Page 50 of Scandalous Heiress
She felt his probing gaze upon her.
“Ada, sweetheart, it’s natural to be skeptical.Anxious.”
“I’m not anxious.I’m almost ill!”she blurted.
And he laughed.“My dear.Don’t fret!Love gives you the ability to do many things you never thought possible.Sailing away to exotic lands physically is one of them.Traveling to horizons you never imagined with one you love is quite another delight.”
“Oh, you make it sound easy.”
“It can be.”He tipped his head, regarding her with cool perspective.“Usually so easy, you never notice what’s happened to you.”
She shivered.“I want to be prudent about…love.”
“Do try that.Let me know how it works.”
“Oh, Papa.”She hoped she didn’t sound immature.
“I kid you too much, my dear.I am sorry.I find it so refreshing that you actually enjoy a man.”
“Well,” she said and rolled a shoulder, “I do enjoy men.”
“Yes.I’ve seen that.Every damn one you’ve met, truth be told.And they’ve returned the favor.Except that you don’t love them.You only test them.”
She pressed her lips together, then nodded.“That was true.”
“But we drift far from this prudence you seek in regard to men and marriage.Why do you hold back on your affections for him?”
She stared at him.
“Is it the fact he has children?You’d have his two daughters to raise.You’ve met them.How would you feel about that?”
“Oh, I love them.You would, too.They’re charming little girls and show no signs of whatever discord lay between their parents.I have the example of Camille to prove to me that a step-child can blend in quite well with a family.”
“But?What else?”
“I thought I’d fall in love with someone who had never been married.That I’d be his first bride.His first love.But I know Victor had problems in his marriage.I don’t want to deal with issues years old, maybe some I can’t change.”
“If you love him enough, you’ll have to.But then, there might not be any, either.He may have resolved for himself whatever challenges existed in the marriage.If you love him, if you find yourself enamored, if you’re worried by such possibilities, you have a right to know what they are.You must ask him to explain.”
That put her on guard.“Dare I do that?”
“It would be your life too, Ada.You’ve a right to learn what you confront.”
“I know.”That was what she’d told Ezzie, too.Plus, her father and Liv had dealt with her challenges from her first marriage.Whatever they were, Ada was not privy to details, but she did know it took months for Liv to address them.Ada had only four or five months before Victor planned to return to Shanghai—and she didn’t like being rushed.“I promise I will ask…if I become…more attached to him.”
“Good.Well!”He started to rise.“Send him to me for my blessing.”
She laughed at his nonchalance.“Wait!He hasn’t asked for my hand.”
“He will.When he does, I’m ready.”
“But—but,” she sputtered, “how do you know I’ll marry him?Papa, I just—”
“Couldn’t take your eyes off him.”He chucked her under the chin.“I like him.Liv does.From what I saw last night, others in the family do too.Who else’s approval might you need?”
“My own,” she whispered.
“Let him prove to you that whether you live next door or five thousand miles away, you can leave those you love and trust him with your care, body and soul.”He leaned over and dropped a kiss to her cheek.
