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  The Debutante’s Secret

  The Debutantes of Durango

  Peggy McKenzie

  Copyright 2020 by Peggy McKenzie

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means , including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover Design-Dar Dixon @ Wicked Smart Designs

  Editor-Trayce Layne @ 3C Edit Services

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Epilogue

  More books in this series…

  Peggy McKenzie & Friends

  Brides of the Rio Grande

  About the Author

  The End

  About this book

  The Debutante’s Secret

  Book Two

  The Debutantes of Durango Series

  (A Western Historical Romance)

  Roxanne Sheffield has always been the dutiful daughter, but when her father surprises her with the news he’s planning to wed her to a man twice her age, she decides it’s time to take matters into her own hands. Can her plan work without giving away her secret?

  Alexander Harp is about to have everything he’s ever wanted until the train arrives in town. His money is missing, his wife is nowhere to be found, and his little girl is on the arm of a stranger. What’s a man to do?

  Will Roxi and Alex help each other in their time of need, or will they destroy any chance of happiness for themselves?

  Chapter 1

  Roxanne Sheffield sat on her favorite bench in the middle of her family's flower garden. Hidden among a thick cluster of weeping willows and their drooping branches, it was the only place she felt at peace anymore. And now, even that tiny bit of heaven was being threatened by her father’s wishes. If she could only find a way to live without her parent’s recent… expectations.

  “Roxanne? Are you here?” She heard her twin sister, Marianne, call to her from beyond the garden’s protective walls.

  She thought about sinking further into the shadows of the willow trees, but she knew she couldn’t hide forever and someone would eventually force her to come out. “Yes, Mari, I’m here.” She sighed in resignation.

  Her sister appeared at the garden gate, her shoes tapping on the stones lining the garden path. She approached Roxanne and sat next to her on the bench. Without a word, her sister leaned over and peeked at the book Roxi had been reading before the uninvited interruption.

  “You know Mother is looking for you, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I know. That’s why I’m out here. I was hoping she would tire of looking for me and leave me be.” Roxi delivered an over exaggerated sigh hoping to portray some of the frustration she felt.

  Mari gave her a sad, understanding smile. “Yes, well, if you really wanted to hide, you would have chosen someplace besides the garden. It’s the obvious place to find you. Everyone knows you’ll be here reading one of those fanciful stories you enjoy so. Dear sister, when will you be practical? The real world is right in front of you and yet you live in your dreams, always walking around with your head in the clouds.”

  Roxanne closed her book and turned to her sister. “And what of it? I would rather be fanciful than to be pragmatic all the time. You have no imagination at all, Mari. As much as we are alike, we are oh, so, different. I prefer to dream than to live mired in life’s responsibilities.”

  Marianne had always been the practical one willing to accept whatever life threw her way. But not Roxi. She was determined to live her life her way. Just because she hadn’t figured out precisely what her way was yet, didn’t mean she wasn’t focused on the future. It just meant she hadn’t discovered exactly where she wanted to go or what she wanted to do. She wanted so many things in life. Things like adventure, and excitement, and…variety.

  “Well, I do agree we have different visions for our future, Roxi, but as to my lack of imagination, I would whole-heartedly disagree with you there. If it wasn’t for my quick thinking and ability to bend the truth a bit from time to time, Mother and Father would have banished you to your room until you were married long ago,” her sister teased.

  Roxi grinned and nudged her sister with her shoulder. “I hardly think telling our parents a little white lie about my whereabouts is tantamount to having an imagination.”

  “Call it what you will, but without it, you would be in trouble a lot more than you are now. And speaking of little white lies, what am I to tell Mother now that I have found you?”

  Roxi shrugged. “I don’t know. Tell her you couldn’t find me. Or maybe you can convince her that a band of gypsies stole me away.”

  Mari laughed. “That would definitely be more believable coming from you than me.”

  Roxi studied her sister and sighed. “How do you always remain so practical? Don’t you ever want to just do something out of the blue…without planning or thinking about it? ”

  “Being practical has its rewards. How else could I anticipate and prepare for the future? I base my choices on facts. You base your choices on concocted conclusions based on those fairy tales you read, but those aren’t real, Roxi. I only believe in those things that I can see.”

  “But isn’t it possible there are things in this world that you cannot see with your eyes but they still exist?”

  “If you are talking about fairy tales and magic, then no.”

  “What about love?” Roxanne put her arm around her sister’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Surely you believe in the power of true love and finding your soulmate.”

  “Love is an emotion, not a magical thing. There is a process to falling in love. That sort of thing just doesn’t happen. And I wouldn’t want it to. There’s too many variables to leave to chance.”

