what if they say no?” Liam reiterated.

“Suppose one or two do?” Leona said. “That still leaves the others.” She turned to Mother. “Now, what to do about refreshments?”

Adele and Liam watched and listened to the others discuss details of the musicale as her brothers came to the table and sat. “Are they done talking yet?” Thackary asked quietly.

“Does it sound like it?” Adele grumbled.

Thackary rolled his eyes. “They’ve been going on like this all afternoon.”

Adele and Liam looked at each other in shock. “That’s a long time to be planning a musicale without asking the musicians,” Adele whispered.

“Makes you wonder what else they’ve been planning,” Liam whispered back.

“I came into the kitchen for some cookies and they were talking about a parade,” Sam said.

“A parade!” Adele stared at the women chatting at the other end of the table. What was going on?

“Maybe I’d better head home,” Liam suggested.

“No, don’t,” she said as heat crept into her cheeks. Having to spend more time with him wouldn’t help her current predicament. It might make it worse. But she needed an ally against her mother’s sudden fit of insanity. No one who’d actually heard anyone on that list play would suggest a musicale – or anything besides a tutor. She looked at him, quickly caught herself and turned away. What would he think if he saw her gawking at him like that? Fortunately, he hadn’t seemed to notice.

Unfortunately, her brothers had – Thackary and Sam were snorting with laughter and winking. She groaned, left the table and went to fetch plates and silverware from the hutch. Mother had been so busy plotting with her guests, she hadn’t bothered to set the table.

“Thank you, Adele,” Father called after her.

“Oh, dear me,” Mother said. “I’m sorry, Colin – you must be starved. It’s just that we got to discussing so many things …”

“It’s all right, dear. But I am hungry and I’m sure the boys are too. And we did invite Liam to eat with us, so having something would be nice.”

Adele brought the plates and silverware to the table, passed them out and went to help bring the food. She had to find a way to not spend time with Liam or be in a heap of trouble. But sure enough, when she returned everyone had taken a seat, leaving only one empty one next to the man. Once again, it figured.

The next few days were spent between constructing paper flowers and speaking