Chapters (51)
- Cover
- Books by Elizabeth Camden
- Title Page
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Historical Note
- Questions for Discussion
- In 2020, look forCaroline Delacroix’sstory in
- About the Author
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- Back Cover
“No. I never thought of such a thing.” Selling small bottles of spice was easier than the hassle of brewing and bottling, but it pleased him that she had capitalist tendencies hidden beneath her instinct to give things away for free. “It’s an interesting idea, though. I’ve moved into bottling with the vanilla extract. Perhaps there is potential in spiced fruit drinks. If there’s enough profit, I’ll consider it.”
“I think it’s wonderful that your sister gets to work in the White House,” Annabelle said as she settled herself at the dining table.
“Gets to work in the White House?” he asked skeptically.
“Yes, gets!” Her face glowed. “When I was a girl, I had a picture book about Washington and all its iconic buildings, like the Capitol and the White House. It told stories about the founding fathers and the risky years building the nation. It awakened something in me. I remember wanting to grow up and do something really great. I lived in Kansas, so I figured that meant raising a bumper crop of wheat.” She dissolved into laughter, but he loved watching her unabashed optimism.
“And now?” he asked.
“Now I’m actually here and get to see those buildings almost every day. They’re more magnificent in person than in the books. Being here makes me proud to be an American.”
She was so innocent and wonderfully naïve, but it was part of her wholesome charm. “Have you had a chance to see all the places in your picture book?”
“All except Mount Vernon.”
He could remedy that. “It’s not far. Mount Vernon hosts an annual celebration on the Fourth of July,” he said. “There will be a brass band and fireworks in the evening. I would be happy to escort you and your sister.”
“You’d do that for us?”
He’d bring her pearls from the bottom of the ocean if she wanted them. “I would be honored to spend the day with the Larkin sisters.”
She stayed for hours while they finished the last of the spiced fruit punch, and it was the most delightful afternoon in his memory. Courting a woman couldn’t be this easy. Could it?
He silenced the warning bell in the back of his mind, for surely Annabelle was exactly what she appeared to be. At last he felt like he was coming home to something wonderful.
Nine
Annabelle was surprised to be summoned to Dr. Norwood’s office first thing on Monday morning. She hadn’t spoken to him since the day she’d given him the rare orchid from Windover Landing. In failing to locate the elusive original vanilla orchid, she’d lost her best shot at securing a permanent position here, but was it possible Dr. Norwood had found another opportunity for her?