Ana Seymour by Father for Keeps Page B

boarders?”
    “Silver miners. There was a shortage of housing for them in Vermillion after the strike at the Wesley mine.”
    Harriet shot a significant glance from Kate to her son, who had put a plate in front of Kate and was preparing another for himself. “You two young girls took in transient males?”
    Kate had the same sensation she’d had when she’d been forced to explain her unexpected pregnancy to Henrietta Billingsley back in Vermillion. She felt the hair bristle at the back of her neck. “We’ve had the same three miners living there for over a year. They’re fine men. And then we had the town district attorney move in. He’s a lawyer, of course, educated at Harvard. He married my sister.”
    Even Harriet looked impressed at this and suddenly seemed to realize that her interrogation was sounding unfriendly. She gave a thin-lipped smile. “I just mean that it must have been difficult for you…two unprotected women taking in strange men.”
    Sean pulled out the chair next to Kate with a noisy scrape and interrupted his mother. “I think we shouldlet Kate eat her breakfast before it gets cold,” he said as he sat next to her.
    Patrick pulled a watch from his vest pocket. “I need to be getting down to the office.”
    “I should leave, too,” Harriet said, folding her napkin carefully and pushing back her chair. “I’m due at the dressmaker’s at ten.”
    “I thought I could bring Caroline down to meet you,” Sean said
    “We’ll see the child this evening,” Patrick said briskly. “I expect you’ll be down at the office shortly, son?”
    Sean nodded. “As soon as I see that Kate and Caroline are settled in.”
    Patrick stood. “Nice to meet you, miss,” he said to Kate with an impersonal nod. Then he strode out of the room without bothering to take leave of his wife.
    Harriet seemed not to notice. “Perhaps you could drive me to Madame Lavalier’s, Sean, if you can finish up your breakfast quickly.”
    Sean looked over at Kate, then down at his still-full plate. “All right. Just give me five minutes.”
    “I’ll go get my shawl,” Harriet said, then turned another brittle smile on Kate. “Make yourself at home, dear. If you need anything, just let one of the servants know.”
    Kate forced a smile in return as her mother-in-law left the room. What a strange welcome. If Sean’s parents were any indication, life on Nob Hill would be far different than the warmth of Sheridan House. She did not mind so much for herself, but she was worried about how this cold atmosphere would affect herdaughter. It had taken her all of thirty seconds to determine that the one thing Caroline would not have in the midst of this Nob Hill luxury was doting grandparents.
    “Do you mind if I leave you today?” Sean asked. “I’ve really been away from work longer than I should.”
    Kate shook her head. “No, it sounds as if your father needs you.”
    Sean gave a humorless laugh. “I doubt that But he’ll check to be sure I make an appearance. What will you do today?”
    “I’ll unpack my things, and then perhaps Caroline and I will explore the neighborhood a little.”
    “Be careful where you go. You’re in the big city now, not Vermillion.”
    She smiled at him, pleased that he’d asked about her day and that he was concerned about her. Perhaps her strange feelings were just due to the newness of it all. Once she and Sean had time to adapt to their life here, things would be all right.
    “I’ll be careful,” she assured him with a smile. And when he leaned over to kiss her softly on the mouth before he left the room, her smile turned into a gentle glow that lasted most of the morning.

Chapter Six
    T he taste of Kate’s hps lingered on Sean’s all through the trip down to the wharf where Flaherty Enterprises had its main warehouse and offices. He’d dropped his mother off at her dressmaker’s along the way, mostly ignoring her inane conversation about which of her friends had imported what