Yes, Ann had known Reed when they were children. So what? People did not remain young. Quite a few years had come and gone since they were children sitting next to Grandpa learning to carve. She smoothed her skirt over the pocket with her knife resting on her thigh.
“Peel back the bark. Look at the grain,” Grandfather’s voice whispered.
She glanced out at the fields beyond the carriage. It was fair to say that childhood was part of the grain.
~*~
The same band played in a corner of the ballroom in front of a bank of eighteen-light windows.
“Are ye ready to be mistress of all ye survey?” Ruby wiggled her eyebrows across her lemonade glass at Mattie.
Despite pinking cheeks, Mattie straightened and scanned the room. “I believe so.” She brought her gaze to rest on Ann. “I hope so.”
“Of course ye are, Ruby only teases. Ye’re as ready as any of us are.”
“I was only teasing,” Ruby placed her hand on Mattie’s arm. “Besides ye have to admit ye got the man ye dreamed of all yer life. Not everyone can say that.”
Mattie cast her gaze downward as her blushes deepened. “That I did.” When she raised her head to Ann once again there was a sparkling challenge in her eyes. “And what of ye, Ann?”
Ann shot a look across at Ruby.
Ruby raised her hands in defense. “I don’t know what ye’re talking about.”
Ann slipped to Ruby’s side. “Surely ye are aware that this entire Christmas party is aimed to match us all up.”
Ruby rolled her eyes. “That’s nothing new.”
“Do ye think ye’ll have a say in who ye’re betrothed to?” Mattie asked.
“Yes. Mother and I have discussed it at length. She’s most concerned that I make a happy match.”
“And Reed?” Ann asked before she could pull the words back.
“He will agree with Mama. He’s more like her than I am.”
Ann stifled a snort. “How’s that?”
“It used to frustrate Father. It may be why Father was so hard on Reed.”
Ann continued to stare at her friend.
“I think Father expected Reed to be more like him. When he wasn’t, he got—”
“Mean.” Ann found she might have more in common with Reed’s Aunt Clementine than she thought. “Mean. There I said it.” She took in their shocked faces. “Look. I am not sorry. Smith Archer was mean, and it is all right if we say so. It might not be polite in company, but I think—”
“Ruby’s Aunt Clementine was right?” Mattie asked.
“There is something freeing about this blunt honesty. I feel better.” Ann glanced at Ruby. “I hope I did not hurt you with my new-found bluntness.”
“Not at all.” Ruby collected herself. “Mother and I have done a lot of talking and being ruthlessly honest with ourselves in the last couple of months. I feel better than I have in years.”
“Since we are being ruthlessly honest, what of Griffen Foster?” Mattie asked.
It was Ruby’s turn to skitter and turn pink. “What about him?”
“Is he courting ye?”
“He’s not asked to court me, if that is what ye mean.”
“Do ye like him?”
“He’s tolerable pleasant company. Do I like him better than any other man?” Ruby paused. “No.”
“Let him down gently.”
“There is nothing to let down. We have not been parading around like love-sick ninnies.”
Ann pointed her look at Ruby. “Ye’re turn is coming.”
“I’m much too practical for that. I expect to find a kind man who will indulge me. I shall do my part to care for him, and our existence will be peace itself.”
Griff appeared behind her before they could warn Ruby. “Peace itself,” he said, eyebrows raising. “Don’t know if I could stomach a life of nothing but ‘peace itself’.” With a grin, Griff extended his hand and Ruby took it. They glided toward the dance floor.
Mattie and Ann closed the distance created by Ruby’s departure.
“Ye still haven’t told me what ye think about Reed.”
Ann glanced around to make sure she would not be heard. “Honestly, I don’t know what to make of him.”
