cheap champagne coated m

ksgi

. Or a li

outh with pecan pi

ow

losed. My l

forgotten doll in a gilded

am

wrapped in his arms

f a dropped g

perfume, not stale pi

lin

was utterly, te

s al

n't a foo

warm and familiar

k at these fine young men. Anyone catch your e

that deep, unwaver

wed his

men from New York's finest families,

y leaves skitteri

you know. Not all there. Hear

hild's millions, and she's

he follows him around like a pup

in unison, towards a man

n Ca

carefully constructed mask of pol

jaw, the almost imperceptible down

n't wa

ugh almost

worry,

I don't wan

r. Carter," Dad chuckled, oblivious. "Cat got

es wer

kind I'd seen on the society

d, pointing di

new it! My Bella has h

h of relief went

htning. Anger, disbelief, then a flicker of so

rly about to step forw

asn't f

each word perfectly enunciated. "I was

fell sile

ask a favor of you

it was so unlike the "si

ied. The polit

p. He stared at me, na

tunned. He leaned for

you just say? Did I hear you

d desperate, fl

d nodded, a singl

sorry for all the years of worry, for th

, formal gesture, th

e up, crushing me in a hug, tears in

or the rest of the

he buzz

oments before were now looking at me with

oser, offering smiles,

ored

red my

boon? For Mr. Carter and Miss Emily White.