Lauretta decided that she would stroll on in the most aimless-seeming way, and then that she would suddenly “discover” them. It would be a splendid opportunity to blush, and that always charmed a man and made him feel strong and protective. Oh, if only she could still blush! Well, she would try. Concentrating, she endeavored to remember the most embarrassing incidents of her past life—but, alas, thinking of them, and there had been many, only made her smile. Perhaps laughter would do as well. She could almost always summon laughter, because the world usually struck her as absurd. And men liked laughter almost as well as blushes. Quite mistakenly they considered that it evidenced good nature. And it relaxed them, as long as it was not at all hinting at ridicule.

When she allowed herself to look at the pair again, she saw that Bruce was about to mount his horse. So, he had come the back way on purpose to avoid her, supposing that she would be either indoors or on the front porch, but never at the back of the house. The sight of him now in his saddle set her anger raging again.

She was ignored; she was neglected; she was passed over; she was allowed only to companion old ladies! She had been too good; that was ever the way of it. Even Sarah, when enjoining her to a discretion which amounted to a lie, had agreed that she did them all a great favor—that, indeed, they were all in her debt.

After bowing from the saddle, Bruce turned his horse and walked him a little way, then trotted him, and was soon gone. If the master of Oaks was lost to her, there was still the girl who humiliated her with her indifferent manner. How quickly would that casual calm fall away if she knew the truth of their relationship!

Keeping to the shadows, Lauretta hurried now, although there was no need, for the girl did not go into the house, but stood still, apparently considering the matter of her visit from Bruce Davis. So deep in thought was she, she showed little reaction when Lauretta stepped up to her and said, “Was that our good neighbor, Mr. Bruce Davis who just rode away?”

“Yes,” Rachel said.

“Perhaps he enquired after me? There was a certain matter of no importance that I asked him to look into—”

“No, ma’am, he made no mention of it, or of you.”

“And did he have news for you from Savannah?”

“None that I had not received by letter myself.”

(Confound the girl—would she give nothing away?) “And I hope that news tells of a quick return of a certain party who is missed!”