Read Online The Husband List by Janet Evanovich, Dorien Kelly - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Janet Evanovich, Dorien Kelly
Ads: Link
their opinion of what best suited Caroline.
“With such a short time to prepare, I think it would be best to invite guests to attend as their favorite historical or mythological figure,” Mama said to Mrs. Longhorne. “It’s been done dozens of times, but we’ll make up for the stale theme with the food, gifts, and music.”
Mrs. Longhorne rubbed her hands together. “How wonderful! We’ll have to shop!”
“That we will,” Mama said before focusing on Caroline. “We’ll need to start a costume for you immediately. You must shine the brightest of all. Who do you wish to be?”
“Joan of Arc,” Caroline said. The Maid of Orleans had been a fierce warrior for her cause, as Caroline wanted to be. Though Joan hadn’t fared too well, when all was said and done.
“Absolutely not. You must be alluring,” Mama replied. “Perhaps Demeter, and you can wear a crown of jeweled flowers.”
But Caroline had no desire to be the perfect and fertile Demeter.
“How about Queen Elizabeth?” she suggested. “She wore plenty of jewels.”
Plus Elizabeth had known a thing or two about employing tactics to remain unwed.
“Athena,” Mama decreed. “Elizabeth has been overdone.”
“Artemis,” Caroline countered.
Across the room, Helen giggled. She was student enough to know that strong and determined Artemis had vanquished all who wanted to see her captured, bedded, or wed. Mama, however, was not so well versed. And she already wore the dreamy expression of a woman envisioning an ivory silk gown, golden diadem, and a flowery quiver and bow.
“Yes, Artemis would be perfect,” Mama said. “Just perfect.”
Indeed she was, for Caroline had just begun her hunt for freedom.
SIX
Hunting freedom certainly lacked in the thrill of the chase. Instead, Caroline had spent the past three days doing her best to blend in with her surroundings so that she could gain the element of surprise. She had been obedient, patient, and subservient to Mama. And being all these saintly things had left Caroline feeling quite impatient.
Thursday morning, as she sat with her sisters in Mildred Longhorne’s shiny black phaeton headed toward the Newport Casino, everything was annoying her. Even her hat. The wide-brimmed, pale yellow creation was adorned with a white ostrich plume that bobbed in relentless time to the matched bays’ brisk trots. Caroline reached one hand to try to still the feather, but soon gave up.
Town remained relatively quiet. The real summer season would not begin until the first week of July. Still, Bellevue Avenue carried its share of social traffic. Caroline gave the obligatory small wave to the two Hadley sisters, who were also in an open carriage, as they passed each other. The Hadleys returned her greeting. Should they pass each other again, waves would be replaced by polite smiles. On a third passing, they needn’t make eye contact.
Newport was built on rituals such as these. Daily, at no later than ten minutes past nine, one had to be on the way to the Casino to watch a tennis match or perhaps take a lesson. And so the Maxwell girls were, though only to observe. Mama might unbend enough to allow an occasional bicycle ride, but her girls would never play tennis. At least not that Mama knew about …
Across from Caroline, both Helen and Amelia were acting like dour little rain clouds, which was indirectly Caroline’s fault. At breakfast, Mama had charged them with being at Caroline’s side for the day. Mama and Mrs. Longhorne would be occupied until well into the afternoon planning the costume ball.
The twins were destined to fail in their supervisory duties. They knew it, too. It was not a matter of if Caroline would slip away today and breathe some freedom, but when.
Helen edged closer to her side of the carriage, moving her fluffy pearl pink skirts away from Amelia’s.
“Would you please hold still?” Amelia snapped. “You know if we must face backward, I need to be on the left side of the
“With such a short time to prepare, I think it would be best to invite guests to attend as their favorite historical or mythological figure,” Mama said to Mrs. Longhorne. “It’s been done dozens of times, but we’ll make up for the stale theme with the food, gifts, and music.”
Mrs. Longhorne rubbed her hands together. “How wonderful! We’ll have to shop!”
“That we will,” Mama said before focusing on Caroline. “We’ll need to start a costume for you immediately. You must shine the brightest of all. Who do you wish to be?”
“Joan of Arc,” Caroline said. The Maid of Orleans had been a fierce warrior for her cause, as Caroline wanted to be. Though Joan hadn’t fared too well, when all was said and done.
“Absolutely not. You must be alluring,” Mama replied. “Perhaps Demeter, and you can wear a crown of jeweled flowers.”
But Caroline had no desire to be the perfect and fertile Demeter.
“How about Queen Elizabeth?” she suggested. “She wore plenty of jewels.”
Plus Elizabeth had known a thing or two about employing tactics to remain unwed.
“Athena,” Mama decreed. “Elizabeth has been overdone.”
“Artemis,” Caroline countered.
Across the room, Helen giggled. She was student enough to know that strong and determined Artemis had vanquished all who wanted to see her captured, bedded, or wed. Mama, however, was not so well versed. And she already wore the dreamy expression of a woman envisioning an ivory silk gown, golden diadem, and a flowery quiver and bow.
“Yes, Artemis would be perfect,” Mama said. “Just perfect.”
Indeed she was, for Caroline had just begun her hunt for freedom.
SIX
Hunting freedom certainly lacked in the thrill of the chase. Instead, Caroline had spent the past three days doing her best to blend in with her surroundings so that she could gain the element of surprise. She had been obedient, patient, and subservient to Mama. And being all these saintly things had left Caroline feeling quite impatient.
Thursday morning, as she sat with her sisters in Mildred Longhorne’s shiny black phaeton headed toward the Newport Casino, everything was annoying her. Even her hat. The wide-brimmed, pale yellow creation was adorned with a white ostrich plume that bobbed in relentless time to the matched bays’ brisk trots. Caroline reached one hand to try to still the feather, but soon gave up.
Town remained relatively quiet. The real summer season would not begin until the first week of July. Still, Bellevue Avenue carried its share of social traffic. Caroline gave the obligatory small wave to the two Hadley sisters, who were also in an open carriage, as they passed each other. The Hadleys returned her greeting. Should they pass each other again, waves would be replaced by polite smiles. On a third passing, they needn’t make eye contact.
Newport was built on rituals such as these. Daily, at no later than ten minutes past nine, one had to be on the way to the Casino to watch a tennis match or perhaps take a lesson. And so the Maxwell girls were, though only to observe. Mama might unbend enough to allow an occasional bicycle ride, but her girls would never play tennis. At least not that Mama knew about …
Across from Caroline, both Helen and Amelia were acting like dour little rain clouds, which was indirectly Caroline’s fault. At breakfast, Mama had charged them with being at Caroline’s side for the day. Mama and Mrs. Longhorne would be occupied until well into the afternoon planning the costume ball.
The twins were destined to fail in their supervisory duties. They knew it, too. It was not a matter of if Caroline would slip away today and breathe some freedom, but when.
Helen edged closer to her side of the carriage, moving her fluffy pearl pink skirts away from Amelia’s.
“Would you please hold still?” Amelia snapped. “You know if we must face backward, I need to be on the left side of the
Similar Books
