Part 22 (2/2)
The frothy coquettishness Caroline had shown with Liam and Perry was completely gone from her manner. ”Of course. You must realize, Rose, that to win a man's regard you must learn to be a true lady. Composed, compliant, and agreeable.”
Mac p.r.i.c.ked up her ears. Caroline's tone was definitely condescending, yet there was a hint of wistfulness in her voicea”even a touch of carefully veiled sarcasm. As if she were playing a role she accepted with unacknowledged reluctance.
”So you'd consider yourself an expert ina proper feminine behavior?” Mac asked.
Caroline looked at Mac sharply, and her limpid blue eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second. If she recognized irony, she wasn't the airhead she appeareda”or wanted to appear.
She moved to the small fireplace across the room and sat upright in one of the chairs, arranging her skirts around her feet. ”Oh, yes,” she said with false lightness. ”I venture to say that I am an expert in the art of being a perfect lady.”
”I'm sure,” Mac began cautiously, ”that Lia”your guardian appreciates that.”
”Liam?” Caroline pleated the material of her skirt. ”He has the samea exacting tastes that my papa had. He paid for my finis.h.i.+ng school after Papa died, when I was fourteen.”
”He seems to be a man of verya strong opinions,” Mac prodded.
Now Caroline was all airy indifference. ”Sometimes he can be quite trying. But Liam is very strong. He's traveled all over the world.” She gave Mac a patronizing smile. ”You needn't be afraid of him, Rosea”he will come to like you. I'm sure he will.”
Thanks for the rea.s.surance. ”I'm grateful. But I'ma rather curious about Mr. O'Shea. What kind of background does he come from?”
Caroline stared at her folded hands. ”Mr. O'Shea's people came from Ireland,” she said. She paused awkwardly and hurried on. ”He was in the mining business, and the railroads, just like Papa. He's very rich and admired by everyone in San Francisco.”
Mac remembered Homer saying that Gresham had worked his way up to wealth as Liam had, but from much more prosperous beginnings. Liam had been dirt poor. Either Caroline didn't know that, or chose not to mention it. Maybe she was the kind who wanted to pretend that she, and everyone she knew, had always been rich and respectable.
Could Caroline be ashamed of Liam's past, or her own?
”So,” Mac said, ”Mr. O'Shea enjoys his place in society? He seemsa”I don't know him well, but it almost seems as if he wouldn't quite fit in with thea elegance of your world.”
”You're quite mistaken,” Caroline said quickly. ”He may bea rough at times, but that is the way with strong men. My papa was often like that. Of course my papa gave me everything I wanted. There was nothing he would not do for me.”
”While Mr. O'Shea is less accommodating.”
”He is always protective. A woman feels safe with him.” Caroline stood, brus.h.i.+ng her skirts with her hands. ”You haven't yet told me about your journey here,” she said brightly. ”You must have seen some very uncivilized places in your travels. How did you get on? Perry's stories can make them sound almost fascinating.”
Perry's stories. Not Liam's. ”They can be,” Mac said. ”Hasn'ta Mr. O'Shea ever suggested that you accompany him on one of his adventures?”
”Certainly not.” Caroline took an agitated turn about the room. ”He would never take a lady into such peril.”
”No,” Mac said dryly, ”I can't imagine Mr. O'Shea sharing that willingly with any woman.”
Caroline came to a sudden stop. ”Only see what happened to you. You were deprived of every refinement and advantage. Think what might have become of you if not for Perry! And in any case, Liam has no more need to leave San Francisco. Everything he wants is here.”
”And what do you want, Caroline?”
”I wanta”” she began, biting her lip. ”I wanta””
But if she were tempted to confide in Mac, the incentive was obviously not strong enough. ”I want to help you, Rose,” she said abruptly. ”You must be guided by me, and by Perry, if you wish to get on here.”
”Mr. Sinclair is a real gentleman,” Mac said, scooting off the bed. ”He's the son of a lord, isn't he?” She sighed. ”If he weren't my cousina””
”Mr. Sinclair is everything a gentleman should be,” Caroline interrupted. ”He is quite the favorite of our society.”
”I can't imagine a man more different from Mr. O'Shea.”
”No,” Caroline murmured. ”Completely differenta” She shook her head. ”Do you like the ocean?”
”You'll see it when we go to Cliff House.” She smiled. ”And tomorrow we shall shop all day. I have great hopes for you, Rose. With luck we may even find you a husband.”
Mac had no chance to comment on that peculiar notion. The door swung open and Liam walked into the room.
”A word with you, Caroline,” he said. He barely glanced at Mac before taking his ward's arm and escorting her out. Through the half-closed door Mac heard most of the conversation that followed.
”I hope you remember to carry yourself with decorum this afternoon, Caroline,” Liam said, his words stiffly formal. ”Your newa friend will ride with her cousin, and you with me.”
”But I had promised Perrya””
”Miss MacKenzie hardly knows me, Caroline. She will be more comfortable with Perry.”
Silence. After a moment Caroline spoke again, her voice taking on a faintly wheedling tone. ”Will you let me drive the carriage today? Perry said it's not difficult, and I've been thinking I should like to trya””
”Out of the question. You don't have the slightest idea how to handle a team.”
”I could learn.”
”It's far too dangerousa”not to mention fast.”
”But other ladiesa””
”You aren't other ladies.” He paused. ”How go the arrangements for the ball?”
Only a touch of sullenness lingered in Caroline's voice. ”Perfectly. It will be the grandest event of the year. Everyone will envy me. And I shall save the very best dances for you and Perry.”
Liam cleared his throat. ”Perry may not be able to attend.”
”What?”
”He has other commitments.”
”I cannot believe that. He has given his word, and Perry is a true gentleman. He would never disappoint a lady.”
”Perhaps you don't know Mr. Sinclair as well as you think you do.”
”I know he is a good friend,” she retorted. ”I thought he was yours.”
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