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love, protection but not devotion.
    But if she refused him, she would likely die without ever marrying and having her own family, and her woman’s heart cried out for children.
    â€œI’ve changed my mind about visiting Patience,” Honora Millican said in her soft voice.
    Olivia looked up, startled. Her mother had been looking forward to visiting her sister in San Francisco in the summer, and Olivia couldn’t think of anything that would have changed her mind. Truth to tell, she’d been as eager for the trip as her mother. They seldom saw Aunt Patience. It had been almost five years since their last visit, and other than visiting her favorite relative she had also been eager to visit the glorious shops in San Francisco again. “But we’ve been planning it for over a year now!”
    â€œI know, dear, but I really don’t think we should leave town for several months just now.” Honora smiled sweetly at her daughter, the smile that Olivia had inherited.
    Olivia was both confused and disappointed. “Why ever not?”
    â€œWith the attention Mr. Cochran has been paying you? It wouldn’t do to be gone so long and let some other young woman gain his attention.”
    Olivia bent her head over the embroidery to hide her expression, which she knew must reveal the leap of panic she felt. Had she also been hoping against hope that this time she would meet someone special in San Francisco? “You talk as if it’s a foregone conclusion that he intends to propose,” she said, though she thought it was herself.
    Honora said placidly, “Of course he does. Why, everyone can see it in the way he looks at you.”
    â€œHe isn’t in love with me,” Olivia said, raising troubled eyes to her mother.
    But Honora didn’t look in the least disturbed. “I admit Mr. Cochran isn’t one to wear his heart on his sleeve. But why else would he pay such attention to you?”
    â€œBecause I’m the banker’s daughter,” she replied. “I’m presentable, and I was schooled back East.”
    Honora put down her needle and frowned, her interest now wholly engaged. “That’s a remarkably cynical outlook, dear. What makes you think Mr. Cochran isn’t interested in you for yourself? You’re a beautiful young woman, even if I do say so myself.”
    Olivia bit her lip, knowing that she didn’t have any solid reasons she could put forth for her statement, only intuition. She didn’t want to cause Honora any worry. Her mother tended to fret to excess if any ill wind of health or humours blew on the two people she loved most in the world, her husband and daughter. Itwas both a source of security, knowing herself so well loved, and a sense of responsibility that she should do whatever she could to keep Honora from being upset.
    So she made herself smile at her mother and say, “All the same, I’m not certain it wouldn’t do Mr. Cochran some good to think about me meeting so many good-looking men in San Francisco.”
    Honora’s face cleared, and she began to chuckle. “I see. You don’t want him to feel too sure of himself. Wonderful idea! But all the same, I don’t think we should go off for the entire summer this early in the relationship.”
    Olivia stifled a sigh. She had hoped that Honora would think it such a good idea that the decision not to go to San Francisco would be reconsidered. Now she knew that she would have to tell her mother all of her fears and uncertainties in order to change her mind, and Olivia wasn’t willing to do that. For one thing, she wasn’t certain that she wasn’t simply being foolish, fretting over “love.” No other young woman in town would hesitate a minute if given the opportunity to marry Lucas Cochran—well, except for Dee, but Dee was different. Another reason was that Olivia was a naturally reserved person, respectful of the privacy of