A Hope Beyond by Judith Pella Page A

see that the porch had been enclosed for winter, but it was still chilly, and the cold air rushed against her heated cheeks in a welcomed wave.
    Hampton led her to a small settee, and Carolina gratefully took a seat. She knew Hampton would press her for conversation, but that was better than having to deal with Edith Baldwin. What would she say to the mother of the man who’d broken not only Virginia’s heart, but her own heart as well?
    Hampton pushed out the long tails of his black frock coat and took a seat in a wicker chair opposite the settee. His tall, solid frame seemed too big for such a chair, but the wicker held and Hampton smiled lazily.
    Carolina felt rather like the fly caught in the spider’s web. She tried to rationalize how she might convince Hampton to forget his romantic intentions, but when she looked at him, she thought of James. How wonderful the evening might have been if James Baldwin sat beside her instead of Hampton Cabot.
    “I like it when you look at me like that,” Hampton said.
    Carolina, feeling horribly embarrassed by the suggestion that such a look was for Hampton, shook her head. “Hampton, you must put such thoughts from your mind.”
    His broad smile caused her to glance around. “What is it?” she asked hesitantly.
    “You called me Hampton. No more Mr. Cabot for me. If I’d known that such an intimate setting would bloom the shy bud into a flower, I would have sought out such a place weeks ago.”
    “Mr. Cabot—”
    “Don’t,” he said firmly. “Don’t take on a pretense with me. I know you’re attracted to me, and I know that your father approves. I don’t want to play your society belle games—”
    “How dare you!” It was Carolina’s turn to interrupt. “I’ve not given you any reason to believe me less than sincere in my regard for you. I very adamantly do not wish to be courted by you, Mr. Cabot. I cannot state it much clearer than that. I agreed to accompany you here tonight because my father desired it. He has had so very little pleasure in his life of late that even such a sacrifice as this seemed worthwhile.”
    Hampton’s laugh made Carolina’s skin crawl.
    “Your sacrifice, as you put it, seems not to have done you much harm,” Hampton insisted. “I think you are simply protesting out of ignorance.”
    “I beg your pardon?”
    “Ignorance.” He stated the word with emphasis and leaned forward with a knowing look in his eye. “You are ignorant of the joys of love and the pleasures of romance and married life. You’ve no doubt heard all of those matronly horror stories whispered behind closed doors—”
    “Stop it this minute!” Carolina exclaimed, jumping to her feet. “I will not hear such talk. My father should throttle you for such inexcusable behavior! I’m going to find Miriam and go home.”
    She moved past him, but Hampton lurched to his feet also and pulled her, struggling, into his arms. “You may protest all you like, but I see something in your expression that tells me what your lips will not admit.”
    “You see nothing that is real or intended for you, Mr. Cabot.” She put her hands against the rock-hard wall of his chest and tried to force some space between them.
    “If you don’t want to make a scene, I’d suggest you settle down. I’m hardly going to force myself upon you in the middle of Gadsby’s Christmas party.”
    Carolina calmed a little at this. Her father and mother would be mortified to find her in this compromising position. Maybe it was better not to struggle and attract attention to her predicament. She took a breath and tried to relax.
    “That’s better,” he said, bending her slightly backward to accommodate his towering frame. Carolina had little choice but to look directly into his eyes. “You’ve had your head too long in your books,” Hampton continued. “Men and women have much better things with which to occupy themselves, and I intend to show you one of them right now.” Then before she