Read Online The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page - Free Book Online

conversations with him were often like a sort of parlor game—Twenty Questions or Animal/Vegetable/Mineral. Over the years Faith and Hope had noticed their mother’s aptitude at deciphering her husband’s derailed trains of thought and Faith assumed that with time she’d also develop the skill. At the moment Sydney’s presence, somewhat of a shock at first, was now striking her as funny—and raising an important question. What was behind it all? Betsey’s desire to have the family chum remain in the fold? Whose idea had it been to bring Sydney to the shower, Betsey’s or the “dear family friend’s”?
    Poppy clapped her hands.
    â€œTime for prezzies. You all got the invitation with the explanation, but it’s time to tell Faith.” She looked terribly pleased with herself.
    â€œIt’s a Round-the-Clock shower. Everyone was assigned a time and had to bring something appropriate, and I hope amusing, for each hour. Let’s see, we’ll start with one A.M. , shall we?”
    Pure Poppy. And it was a fun idea—or so Faith hoped. If it worked, it would be something to suggest to clients. She felt a sudden stab. Clients. She wasn’t taking on any more, aside from small jobs, and everything would stop in mid-May. She’d had to return the deposits and smooth some ruffled feathers for the weddings she’d had scheduled for June. The brides had, fortunately, been understanding, swept up in bridal sisterhood, and were relieved that all the plans, and quality, would remain the same with the firm Faith was recommending.
    Faith had had many a middle-of-the-night thought about what giving up the business meant. The business that she alone had created; it was a part of her now. She fully intended to start it again in Massachusetts and Tom had been adamant that she should, but at times the idea was overwhelming. And what did they eat up there? Baked beans, Indian pudding, those boiled dinners . . .
    She caught Hope’s eye. Her sister was having a good time catching up with various friends. Hope nodded to her as Faith took a large box from Josie, the one o’clock guest, and prepared to open it. Faith interpreted the nod as Hope’s way of saying that everything was going to be fine. It wasn’t that her sister was a mind reader, although often they were able to communicate quite nicely without words.
    Faith nodded back. She was at her shower. It would all work out. Wouldn’t it? The it being what? She tried to articulate the “what”—the wedding, the move, the marriage? No, not the marriage. She was sure about that.
    â€œThis is what I thought I’d like to have on in the early hours of the morning,” Josie said as Faith removed a beautiful—and very sheer—peignoir and gown from the tissue paper. “Or off!” someone called, and the room burst into laughter. Faith darted a quick look at the Massachusetts contingent. The tight-lipped smiles they’d worn throughout remained frozen in place.
    The other early morning gift givers had had much the same idea as Josie, with the exception of Poppy, who’d presented Faith with a set of Pratesi sheets so silken the thread count rivaled the national debt. Hope’s 7:00 A.M. gift was a stainless steel French-press coffeemaker from Germany that kept the liquid hot, and an order for a year’s supply of freshly roasted beans from Zabar’s. Emma handed her a small box from Cartier, saying, “I know I’m supposed to be noon, but I knew you’d love this after seeing the watch Tom gave you.” Faith did love Emma’s gift, so Emma—a Longines vintage mantel clock similar in style to the watch.
    Poppy handed Faith a card. “It’s from your uncle Schuyler. He came up here earlier to deliver it himself, said he knew his wife was coming and it was all girls, but he wanted to ‘shower’ you himself—the dirty old