  “But it could be …a magical experience, don’t you think? Perhaps if you allowed your control to slip—just a bit—then you would see there is a certain magic to falling in love.”

  “No. I decide who I fall in love with, not some mysterious force operating outside my control. I like order and the only way I can achieve order is through determination and self-control. Chaos and I do not get along, Roxanne, I am simply not willing to go whichever way the wind blows. If I decide to fall in love, I will plan accordingly.”

  “You can’t plan love, Marianne.”

  “I dare say I can,” her sister assured her.

  Roxi shook her head. “I can agree with your sentiment up to a point. But sometimes letting the wind take control can lead to a wonderful surprise.”

  “You know I don’t care for surprises.” Her sister gave her a firm look and crossed her arms over her chest. It was a familiar gesture Mari did when her mind was made up and further discussions would not sway her.

  “Roxanne? Marianne? Are you out here? Your father is waiting.” Latisha Sheffield walked down the garden path toward them, her rose-colored lips stretched in an amused smile. “Marianne, I sent you to collect your sister, not join her in this attempt at rebellion. Come now, girls, conspiracy does not become either of you.”

  Her mother joined them under the tree. “Roxi, your father simply wishes to speak with you about Mr. Banks’ proposal. Nothing is set in stone yet, but if you don’t discuss your feelings with him, you leave him no choice but to make the decision he believes is best for you.” />
  Resigned she could put this matter off no longer, she stood and hugged her mother. “I will speak with Father, but I do not believe he is going to like what I have to say on the matter.”

  Her mother smiled and squeezed her hands in hers. “My dear Roxanne, I think you will be surprised by your father's willingness to listen. He’s very open-minded as you well know. Now, shall we go? I think it prudent not to keep him waiting too long, although with three women in the household, I’m certain he's use to it.”

  Roxanne and her sister locked arms with their mother and headed down the moss-covered path toward the red-brick house where she had lived all her life. They neared the rear entrance and Roxanne could not help but admire the beautiful home covered in ivy and shaded by ancient oak and willow trees.

  She loved this home and the sense of belonging she always felt here. She never wanted to leave it. Not even for Mr. Maximillian Banks and his stupid marriage proposal.

  The three of them entered the cool interior of the large airy home and headed down the wide corridor towards her father’s study.

  “Charles. Roxanne is here,” her mother announced. Then, she kissed Roxi on the cheek and whispered, “Please keep an open mind, sweetheart. One never knows what opportunity lies on the other side of a closed door.”

  Roxi studied her mother’s face trying to decide what message was behind her curious comment, but she turned away too quickly. She and Mari headed towards the shaded screen-covered porch for afternoon tea.

  Realizing she was keeping her father waiting, Roxi turned and swept into his office.

  “Come in,” her father called out. His deep voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket. Anticipation made her nervous, but his voice made her feel safe. He was her father and he loved her. There was nothing to worry about she assured herself.

  She inhaled a deep breath to calm her unease, turned the knob and stepped inside. The familiar smells of linseed oil and peppermint greeted her.

  “Ah, there you are. I've been waiting for you.”

  She offered her father a half-hearted smile. “I'm sorry I kept you waiting, Father. I was—”

  “Daydreaming. As usual.” He returned her smile. “I've come to expect that. But the time has come for you to think about your future, don’t you agree, sweet pea? Please sit with me and let’s talk.”

  Her father moved from behind his desk and offered her his arm. She smiled at his endearment and took his arm. He guided her to the chair next to the window. Roxi placed an affectionate kiss on her father’s smooth cheek.

  He smiled at her and waited for her to get settled in her chair before taking his own chair next to hers. She smoothed out her dress and crossed her ankles. She was ready.

  “Now, shall we talk about the offer of marriage you have received from Max Banks?”

  “You mean the marriage proposal you received from the man, don’t you, Father?”

  Her father chuckled. “Yes, I suppose I do. But it is the way of things, Roxanne. It’s my duty as your father—”

  “Father, I do not wish to marry the man.”

  “I understand you have reservations, but perhaps if you met him, you might reconsider—”

  “Father, I'm simply not ready to give up my life and turn it over to a stranger. I want to travel. To see more of the world. To see things that have only lived in my imagination. I want adventure.”

  “My darling daughter, do you not think Max can give you all of that? After all, his family owns an entire fleet of ships. You could travel anywhere he has a mind to go—”

  “That's just it, Father. Where he has a mind to go. What about where I want to go? I want to see where life takes me. I want to see where my journey leads. Is that too much to ask?” Roxanne's voice quivered with emotion.

  Her father stood and paced in front of her. Had she gone too far? Would he insist on this marriage?

  “Roxi, Max is a reasonable man. I’m sure once you two are married, he will take you anywhere, do anything you have a mind to do. After all, it is rather hard to say no to you and your sister.

