Dorothy Love The Bracelet (retail) (epub) id

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.But Fanny Ward sets my teeth on edge.” Ivy finished off a row of stitches and unwound more scarlet-colored yarn from the basket at her feet.“She doesn’t do anything except spend her father’s money and gossip.And Rose Shaw is too clever by half, if you ask me.”“Rose is brilliant.Mrs.Mackay says Rose is to have her poetry book published next summer.”“Nobody likes a woman who is too clever.And Rose simply tries too hard.”“Well, I think she’s remarkable.I wouldn’t mind publishing a book someday.”“Sutton Mackay might have other ideas about that.”“Sutton will want whatever makes me happy.That’s one reason he’s so wonderful.”Ivy frowned.“May we please speak of something else? It seems he’s the only topic of conversation in this house these days.I find it tiresome.”Celia stared.“I thought you adored Sutton.Besides, you’re the one who brought him up.”“I do like him.Very much.But too much talk of any one subject is like having pudding three times a day.Eventually one becomes sated.”“Then how about helping me with the guest list.I must finish it soon and get the invitations to the printer’s.” Celia read off a list of names that included the Stileses and the Mackays, plus the Frasers, Butlers, Greens, and Wards.“Too bad the Lows have left for England.I’ll miss having Mary here.Have I forgotten anyone?”“What about the Sorrels?”The Sorrels were their neighbors on Madison Square, having built a magnificent home that rivaled her own.The dapper and engaging Mr.Sorrel, who was said to be half Haitian and half French, was the third richest man in Savannah and excellent company.But his poor wife, Matilda, was plagued by fits of melancholy and wildness that made her an unpredictable guest.Celia scribbled their name and added a question mark beside it before glancing at her cousin.“I’m inviting Alicia Thayer.”“I assumed you would.Despite my feelings about it.”“How can I not? She’s my dearest friend.And she never meant to embarrass you by inquiring about an engagement that never happened.She thought you were quite serious in your intentions toward Mr.Carlisle.We all thought so.”“I can’t help it.I’m still mortified every time I think of it.”“Heavens, Ivy.That was more than a year ago.And Alicia has apologized more than once.”Ivy kept her eyes on her knitting.“If you loved me as a cousin ought, you would never invite her.”Celia doodled on her notepaper.Allowances must be made, Mrs.Maguire always said, because Ivy had no parents.Celia knew being an orphan was difficult.She had grown up without her mother after all, and she knew how lonely it could be.But all their lives, Ivy had wanted whatever was Celia’s, whether it was a doll or a hat or a new dress, and Celia had acquiesced rather than disappoint Papa.Now that they were adults, she had grown weary of being the one who was always expected to give in.“What about the Gordons?” Ivy said.“You know how everyone in Savannah has taken to Nellie Gordon.” She shook her head.“Who would have thought that with all the lovely girls right here in Savannah, William Gordon would up and marry someone from Chicago?” Ivy laughed.“They say Mrs.Gordon has a habit of sliding down stairway banisters.Do you suppose it’s true?”“I haven’t any idea.But I’m sure she isn’t sliding down banisters these days, and she won’t be here for the masquerade.Mrs.Mackay says Nellie’s baby is due any day now.”Downstairs the doorbell chimed, and a moment later Mrs.Maguire appeared in the doorway.“Miss Celia, you have a caller.”“At this hour? In this disagreeable weather?” Celia patted her hair and smoothed her blue gabardine day dress.“I’m not prepared for callers, Mrs.Maguire.Please ask whoever it is to leave her card.”“’Tis no lady, my girl, but a gentleman.From the newspaper, he says.”“The newspaper? You mean the one bent upon stirring up trouble for us?”“I can’t say.Here’s his card.”Celia glanced at the name printed on flimsy paper rather than engraved on heavy stock as a proper gentleman’s card should be.“Tell Mr.Channing I am not at home.”“Ah, but you are.” The man strode into the entry hall and peered into the parlor.Celia whirled and scowled at him, taking in his cheap wool suit, the jacket patched at the elbows and brown boots desperately in need of a proper polishing.“Mr.Channing, it is highly impolite to barge into a home when you have not been invited.”Hat in hand, he sauntered into the room.“I realize that, and I do apologize for my lack of propriety, but I don’t imagine you would have invited me inside under any circumstances.”“You are correct.Mrs.Maguire will show you out.”His eyes caught hers and held [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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