blurted out. "To own a Lady Winthrop creation would be so thrilling
for me. I simply must have it. How much will you take for it? Will
five dollars do? " Grace was incredulous. She glanced at Daniel to
see how he was reacting and smiled because he looked genuinely
puzzled.
"Actually, Mrs. Larson, I hadn't considered selling . . . " "If it's
an original, Mother, " Lionel whispered loudly, "you've got to offer
more."
"Yes, yes, you're right. Ten dollars then. Will that do? " Daniel
decided it was time for him to interfere. Grace's face was turning
pink, and he figured she was embarrassed.
"I don't think the lady wantsţ" "Sold, " Grace blurted out. "For ten
dollars." Lionel quickly paid her. She tucked the money into her
pocket, told Winifred she hoped she enjoyed the hat, and then bid them
good-bye.
"Shouldn't we go to the stables now? " she asked Daniel.
From the glint in her eyes, Daniel knew she was determined to get her
way. "You're in no condition to ride a horse. You should sit inside a
coach and try to rest."
"I don't need to rest." He still felt compelled to argue with her for
several more minutes before giving in.
In the back of his mind, he kept thinking that if they took the
shortcuts and didn't follow the winding roads, they could possibly
reach the train station in time to board the late afternoon train. If
they didn't make it in time, the next train wouldn't come through until
the following morning.
He stood there, hesitating, as he studied her. Her hair was down
around the sides of her face, and he gently lifted a silky strand away
to look at the bruise near her temple. It didn't look as bad as it had
last night.
His fingers trailed down the side of her face. "Are you sure, Grace?
" She gently removed his hand. "I'm sure." He was staring intently at
her, and she thought he might be looking for a sign of weakness from
her. She straightened her shoulders, smiled, and suggested once again
that they get going.
"Is there time for me to stop by the wagon? I must get another hat, "
she explained. "A lady should never appear in public without her head
covered. It just isn't done."
"Then why did you sell the one you had? " "Daniel, it was ten whole
dollars." He grinned. "It took you by surprise, didn't it? " "Not
really, " she admitted. "It's the third hat I've sold since I arrived,
and I didn't even try, " she added. "The poor ladies here don't have
the shops we have in London.
They must order through the catalog, but quite often what they think
they're buying and what they get are two different things. It can be
very disappointing."
"I'm sure it can be, " he said dryly.
She laughed. "Hats are important to ladies, but not to men. Isn't
that right? " "Come on then, " he said. "The wagon was moved to the