An Improper Situation (Sanborn-Malloy Historical Romance Series, Book One) Read Online Free PDF

mid-word and his sister turned around to see what could have caused the disruption. Charlotte felt as though she were an intruder and would have turned around and fled, but Reed stood up and smiled at her.
    “ Won’t you join us, Miss Sanborn?” He gestured to the chair opposite him as if he were inviting her to his table.
    “ Yes, thank you, if you’re sure there’s enough.”
    She was painfully aware that she hadn’t helped cook the food, nor had she paid for it.
    “Certainly. I would have asked you earlier, but I didn’t want to disturb your work.” He sounded genuinely gracious to Charlotte’s ears. “Please, sit down. Will you have some baked ham and succotash?”
    She did, and helped herself also to a cool glass of ginger beer from the pitcher on the table. Reed’s culinary abilities were unquestionably beyond her own.
    “This is a huckleberry above a persimmon,” Charlotte told him honestly.
    He froze with his fork halfway to his mouth. “Thank you, I think.” When she smiled warmly, he shrugged and remarked, “It’s plain New England fare,” leaving Charlotte to wonder what fancy fare might mean to him.
    “ Well, thank the Lord it’s not calf’s head,” she returned into the silence that followed. Reed broke out laughing, while Charlotte blushed at her own outspokenness—some locals might say blasphemy—at denouncing a local favorite. A loud “ugh” came from Thomas, who forgot to close his mouth as he chewed.
    As for the company, Charlotte was pleasantly surprised. The children were well-behaved and interesting, after they got over their initial shyness. Thomas even offered to tell her about his room in Boston.
    “Oh, how boring for Aunt Charlotte,” Lillian cut him off. The little girl had already taken to calling her that sometime between the dishing out of the mashed potatoes and the passing of the bread. Charlotte found it startling but not altogether unpleasant, and considered, as she chewed thoughtfully, that these children were actually her flesh and blood.
    “ Nonsense, Lily, let your brother tell me about his room. I’m sure you had a lovely home in Boston.”
    “ Oh, yes, Aun’ Charlie,” Thomas said, trying out her name for himself, “much bigger and prettier than this.”
    Lily gasped, appalled as any eight-year-old little girl could be at her younger brother’s manners, but Charlotte only laughed, having never had delusions of grandeur concerning her parents’ homestead. Also, there was the odd warmth in her chest when Thomas inadvertently used the nickname her own brother always called her.
    Catching Reed Malloy’s glance, she received a friendly wink from him. Charlotte felt a blush creep up her face, and was pleased that Reed excused himself to fetch the dessert of fresh berries and cream.
    In truth, she couldn’t remember when she had enjoyed a meal more, but didn’t think it prudent to say this to her guests lest they decide that was enough to make them all stay permanently.
    Supper over, Charlotte helped stack all the dirty plates in a pile and carry the leftovers to the kitchen. Then she started down the hall to her study.
    “ Excuse me, Miss Sanborn,” Reed Malloy began, coming out of the kitchen after her, “there is the matter of the dishes.”
    She opened her mouth to protest, but then Thomas came out, too.
    “Last at table,” the little boy said, pointing at her.
    Charlotte looked from Reed to Thomas. She could hardly refuse in front of the little boy and she could tell by the slight smile on Reed’s face that he knew it.
    Reed shrugged. “It’s only fair,” but his look told her that he was enjoying her dismay. Soon, she was in the kitchen, up to her elbows in soap suds scrubbing the dishes and the pots. She’d forgotten how much preparation a seemingly simple meal could take by the look of all the dirtied dishes. She turned at Reed Malloy’s footsteps.
    “ Do you want me to finish?” he offered, but Charlotte thought it was without much