Husband Wanted Read Online Free PDF Page B

Louisa can bring them up. In the meantime, Greta will show you to your room.”
    “Oh, before I forget, Blair Styles is coming by with several outfits. I don’t think I’ll be able to pass myself off as mistress of your fine home if I’m dressed in a waitress uniform.”
    Walter gave a hearty laugh. “You may have a point there.” He rang a bell, and Greta appeared.
    “Would you show Frannie to her room?” he said. He glanced at Frannie quickly. “Oh, my, I just thought of something. We’ll have to refer to you as Mrs. Coleman now that you’re supposed to be married to my son.”
    “It will be a whole lot easier if you just call me Frannie.”
    “True. And you can call me Walter.”
    “I’ll show you to your room now,” Greta said, already moving toward the door. She led Frannie up the massive staircase and down a thickly carpeted hallway. “This was Mrs. Coleman’s room before she passed,” the woman said, pausing at one of the doors. “It was feminine and very pretty, but it has since been turned into the main guest room.” She opened the door and waited for Frannie to step inside.
    “Oh, my, it’s very nice,” Frannie said, noting that, although the colors were neutral for the most part, the massive four-poster mahogany bed was draped in white bed linens. An overstuffed sofa and chair, both wearing white slip covers, faced the fireplace, and a large vase of fresh flowers sweetened the air. It looked like a room one might find at a Ritz-Carlton. Not that Frannie had ever stayed or even been inside a Ritz-Carlton.
    Greta crossed the room and pulled the drapes. Sliding glass doors admitted the late-afternoon sunshine. “There’s a balcony that looks down on the gardens,” she said, opening one of the doors and stepping out. “Mrs. Coleman used to take her afternoon tea here.”
    Frannie joined the woman on the balcony. “I can see why she enjoyed sitting out here,” she said, then looked at the housekeeper. “What was she like?”
    Greta pursed her lips in annoyance. “I don’t discuss the family members, living or deceased, with outsiders, Frannie.” She reentered the bedroom.
    Frannie followed and closed the door behind her. “Pardon me,” she said. “I wasn’t trying to be nosey.”
    The woman went on. “But since you asked, I’ll tell you that Mrs. Coleman was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. She was always looking to help others. We were all so shocked by her sudden demise.” She paused and pursed her lips. “Not as shocked as when Mr. Coleman married that money-hungry trollop, mind you.” She gave a snort of disgust. “I thought my dentures would fall right out of my mouth when he brought that woman into this house. That’s all I have to say about the matter.” She paused. “Now then, the bathroom is right through that door. It is fully stocked, but if you require something more, please let me know.”
    “Thank you,” Frannie said.
    The woman paused with her hand on the doorknob and regarded her for a moment. “Mr. Coleman has apprised me of your, um, situation. He has asked me to school you in certain areas of, should I say, refinement. I will meet you in the dining room at eight a.m., after breakfast. I’ll show you what I can before the child arrives.” She left without another word.
    Frannie simply stood there, cocooned in luxury, wondering how she was ever going to blunder her way through the next few days.
    #
    “This place is unbelievable!” Blair said as she followed Frannie up the grand staircase and into the guest bedroom where she draped two garment bags over the back of the sofa.
    “Yes, it’s gorgeous,” Frannie said, carrying a small suitcase Blair had brought with her.
    Following close behind, the maid dragged in a larger suitcase containing shoes. “Will there be anything else, Mrs. Coleman?” she politely asked.
    “That’s all, Louisa,” Frannie said. “Thank you.”
    Blair arched both brows. “Mrs. Coleman?”
    “Clay and I are