Read Online In the Still of the Night by Jill Churchill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jill Churchill
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this visit for you.”
“I simply forbid it,“ Addie said calmly, tipping her head in thanks as she took the tiny crystal glass from Robert. “I’m over my weeps. I simply need one good cry every five years or so. I can cope perfectly well. I refuse to hide from the woman or have her run off as though I were too delicate to manage. I mean it, Lily.”
Without another word, Addie strode back to the fireplace and took a seat next to Cecil on one of the sofas. “I enjoyed your review last week of Edna Ferber’s latest book, but I wondered if you weren’t a little harsher in your criticism of the setting than you might have been.”
Cecil loved defending his often cranky views, and he and Addie fell into an animated and high-minded discussion that made them forget their host and hostess entirely.
Lily was relieved that she didn’t have to throw out a guest and breathed a contented sigh as the doorbell rang again. It was all going to be all right. Addie would be sincerely gracious and so would Mrs. Ethridge and very soon the rest of the party would assemble and there would be good food, good talk and an all-around good time for all.
She hoped.
Chapter 7
The next two pairs of guests arrived almost simultaneously, which disconcerted Lily for a number of reasons. Rachel and Raymond Cameron were slightly in the lead and Lily hardly recognized them. Raymond, who had been a skinny, drippy-looking boy in high school, had matured into an extraordinarily handsome man. The rest of his features had caught up with his nose at last, and his formerly short-cropped mouse brown hair had darkened into a sweep of fine, dark, slightly wavy beauty. It was hair that anybody would both admire and envy. The gogglish reading glasses weren’t in evidence and for the first time Lily realized Raymond had wonderful brown eyes.
“Raymond! Rachel! How you’ve changed,“ Lily exclaimed. “I’d have hardly known either of you on the street. I’m delighted you’re here.“ But she was eyeing the town taxi that had just pulled up. This was the guest of honor and couldn’t be ignored.
Fortunately, Robert came to the rescue, and took the Cameron brother and sister off her hands. “We must catch up,“ Lily said to them before approaching the cab.
Robert did a good job of being a jolly distraction from Lily’s preoccupation with Julian West. “Do come in,“ he said. “The maid will get your bags and show you to your rooms in a few minutes. Come into the parlor and meet the others. And a good drink wouldn’t come amiss, would it?”
As he spoke, he kept his gaze on Rachel Cameron, a gorgeous girl to be sure. Amazing how these scrawny little girls sometimes turned into stunning women.
Rachel gazed back with doe-like dark eyes and glanced at his left hand briefly, wondering if he was married. She hadn’t heard of a marriage, but then she’d heard very little about the Brewsters lately. Someone had told her they’d gone dirt poor, but if this really was their house, that rumor was obviously wrong. And with money, Robert might make quite a respectable husband. She’d already turned down three proposals, waiting for the right man to come along. By which she meant a man with money, a good heritage, good looks and social connections.
“Just the tiniest glass of wine for me,“ she drawled, taking Robert’s arm. “I have to watch my figure, you know.“
“Well worth watching,“ Robert said with a smile.
Lily, meanwhile, was in front of the house introducing herself to the great Julian West. “We’re so very pleased you were able to come, Mr. West.“
“Captain West, if you would, ma’am,“ a gruff voice from inside the taxi said.
“Sergeant Carpenter, stop your maw,“ West said. “The war’s been over for a long time and I’m plain Mr. West. I’m glad to be here,“ he added to Lily in a tone that suggested that he’d much rather be home. “This is my man, Bud Carpenter. And you must call him Bud.“
“Of
“I simply forbid it,“ Addie said calmly, tipping her head in thanks as she took the tiny crystal glass from Robert. “I’m over my weeps. I simply need one good cry every five years or so. I can cope perfectly well. I refuse to hide from the woman or have her run off as though I were too delicate to manage. I mean it, Lily.”
Without another word, Addie strode back to the fireplace and took a seat next to Cecil on one of the sofas. “I enjoyed your review last week of Edna Ferber’s latest book, but I wondered if you weren’t a little harsher in your criticism of the setting than you might have been.”
Cecil loved defending his often cranky views, and he and Addie fell into an animated and high-minded discussion that made them forget their host and hostess entirely.
Lily was relieved that she didn’t have to throw out a guest and breathed a contented sigh as the doorbell rang again. It was all going to be all right. Addie would be sincerely gracious and so would Mrs. Ethridge and very soon the rest of the party would assemble and there would be good food, good talk and an all-around good time for all.
She hoped.
Chapter 7
The next two pairs of guests arrived almost simultaneously, which disconcerted Lily for a number of reasons. Rachel and Raymond Cameron were slightly in the lead and Lily hardly recognized them. Raymond, who had been a skinny, drippy-looking boy in high school, had matured into an extraordinarily handsome man. The rest of his features had caught up with his nose at last, and his formerly short-cropped mouse brown hair had darkened into a sweep of fine, dark, slightly wavy beauty. It was hair that anybody would both admire and envy. The gogglish reading glasses weren’t in evidence and for the first time Lily realized Raymond had wonderful brown eyes.
“Raymond! Rachel! How you’ve changed,“ Lily exclaimed. “I’d have hardly known either of you on the street. I’m delighted you’re here.“ But she was eyeing the town taxi that had just pulled up. This was the guest of honor and couldn’t be ignored.
Fortunately, Robert came to the rescue, and took the Cameron brother and sister off her hands. “We must catch up,“ Lily said to them before approaching the cab.
Robert did a good job of being a jolly distraction from Lily’s preoccupation with Julian West. “Do come in,“ he said. “The maid will get your bags and show you to your rooms in a few minutes. Come into the parlor and meet the others. And a good drink wouldn’t come amiss, would it?”
As he spoke, he kept his gaze on Rachel Cameron, a gorgeous girl to be sure. Amazing how these scrawny little girls sometimes turned into stunning women.
Rachel gazed back with doe-like dark eyes and glanced at his left hand briefly, wondering if he was married. She hadn’t heard of a marriage, but then she’d heard very little about the Brewsters lately. Someone had told her they’d gone dirt poor, but if this really was their house, that rumor was obviously wrong. And with money, Robert might make quite a respectable husband. She’d already turned down three proposals, waiting for the right man to come along. By which she meant a man with money, a good heritage, good looks and social connections.
“Just the tiniest glass of wine for me,“ she drawled, taking Robert’s arm. “I have to watch my figure, you know.“
“Well worth watching,“ Robert said with a smile.
Lily, meanwhile, was in front of the house introducing herself to the great Julian West. “We’re so very pleased you were able to come, Mr. West.“
“Captain West, if you would, ma’am,“ a gruff voice from inside the taxi said.
“Sergeant Carpenter, stop your maw,“ West said. “The war’s been over for a long time and I’m plain Mr. West. I’m glad to be here,“ he added to Lily in a tone that suggested that he’d much rather be home. “This is my man, Bud Carpenter. And you must call him Bud.“
“Of
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