Hannah Alexander Read Free Page B

would require a much longer conversation. Later.
    As they strolled toward the others, he saw that McDonald and Reich had things well in hand.
    “I apologize for not responding to the news of the death of your intended.” Victoria’s voice could bite with such gentleness that he barely felt it until the meaning struck him across the face. “I didn’t know about her for months.”
    He cut her a glance. “I wrote to you.”
    “I received nothing.”
    “You should have.”
    “And yet, somehow, I didn’t.” She snapped the words, as if she didn’t believe him.
    “Now I’m a liar?”
    She cut him a look of confusion. “I don’t know what to believe, Joseph, and I haven’t for a very long time. I only know you’re not the man I thought you were.”
    “Of course I’m not. Then I was barely more than a rank youngster. People do grow, you know.”
    She cast a glance toward the Johnston boys. “Let’s hope that’s true.”
    He wasn’t going to let her take her jabs and then change the subject that easily. “I didn’t get engaged.” He thought about his dear childhood friend, Sara Jane. Despite Father’s wishes, Joseph and Sara Jane would never have married. He’d loved her like a sister, a trusted playmate from years before, who had grown into a fine woman and who was secretly betrothed to a man from Atlanta. She’d told Joseph all about it and he’d been happy for her. Though heartbroken at her death, losing her wasn’t the reason he’d turned his back on plantation life.
    “That catastrophe was the result of my dying father’s desire to build an empire for his oldest son using a legal bond between a neighbor’s daughter and me.” Joseph kept his voice low. “Neither Sara Jane nor I were complicit in that arrangement, only our fathers. We were determined to break the supposed engagement together, but she sickened and passed away before any formal announcement could be made.”
    There was a long silence before Victoria spoke. “I see.”
    “I’m not sure you do. How did you hear of my father’s plans?” he asked.
    Her arm stiffened in his grasp, but he held on and tried to catch a glimpse of her expression, see what she was thinking. He’d been able to do that once upon a time, but she held her own counsel as her attention focused on the crowd.
    “Victoria?”
    “Matthew told me of a letter you wrote to him.”
    “He received my letters and you did not? Don’t you think that’s odd?”
    “Why would I think it odd? From my perspective, you had forgotten about me and found someone else.”
    Joseph gritted his teeth. How this woman could drive him to distraction with her stubbornness. “You didn’t at least read Matthew’s letter for yourself?”
    “Mine and Matthew’s was a business partnership. I didn’t read his personal mail, nor he mine.”
    Joseph took a moment for those last words to sink in. As they did, he continued to doubt his own perception. “Business partnership? You and Matthew?”
    She tugged her arm from his grasp, and he realized he’d stopped walking. He caught up and fell into step beside her again.
    “It was a socially acceptable way to form a partnership and spend all our time together as he taught me medicine,” she said. “You must have some grasp about how much there is to learn.”
    “Dr. Fenway?” called Audy Reich from Mrs. Ladue’s side. “Hon, I think we need you over here.”
    After a final look at Joseph, Victoria gathered her skirts and hurried toward the group huddled beside the raging creek. Joseph watched her for a moment, stymied. The Victoria Foster he had known and loved before she’d married Matthew Fenway would never have lied. But Matthew had always been an honorable man. If Victoria didn’t receive those letters, then who did?
    * * *
    Claude was still gagging and coughing up creek water when Victoria reached him. Luella sat on the ground beside her son. Although Victoria gave her an assuring nod, she felt ill equipped to give her