The Wedding Ransom by Geralyn Dawson Page B

more fashionable dresses. I feel it’s important to keep up appearances, don’t you agree?”
    He blew out a heavy onion-scented sigh. As his brows furrowed in thought, he pursed his pale, fleshy lips.
    Hidden in the folds of her skirt, Maggie crossed her fingers as she flashed him a smile—a first for her.
    Finally, Hill nodded. “Yes, I shall want you to wear a special gown when we marry. Our wedding should be the premier social event of the year. We must begin preparations immediately. I’ll put your grandfathers to work sprucing up the hotel today.”
    Her grandfathers. Maggie closed her eyes, dread seeping through her. No, that wouldn’t do. That wouldn’t do at all. If her papas learned that Barlow Hill thought to marry her, they’d have a fit and take a fillet knife to him. No, her papas couldn’t learn about this. No one could. “It must be a secret.”
    “Pardon me?”
    “The wedding,” Maggie said, making it up as she went along. “We should keep it a secret. Like the wedding between the earl of Bellingham and Lady Millicent Cavanaugh in London. Society thought they’d been invited to a ball and the wedding was a surprise. No other event of the Season topped it. Papa Ben told me all about it.”
    Hill’s eyes widened, then narrowed in thought. “Hmm. I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
    That’s because the story was all a lie. A falsehood that Maggie hoped would appeal to Barlow Hill’s excessive vanity. “We could say it was a reopening celebration for Hotel Bliss. It would certainly be a first for Texas society, and being first is always good, don’t you think?”
    “Yes. Yes, I do.” Hill nodded decisively. “Of course, your grandfathers—”
    “Must not know!” Maggie insisted. “They don’t keep secrets worth beans. Why, telling my papas would be like announcing the wedding in the newspapers. Take my word on this, Barlow.” Her voice rang with sincerity as she added, “It’s best they know nothing about any wedding.”
    Hill’s brow dipped as he frowned over the question. Finally, he said, “Very well. We shall keep news of the wedding between the two of us for now. However, in private I will expect you to treat me with the respect due one’s betrothed.”
    Maggie’s smile went a bit sickly at that. She could only imagine what he meant by that, and her imaginings didn’t bode well.
I’ll simply have to do my best never to be alone with the mullet.
    “As the event draws near,” Hill continued, “we may be forced to bring others in on the secret. For now, however, I shall provide you with a list of items to acquire in New Orleans.” After a moment’s pause, he added, “You are not traveling alone, I trust? I didn’t approve of your relations taking off and leaving you here alone with but a boy for protection.”
    Maggie managed, just barely, to hide what she thought of that remark. Keeping her smile pasted on, she shook her head. “Snake and Gus plan to accompany me. Ben and Lucky will come with us as far as Galveston. Papa Ben received notice that an order he placed over a year ago has arrived from Europe, so they’ll see us off before returning to Bliss with the supplies.”
    “And the stranger?”
    “What stranger?”
    “The man who returned with your guardians to Lake Bliss. This Malone character. I have only just met the fellow, but something about him grates like chalk on a slate. The name seems familiar, too, although I have not been able to place it. In any case, I would not approve of your traveling with him.”
    Finally she had reason to be pleased with her grandfathers’ choice to retrieve the treasure. Maggie met Barlow Hill’s gaze and lied. “I won’t be traveling with Mr. Malone. He’s here on business. He’s a horse breeder. You’ve probably heard of the Lone Star Ranch? Mr. Malone is interested in my Papa Lucky’s quarter-miler. I doubt his visit will last long.”
    She edged toward the door and added, “Now if you’ll excuse me, I