Page 26 of The Bastard Heir (The Gilded West #2)

Caroline clasped her hands before her so hard she was sure her fingers were turning red.

Her own mother had invited this man all the way across the country to court her.

It was the most outlandish thing she’d ever heard.

“I’m not clear on what’s going on here,” she began, though she was pretty certain that she knew. “Mr. Miller is here to court me?”

Her mother laughed and linked her arm with one of Caroline’s.

“It’s a little more than that. Why don’t we have some tea while we discuss it?

Prudie? Could you arrange some tea and refreshments for us in—” They came to a stop in the front parlor where Caroline had so recently been daydreaming about Castillo.

“This should do nicely. Have it brought in here, Prudie dear.”

Aunt Prudie squeezed her arm just before she hurried off to see to the tea.

Before Caroline knew it, she was sliding down to sit on the settee while her father took the chair she’d vacated.

Grant Miller was, mercifully, absent. Whether he’d stayed in the foyer or had been ushered off to some other part of the house, she didn’t know nor did she care. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

“Caroline—” her father began, but her mother cut him off.

“Caroline, we feel—”

“Kathleen.” Her father’s sharp tone drew them both up short.

He rarely spoke in any way that wasn’t calm and measured.

When it was clear her mother would cede him the floor, he began again.

“Caroline, as I explained to you, and as your mother’s letter explained, we feel that you need to be married soon before the opportunity seems less…

attractive to some suitors. I, personally, feel that any man who would eschew your hand after your education, doesn’t deserve it, but we live in the world in which we live.

” He shrugged as if he couldn’t comprehend that world.

“Your girlhood friends are all married now, or at least engaged.”

“But, father, you specifically told me that you supported me going—”

“Yes, yes. I do support you going to medical school. I’ve made it my mission to find you a husband who also approves. Grant and I spoke before I left Boston, and he approves of your going. He actually spoke very highly of you and your pursuits.”

“As do I,” her mother put in. “I’m very proud of you for being accepted, Caroline. Very proud. But we have to be realistic. This is your future.”

“What are you saying? I am being realistic. I can be a physician. That is my future.”

“Of course you can,” her mother was quick to reassure her. “But eventually you’ll want a family. You won’t want to continue being a physician then, will you?”

Caroline had never thought about how having children would impact her profession.

She assumed there’d be challenges, but she’d never thought about giving up being a physician.

“Well, yes, yes, I think I will want to continue.” This wasn’t some passing fancy that she’d abandon to move on to something else.

Her mother frowned, but didn’t interrupt as her father took over. “As I said, I’ve spoken with Grant and he’s an upstanding young man. His father owns a foundry and invests in several downtown buildings. They’re an old family.”

“Are you…were you holding meetings with suitors to find one who’d take me?” A wave of nausea churned through her belly.

“No, of course not.” Her father frowned and darted a glance at her mother.

“I did speak with a couple of gentlemen who’d expressed interest in the past in coming to call.

Though I have to agree with your mother and say that I received fewer inquiries once your plans became known.

And that’s no reflection on you. I fully support your decision.

However, it did bring to my attention the particular challenges you might face in the future when it came time to marry.

I confess that I hadn’t bothered to concern myself with the prospect of your marriage until your mother brought the question to my attention. ”

Her mother nodded in agreement. “You know how your father tends to leave the day-to-day thinking to us sensible folk while he goes off into one of his books.” Then she leaned forward and took Caroline’s hand.

“Please understand that we do not take this decision lightly. We only have your best interest at heart. We’ve spoken to Grant at length, and we do very much feel that he’ll be the best option as a husband for you. ”

The very idea that they’d think she’d entertain the notion of marrying this stranger was perplexing. Her heart pounded so hard she could barely hear anything over the roar in her ears. “And if I don’t like him?”

Her father sat back in his chair, but her mother only smiled. “Please don’t be unreasonable, darling. Give him a chance. I’m certain you’ll find that you quite like him.”

“What if I don’t?”

Finally, her mother’s smile cracked a little. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. We’ve made a good match for you.”

Caroline could hardly believe her ears. They were behaving as if this was normal.

“I won’t commit to this engagement. I have not chosen him.

I don’t even know him. We’re not in the Middle Ages.

People don’t just marry off their children.

” Yet, even as she said it, she knew that it happened all the time.

Maybe not quite as straightforwardly as this, but she knew many women who’d had their suitors selected for them.

Her parents merely looked at each other.

Taking a deep breath, she asked, “Am I not to attend medical school unless I marry him?” The words echoed in her mind as the room stayed silent. Neither of them wanted to admit that they’d backed her into a corner. Had they thought she’d just allow them to do this to her?

“Miss Hartford? Caroline?” Grant Miller walked into the room as if unsure of his welcome.

“If I could have a word with you, I think I could clear up a little of the confusion. You see, I approached your father months ago. After I met you, I was quite enamored with you and I knew that you had barely noticed me. You were too busy chatting with donors and making speeches to notice your admirers.”

He gave a small smile that softened his features and made him appear very young, almost likable if she’d been inclined to view him as anything other than a threat.

“I heard every word of your speech that night and I highly admire your passion for the hospital and your chosen profession. If it sets your mind at ease, I support your ambition and would proudly call you my wife, as well as my physician.”

He smiled and it did seem genuine. “I apologize for the ambush. Your mother thought it would be fun to surprise you, and I can see now that we were wrong. I’d hoped that my coming here would be a symbol of my dedication. If I’ve overstepped my bounds, then I humbly apologize.”

Caroline stood, rubbing her wet palms down the skirt of her gown.

If what he said was true, then he was caught in the middle of this awful scheme her parents had arranged just as she was.

She couldn’t fault him for that. Knowing her mother, she’d probably played up Caroline’s enthusiasm to him a bit too much.

“Thank you for your apology. I believe my parents are a little overzealous in their ambitions. I hope you don’t think I’m being rude, but they caught me off guard. ”

“I completely understand. I’ll go and leave you to talk with your parents.” He turned to go, looking rather dejected, making her feel terrible.

“You don’t have to go, Mr. Miller.”

He smiled back at her. “I don’t want to be a bother. I have a room in town, a very nice room, actually. I’d never have believed Helena had anything to rival Boston, but the Baroness is one of the nicest hotels I’ve seen.”

“Please stay. At least for refreshments. I’ll go see what’s keeping Aunt Prudie.

” Caroline forced the same smile she used at the fundraisers and left to go find her aunt.

Inside she was seething and very aware that her parents had backed her into a corner.

She refused to marry a man they had arranged for her, but she was already starting to wonder how she could get out of it.

They very literally held the purse strings to her future.

If they refused to allow her to attend medical school—and refused to pay her tuition—then she really had no choice.

As she moved into the hallway and left the parlor behind, thoughts of Castillo began to intrude.

The very idea of touching some man who wasn’t him was repulsive.

What would he say when he came back tonight to find this had happened?

What if he didn’t care? She closed her eyes and came to a stop in the privacy of the little alcove beneath the stairs.

He wouldn’t care…would he? Despite what had happened between them last night, her being forced to marry someone else wasn’t his problem. And why should it be? He could do absolutely nothing about it.

Her heart pounded in her chest so hard she thought that it might try to leap out. Closing her eyes, she was afraid that she’d just fallen over the edge into the deeper feelings for Castillo that she’d been so afraid of.