Texas, and I
am sure he will refuse to return without her,” she said, “not
unless she’s already married to someone else.”
Morgan took a few moments to think things
over, but he just wasn’t sure how to respond. While marrying
Indiana sounded like a gift from God, the answer to his prayers, he
felt that it might not work out as well as he hoped it would. What
would Indiana think of her mother asking him to marry her like
that? Such a matter was sure to cause tension between them. “If I
am to agree to this marriage, then there is one request that I must
first make.”
“Of course,” Mrs. White said, an obvious look
of relief on her face.
“I do not wish Indiana to feel pressured into
this marriage like she was with Mr. Hollway. She has to want this
and agree to it of her own accord. I will not marry her against her
own will,” he said.
Deborah took another sip from her coffee.
“That is fair.”
Morgan glanced down at his still-full
beverage, its steam barely noticeable now. “I do not wish to become
the man she dislikes, before I have a chance to be the man she
loves,” he explained, earning a nod from Deborah. Even though he
wouldn’t have thought so moments earlier, maybe she did understand
where he was coming from.
“I assure you that Indiana will not be forced
to accept your proposal, but if she rejects it, she will have to
marry Mr. Hollway.”
“I understand,” Morgan said, “but please do
not put it to her like that. Even if she consents to marry me, I do
not want her to feel she has no option.”
“Mr. Chase, there is one thing that you have
to do in return as well,” she shot back.
“What is it?” he asked, another lump forming
in his throat as he waited for her response.
“You must not tell Indiana of my involvement
in this, not at all. Even if she were to be completely enamored
with your proposal, she cannot know my hand in this. She might be
happier if she thinks it all happened naturally,” Deborah said.
Reluctant to lie to the woman he cared for so
much, Morgan sighed loudly. “I cannot agree to that,” Morgan said,
“but I will ask Indiana to marry me. The rest is in her hands,
however.”
Chapter 12
As midday approached, Indiana was in her
bedroom, frantically searching for something to wear. Of course,
she had a closet full of dresses, but she had yet to find the
perfect one.
“I don’t have anything to wear!” the young
woman groaned as she fell backward onto her bed, wearing her
smallclothes and corset. Her friend and maid, Misty, was with her,
standing before her spacious closet. She pushed dress after dress
down the pole on which they hung.
“Are you joking?” Misty asked. Although Misty
was a lady’s maid, the two had become close friends over the time
that Misty had been in service.
“Well, I have those things, if I want to look
positively hideous!” Indiana said, covering her face with her
hands. “It’s hopeless! I’m going to have to cancel.”
Misty laughed. “My sweet, you are always far
from hideous. Pick a dress, put it on, and let’s get downstairs,
because that young man is going to be here at any moment, and if
you’re not ready to go and have lunch with him, I will.”
Indiana giggled as she sat up. “Fine, but you
must choose. I simply cannot. I’m far too nervous. I never thought
in a million years that Mr. Chase would ask me to accompany him
out.”
“The few times I’ve even seen the man, his
eyes are always on you,” Misty said, somewhat enviously. “Of course
he was going to ask you.” As she spoke, she pulled out a dress,
mostly white with light blue lace and trim. “Here, in this one
you’ll be quite a sight.”
Indiana stood up. “All right,” she said. She
lifted her hands above her head as Misty came forward and pulled
the dress down over her body. Then they went to the mirror, and
Indiana watched as her friend and servant tied up the back of the
dress, with laces which started at mid back and went
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