Winning the Spinster's Heart (Clear Creek Brides #1) - Kit Morgan Page 0,42
followed her. “Adele?”
“Is she not feeling well?” Father asked. Great – what was he doing here? Did she really need everyone in her life to watch her fall apart?
She made it to a chair and sat. She wished she wasn’t reacting this way – she’d braced herself for it as best she could. Still, his words were like a slap in the face.
“Adele, sweetness,” Father said when he reached her. “Is everything all right?” He looked at Liam and back. “Adele?”
She held up her hand. “I’m all right. Just a little woozy.”
Liam dropped to one knee and looked at her. “I can take you home if you’d like.”
“Or we can all go home,” Father said. “We know how to dance anyway.”
Adele watched some of the others’ bumbling attempts. “You and Mother should stay and help.”
“Ah, me, I suppose you’re right. So long as you’re okay, of course.”
She nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Or would be as soon as she got away from Liam.
“Very well, then. Your mother and I shall return to our duty.” Father headed back to the dance area.
Liam didn’t. “Maybe you need some fresh air?”
What she needed was to go outside and bang her head against a post. She’d not only found that Liam was close enough to perfect for her, but that she’d fallen in love with him. She hadn’t guarded her heart as well as she thought, relying on her earlier annoyance with him to keep it in check. Fat lot of good that did. Now he was leaving and she was wondering how she’d foiled her own dreams so badly.
He pulled her to her feet. “Come, let’s go outside and you can get some air.”
“Liam, you don’t have to,” she said. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’re very pale at the moment. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you just had a shock.”
She took a deep breath and tried not to make eye contact. He had no idea!
Liam escorted her outside to a bench on the hotel porch. “You don’t have to stay with me,” she said as she sat.
He sat next to her. “I want to. Besides, you shouldn’t be out here alone.”
She laughed. “Liam, this is Clear Creek. What could happen?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Who knows what’s lurking in the shadows?”
“Other than my great-uncle Wilfred? He can’t dance, but after hearing Benedict play, I know he’d want to listen to the music.”
Liam smiled. “Wilfred?” he called out. “Wilfred Dunnigan?”
She slapped his arm. “Stop that.”
He laughed. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“I’m fine. You can go inside now.”
“But I’d rather stay with you.”
Her throat grew thick and tears stung her eyes. This was something she never thought could happen – falling in love with Liam White. And he clearly didn’t reciprocate that love, so she’d just have to learn to take it. Which would be easier if he wasn’t sitting next to her.
“Why are you so quiet? It’s unusual for you.”
“Oh, Liam …” It was all she could do to keep from bursting into tears. He might not have swooped in like a knight in shining armor and carried her off, but he managed to win her heart all the same – slowly, methodically and without her realizing it. And to think all it took was spending time with him. What a fool she was.
“Adele.” He scooted closer. “While we’re both here, can I tell you about my meeting with Doc Drake?”
Her chest tightened. “I’d rather you didn’t. Maybe we should go inside now.” She could excuse herself to use the bathroom at the back of the hotel – thank Heaven Mr. Van Cleet had added indoor plumbing – have a good cry and then flee the scene with no one the wiser …
He put his hand over hers. “If you wish. I can tell you later.”
Adele looked at him. He was so happy, like he’d just received the best news in the world. Doc Drake must have told him his father would be fine and could handle things on his own. Why else would Liam be so ready to leave except that he wouldn’t have to worry about his parents? And he wouldn’t be so eager if he had any feelings for her. All that gazing into each other’s eyes … he must’ve seen an eyelash or a speck of dust in hers and was too polite to say. She covered her mouth and stood. “I need to … to …”
Liam got up too. “Adele?”
She shook her head, waved him off and headed inside.