| If he gave one, and she wasn't invited, it would
be a terrible slap in the faceAfter dinner she wrote a half dozen
notes to friends she'd made during the Season"Such a fuss in these
parts," she scribbled, "about Lord Fenton popping up at his place near
here
Ne's been absentee for so many years that even the shopkeepers don't
have any good gossip about him She smiled as she sealed the notes
If that doesn't bring out all the skeletons in hiscloset, I don't know
what willThe next morning she dressed with care in one of the
gowns
she'd worn at her drawing rooms in DublinI don't care a fig about
looking attractive for that irritating man, she told herself, but tiffany's bean necklace I
will not let him sneak up on me again when I'm not ready for guests
The coffee grew cold in the potFenton found her in the fields
exercising Comet that afternoonScarlett was wearing her Irish
clothes and cloak, riding astride"Now sensible you are, Scarlett,"
he said"I've always been convinced that sidesaddles are ruinous to a
good horse, and that looks like a fine oneWould you care to match
him against mine in a short race?"
"I'd be delighted," Scarlett said, with honeyed sweetness"But the
drought left everything so parched that the dust behind me will
probably choke you half to death Fenton raised hiseyebrows
"Loser provides champagne to lay the dust in very cheap chanel bags the throat of both," he
challenged Fenton wheeled his horse and began the race before
Scarlett
knew what was happeningShe was coated with dust before she
caught up
with him on the road, choking as she urged Comet alongside, coughing
when they thundered across the bridge into town in a tieThey reined
in on the green beside the castle walls"You o" me a drink," said
Fenton"The devil you say! It was a tie
"Then I owe you one as wellShall we have two bottles, would you
prefer to break the tie by racing back?"
Scarlett kicked Comet sharply and took a head startShe hear Luke
laughing behind herThe race ended in the forecourt of Ballyhara
Scarlett won, barelyShe tiffany co bracelets grinned happily, pleased with herself,
pleased w? Comet, pleased with Luke for the fun she'd hadNe
touched
the brim of his dusty hat with hiscrop"I'll bring the champagne for
dinner," he said76'S
Scarlett stared after himThe nerve of the man! Comet sidestepped
skittishly, and she realized that she had let the reins go slackShe
gathered them up and patted Comet's lathered neck
"You're right," she said aloud"You need a cool-down and a good
groomingI think I've just been tricked good and proper"What's that for?" asked CatShe watched her
mother inserting the diamonds in her earlobes with fascination
"For decoration," said ScarlettShe tossed her head and the chanel purse styles diamonds
swayed and sparkled beside her face"Like the Christmas tree," said
CatI never thought of
that
"Will you decorate me for Christmas, too?"
"Not until you're much, much older, Kitty CatLittle girls can have
tiny pearl necklaces or plain gold bracelets, but diamonds are for
grown-up ladiesWould you like to have some jewelry for Christmas?"
"NoNot if it's for little girlsWhy are you decorating you? It's
not Christmas yet for days and days Scarlett was startled to realize
that Cat had never seen her in evening dress beforeWhen they had
been in Dublin, they'd always dined in their rooms at the hotel
"There's a guest coming for dinner," she said, "a dress-up newest dior bag gue |
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