ship pulling slowly away from the dock as passengers threw streamers and confetti and called out to friends on shore. The boat's horn sounded, drowning out all other sounds, and beside her she saw a young couple arm in arm, she in a beautiful pink silk suit with one of the exquisite little hats that Annabelle would have so loved. She had raven black hair and huge blue eyes and creamy skin, and she wore pink linen T-strap shoes edged in gold, and as she waved to a friend on the shore, Audrey was aware of a very large diamond bracelet. And then as the boat horn faded, she heard the sound of her laughter, and then she saw her kissing the man who was with her. He was wearing heavy white linen trousers and a navy blue blazer, a hat pulled low over one eye, and together they looked extremely dashing as they strolled off arm in arm, still laughing and stopping to kiss from time to time. Audrey found herself wondering if they were on their honeymoon, and she was almost sure of it later when she saw them sipping champagne in the lounge before dinner. She saw them eyeing her then, and she watched them from across the dining room that night. The woman was wearing a spectacular white evening gown with a plunging neckline, her husband was in black tie, and Audrey herself had worn a gray satin evening dress that suddenly looked a great deal less sophisticated than it had only a few months before in San Francisco. But she didn't really care. She was having a marvelous time watching everyone else, and she put her silver fox jacket around her shoulders as she went out on deck after dinner. And there she saw them again, kissing in the moonlight and holding hands. She sat down in a deck chair and looked out at the moon, and smiled as they walked past her again, and then suddenly she was startled when they stopped near her chair and the woman smiled at her.
Are you traveling alone? She spoke directly to Audrey and she was even more beautiful when one looked into the incredible sapphire eyes, in fact they looked more like blue diamonds.
Yes, I am. She felt suddenly shy. It was one thing to dream about having adventures, and quite another to embark on a trip all alone, and have to meet new people and explain it all to them. She felt suddenly awkward and young as the exquisitely dressed young woman walked toward her.
My name is Violet Hawthorne, and this is my husband, James. She casually waved the same hand that, earlier, had worn a diamond bracelet, only now it was wearing a very, very large emerald ring with a bracelet to match, and what she had failed to mention to Audrey was that James was actually The Lord James Hawthorne, and she was Lady Violet, a marchioness by birth. But there was nothing haughty or snobbish in her eyes as she smiled at Audrey, and her husband wandered over to shake her hand, chiding his wife for being rude, but there was laughter in his voice, and he looked as though he could hardly keep his hands off his spectacular-looking wife as he put an arm around her shoulders.
Are you on your honeymoon? Audrey couldn't resist asking and they both laughed.
Do we look like that? Violet laughed right out at the thought. How shocking ' that terrific anxious look that tells everyone you can't wait to get to bed. Darling, really, how awful ' . Audrey blushed at the frank words, but all three of them laughed and Violet was quick to correct her. I'm afraid we've been married for six years, and have two children waiting for us at home ' no, we've just been off on holiday. Actually, James has a cousin in Boston, and I wanted to come to New York. It's absolutely marvelous this time of year. Are you from New York? She smiled as she asked, seemingly oblivious of the staggeringly handsome portrait she made, standing there in her white evening dress, trailing an ermine wrap, with the emeralds flashing in the ship's lights. Audrey was quite overwhelmed and felt absolutely like a bumpkin.
Actually, I'm from San Francisco. Lady Violet's
Are you traveling alone? She spoke directly to Audrey and she was even more beautiful when one looked into the incredible sapphire eyes, in fact they looked more like blue diamonds.
Yes, I am. She felt suddenly shy. It was one thing to dream about having adventures, and quite another to embark on a trip all alone, and have to meet new people and explain it all to them. She felt suddenly awkward and young as the exquisitely dressed young woman walked toward her.
My name is Violet Hawthorne, and this is my husband, James. She casually waved the same hand that, earlier, had worn a diamond bracelet, only now it was wearing a very, very large emerald ring with a bracelet to match, and what she had failed to mention to Audrey was that James was actually The Lord James Hawthorne, and she was Lady Violet, a marchioness by birth. But there was nothing haughty or snobbish in her eyes as she smiled at Audrey, and her husband wandered over to shake her hand, chiding his wife for being rude, but there was laughter in his voice, and he looked as though he could hardly keep his hands off his spectacular-looking wife as he put an arm around her shoulders.
Are you on your honeymoon? Audrey couldn't resist asking and they both laughed.
Do we look like that? Violet laughed right out at the thought. How shocking ' that terrific anxious look that tells everyone you can't wait to get to bed. Darling, really, how awful ' . Audrey blushed at the frank words, but all three of them laughed and Violet was quick to correct her. I'm afraid we've been married for six years, and have two children waiting for us at home ' no, we've just been off on holiday. Actually, James has a cousin in Boston, and I wanted to come to New York. It's absolutely marvelous this time of year. Are you from New York? She smiled as she asked, seemingly oblivious of the staggeringly handsome portrait she made, standing there in her white evening dress, trailing an ermine wrap, with the emeralds flashing in the ship's lights. Audrey was quite overwhelmed and felt absolutely like a bumpkin.
Actually, I'm from San Francisco. Lady Violet's
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