The Secret Bliss of Calliope Ipswich Read Online Free PDF

Tate Chesterfield, Daddy? My guess is poor dear Fox might lose his throne of handsomest to the charming Mr. Chesterfield.”
    Smiling , Lawson asked, “Oh! So it’s this new young man that has you spurning Fox, is it?”
    Calliope’s smile faded. “I’m not spurning Fox, Daddy…am I? I mean, I’ve never cared for him as any more than a friend, a chum. I have tried my best to be kind to him, yet simultaneously attempting not to encourage him to liking me as anything other than a friend. But I can see it in his eyes sometimes, his determination to…to…”
    Lawson’s understanding laughter comforted her , for she did not wish to hurt Fox Montrose in any manner. “Well, my angel,” her father began, “sometimes a young man can’t keep from pursuing a beautiful young woman once that infamous old male determination kicks in.” He winked at her, adding, “And you are a beautiful young woman, my Calliope.” He paused a moment, thoughtful. “But if it isn’t Fox Montrose that makes your heart beat a little faster, then who is it?” he asked. “I’ve known you long enough—all your life, in fact,” he teased. Calliope smiled at him. “Long enough to know that there’s someone who strikes your fancy. You’re too loving-hearted, with your mother’s romantic nature simply radiating from you. Why, I can’t remember a time when you weren’t always going on about love and romance and weddings and things. So who is it? It can’t be this new Chesterfield fellow…not that quickly. Can it?”
    Calliope smiled with mischief. “Well, wouldn’t you like to know, Daddy?” she teased. “Maybe I’m between infatuations just now.”
    “Oh , I doubt that,” Lawson said, pushing one foot against the porch floorboards and starting the swing to swaying a bit.
    Calliope frowned. “You…you don’t think I’m a bad person for not caring for Fox as much or in the same way that he might care for me, do you, Daddy?” she ventured. “I mean, Daddy, I’ve even tried to grow fonder of him. But I can’t make myself.”
    “And you shouldn’t try, sweetheart,” Lawson assured her. “You can’t force love, Calliope, and I wouldn’t want you to.”
    Calliope sighed as a bit of discouragement entered her mind. “Blanche says that out here, out west, people often marry for convenience more than love. That just because of the need to survive, to have a helpmate and someone to be with, people out west often marry for practical reasons instead of love. But I can’t even begin to fathom marrying someone without loving him.”
    Lawson looked down at Calliope , and when she met his gaze, it was to see him frowning at her with concern. “I would never want that for you, Calliope. Your spirit thrives on emotion, my girl. What Blanche says, well, there is some truth to that…a lot of truth. But don’t resign yourself to that, Calliope. Don’t you ever let me allow a young man to come courting you unless you truly want him to, all right? I want love for you—impassioned, thoroughgoing love the like Kizzy and I have…and Amoretta and Brake. I would never want to see one of my daughters marry for mere practicality or desperation or because they feel sorry for a young man who has inadvertently given his heart to her. Do you understand?”
    Calliope sighed, smiled , and threw her arms around her beloved father’s neck in appreciation. “Yes, Daddy, I do. And thank you! I was beginning to doubt myself and—”
    “Never doubt yourself, Calliope , especially where your heart is concerned,” Lawson whispered into her ear.
    “Ooo , what a beautiful evenin’!” Kizzy exclaimed, as she and Shay stepped out onto the front porch from the house.
    Evangeline followed closely, asking, “Are the crickets chirping yet, Calliope?”
    Calliope released her father and smiled as she watched her two sisters and Kizzy take seats on the south-facing porch swing across from her and her father.
    “Not yet,” she sighed. “But I keep