A breeze tugged at locks of Cal’s black hair. Looking handsome in a charcoal suit and conservative burgundy tie, he punched the button and she heard chimes ring inside the house. Smoothing back stray tendrils that had escaped her chignon, she was aware that her red cotton skirt and sleeve- less shirt were far less formal than his suit.
She glanced across the yard at the tall iron fence, the tall spreading oaks, the flower beds that needed more careful attention. She wondered how long she would live at Green Oaks before she felt as if it were really her home. She re- membered coming back to it a hundred times over when she visited Elnora, but she was always aware that Green Oaks belonged to the Sievers. Soon it would belong to her and her new husband. Her stomach churned as she glanced at him again to find him watching her with a smoldering look that made her hope a secure future was worth the step she was taking.
Sunlight shone on the majestic white columns and a breeze fluttered leaves on the spreading limbs of the live oaks in the yard. Tall pines grew to the east of the house. As she looked at the cool porch and the large expanse of yard, Juliana remembered how much she loved the place.
Eight Ionic columns ran across the front of the elegant Greek Revival antebellum mansion. The windows were wide; rocking chairs and a swing were on the porch that ran across the front and curved around the east side of the house. To the south was a garage and an old carriage house. Juliana knew that far back on the property was a toolshed and an empty chicken roost. To the east were small houses that now belonged to Gladys and Stoddard.
She had admonished the boys to be on their best behav- ior and her charges fidgeted as they stood in front of her. Quin cast surreptitious glances at Caleb Duncan. The child’s expression looked less than happy.
When the door swung open, she faced Stoddard, who gazed down at the boys, looking at them as if bugs were about to invade the house.
“Afternoon, Stoddard,” Cal said with ease while the man who had been both butler and chauffeur stepped back and held open the dooi. The boys bounded inside, and Juliana rushed after them.
“We’re visitors,” she said, clamping a hand on Chris who was already starting to dash for the steps. “Don’t touch things. Be very careful. No running in the house,” she in- structed, looking at her three blond nephews. All of them had tangled curls and blue eyes like their mother. At five, life was a constant adventure to Josh and now his eyes sparkled as he studied the house.
“Gee, look how big it is!”
“We’ll look around, Stoddard,” Cal said.
“Yes, sir. Gladys will have sandwiches at noon. Would you like me to show—” he paused and gazed down his nose at the boys “—the young gentlemen this house?” Chris rolled his eyes at Juliana, who gave a tiny shake of her head.
“Thank you, but they probably prefer to explore on their own,” Cal replied, glancing at Juliana as Stoddard left.
“Are we the young gentlemen?” Chris whispered.
“It does stretch the imagination,” she replied dryly. “Now, stay with us and we’ll look around.”
“Juliana,” Cal said, eyeing the boys, “this is going to be their home—all of it, including the knickknacks. Just let them go.”
The trio looked at her expectantly and she nodded. “Don’t run and be quiet.”
“Hey, great!” Chris cried and they were gone, dashing up the stairs, Josh’s sturdy short legs trying to climb fast enough to keep up with his older brothers.
As the children raced away, she looked at the broad curving staircase, the finely carved oak, the intricate plas- tered ceilings, and wondered if the house could withstand three lively boys. “I hope they don’t break anything.”
“Just remember, it’s yours in two weeks.”
“They’re not accustomed to antiques all over the house.”
“If you want, get Gladys to pack them away until the kids are older. Or teach them to take care of the antiques.”
“I wonder how much our lives are going to change,” she said, looking around. Cracks showed on the walls, and one corner of the hallway along the wall had a water stain. The old house needed attention, but with Elnora’s estate, there should be ample funds to make repairs.
Cal followed her into the large, formal front parlor. “Everything is the same as it always has been as far back as I can remember.”
She looked at the oak and marble fireplace, Louis XV gilt-wood furniture that appeared to be as old as the house, the rose antique satin drapes, the antique rosewood piano and mirrors that ran from floor to ceiling.
“Isn’t this beautiful?” Overwhelmed, Juliana looked at two floor-to-ceiling gilt-framed mirrors and French doors leading to the porch. She turned to find Cal watching her.
“We could have a wedding reception here,” he offered. “Keep the wedding ceremony small and then have our friends for the reception.”
She glanced around the room, once again surprised by the generosity of a man who was going into a marriage only for money. He walked to one of the French doors, unlocked it and swung it open. Cal Duncan was an enigma to her, yet she suspected he knew almost everything about her. Why would someone so greedy be so generous? He closed and locked the door and turned to face her, reaching into his pocket. “I brought you an engagement ring,” he said qui- etly, holding out a small velvet box.
Her heartbeat skipped and she immediately wondered why she’d