  “I know you think I don’t understand, but I do. I was once a carefree lad, ebbing to and fro like flotsam on the sea, going wherever the currents took me. That is until a very beautiful and practical young woman saved me from myself.”

  “Mother?” Roxanne knew some of her parents’ history, but only a little. She knew her father had been an irresponsible rake until his father, Grandfather Sheffield, had forced her father to marry her mother. And then, somehow through it all, they fell in love. Was that what her father expected to happen if she married Mr. Banks?

  “Yes. It was your mother. She made me realize that being married wasn't the same as being imprisoned—as long as you’re with the right person.”

  “That's the problem, Father. You were able to experience the freedom of your youth before you were forced to marry. You know the excitement of traveling, as you say, wherever the current takes you. I have yet to experience my own life outside the confines of society’s demands. I have yet to find what it is that makes me happy and without that knowledge, how will I know Mr. Banks is the right person for me?”

  Her father stopped his pacing and looked at her. It was as if he was studying her for some unknown answer. She remained quiet and waited to see what he did next.

  “I see your point, Roxanne. You have presented your case well. And although I am certain you will find that love is neither magical nor mysterious like you read about in your books, I think you must be given a chance to determine that for yourself. Those love stories you are so fond of are fairy tales, my dear. True love, as well as real life, is a practical state of mind you only find through hard work and compromise.”

  “I'm not naive, Father. I know a marriage takes work. I also know it is the wife who does most of the work. As you have said before, if it wasn't for Mother, you would not be—”

  “I think we've covered the errors of my youthful ways with enough scrutiny, don’t you?”

  Her father turned away and sat down again behind his massive desk. She watched him remove the familiar leather journal with its delicate gold-leaf pages. It held all the detailed accounts of not only his own financial dealings but those of his daughter’s trust funds as well.

  “Roxanne, you have done well with the inheritance your grandparent’s estate provided for you. You and your sister have both nearly doubled your initial investment. I know most of that was due to your sister’s analytical approach to investing.” He chuckled again. “I really should think about turning my own fortune over to her as well. She has quite the head for such things.” He grew serious again. “I know this is a lot of money and I understand why you are reluctant to turn your fortune over to a husband, especially someone you’ve never met.

  “Perhaps if we insist Maximillian agrees to hold your money separate and continue to allow you to control it—”

  “Don’t you see, Father? That's the crux of the matter. Right there. Why should Max Banks allow me to control my own money? It's my money, is it not? What if he is a spendthrift? What if he squanders my money and we are left destitute.”

  “Roxanne, now you’re reaching. Max Banks is a very wealthy man because of his own hard work, practicality, and financial aptitude. He and your sister are quite a lot alike in that respect. They actually have more in common and would probably be a better match.”

  “Then let him marry Marianne.” She felt a pinch of guilt for offering her sister up as the sacrificial lamb, but her father was right. Marianne was so much more practical than she. It was the perfect match as far as she was concerned.

  “He did not offer for Marianne. He offered for you.”

  She remained silent praying for words that would persuade her father to refuse the offer of marriage and allow her to live her life as she chose.

  “Roxanne, your mother and I have taught you and your sister to be strong independent women, and although we may have gone too far with those lessons, I do believe you are s
ensible enough to know when the time is right to marry.”

  Roxanne's pulse raced. Was her father saying what she thought he was saying?

  “I'm going to speak with your mother, and if she is agreeable, we will explain to Max that we must respectfully postpone any decisions about your marriage, at least for the present.”

  Roxanne couldn't believe her ears. “Are you saying that I don't have to marry—”

  “No. What I'm saying is that you shall have your time to travel and explore, and to learn what it is that makes you truly happy.”

  “Oh Father, thank you for trusting me. And for allowing me to pursue my own path of discovery.” Roxanne rushed to her father's side and flung her arms around his neck.

  “There is one condition to my offer, Roxanne. You must promise me that after this adventure of yours, you will make peace with your place in this world and you will choose a suitable husband and settle down.”

  “I will Father,” Roxanne promised unable to contain her joy at the news.

  Her father smiled and kissed her on her cheek. “Then I suggest you pack your trunks and make your travel plans. I will have your mother contact her sister in Colorado. I’m certain your Aunt Lila and your Cousin Regina would be happy to host you during your stay.”

  “I can’t wait to see Regina. She is so much fun. We shall have a grand time, and—”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Roxanne. You can have as much fun as is respectably permitted, but you only have from now until August. That’s less than four months. After that, you will return home and you will marry. Do you agree to this arrangement or shall I send word to Mr. Banks that you are ready to accept his offer of marriage today?”