gown in a pale slate blue that brought out the sapphire color of her eyes. Then she walked over to the elegant chaise longue and curled up until she fell asleep.
She was awakened by a light but insistent tapping on the door. When she said "Come in," Jeffry stood waiting in the doorway.
"Mr. Lattimer's office called to say that he would not be home to dinner tonight. Will you be eating in the dining room, or shall Mrs. Thompson prepare a tray for your room?"
Laura was so tired that she welcomed the chance to eat alone in the calm privacy of her room. She was sure that she wasn't up to facing David tonight. She had never known what to expect from him, but if his latest mood was any indication, his attitude would be far from pleasant.
"Thank you, Jeffry, please tell Mrs. Thompson that a light supper in my room would be just fine."
When Jeffry left, Laura set about exploring the small but elegant guest room. All the wood furniture was finished in white with edges of pale blue. The walls and draperies were covered with a watered silk in a pleasant shade of Wedgwood blue. The deep shag carpet was pure white and Laura thought it had an almost fur-like appearance. Judging by the furnishings of the room, Laura thought that most of its occupants must have been female. No man could ever be comfortable in such a feminine room. She ran her hand over the soft blue velvet covering of the chaise longue and sank into its cushions. Whatever else one might think of David, he certainly had good taste.
Laura thought for a moment, then walked to the small nighttable, picked up the telephone and dialed the number of the plant shop. Midge answered the phone and Laura hesitated, not really knowing what to say. When she spoke, her voice was low and unsteady.
"It's me, Laura. How are you, Midge?"
"I'm fine, Laura. How are
you
?"
"I'm a bit tired. I went shopping for clothes with David's secretary. It seems he didn't approve of my wardrobe." Laura's voice wavered, "Midge, I'm sorry if I've caused you any disappointment. Please forgive me. I honestly had no idea that David was Jonathan Lattimer, and I certainly didn't know I had married him… Do you believe me?"
Midge hesitated. "Look, Laura, this isn't the sort of thing we can discuss on the telephone. Why don't we meet for lunch tomorrow?"
"I'd love that, Midge. I'll be at the shop before twelve."
She had just hung up the receiver when there was a knock at the door. It was Jeffry, carrying a tray of food. He put the tray down on the small, round, cloth-covered table, then he set out the dishes and silver.
"Enjoy your dinner, Mrs. Lattimer. I'll return later for the tray." Laura couldn't help but wonder what the servants must be thinking about this strange marriage and her relationship with David. She was grateful for the glimmer of kindness and understanding she found in Jeffry's eyes.
The table was near the window and Laura could see the twinkling lights of the bay as she sat down to a dinner of fresh fruit cup, thinly sliced steak, rissole potatoes and small baby peas. Laura ignored the carafe of wine and went directly to the hot black coffee for her beverage. The chocolate mousse was as light as air and Laura felt thoroughly satisfied by the time her dinner was finished. She was glad she had decided against drinking the wine, because now, having rested for a few hours, she felt wide awake and refreshed. She decided to save Jeffry the trouble of coming for the tray by bringing it back to the kitchen herself. When she walked through the kitchen door she saw Jeffry and a stout older woman eating dinner at the small table. Jeffry looked up, startled, when he saw Laura. He jumped to his feet and snatched the tray from her hands.
"Mrs. Lattimer, you shouldn't be doing that. Mr. Lattimer would be very disturbed if he thought I was neglecting my duties."
Laura smiled, "Then we just won't tell him and he need never know; it will be our little secret. I'm sorry I disturbed you. Please finish
She was awakened by a light but insistent tapping on the door. When she said "Come in," Jeffry stood waiting in the doorway.
"Mr. Lattimer's office called to say that he would not be home to dinner tonight. Will you be eating in the dining room, or shall Mrs. Thompson prepare a tray for your room?"
Laura was so tired that she welcomed the chance to eat alone in the calm privacy of her room. She was sure that she wasn't up to facing David tonight. She had never known what to expect from him, but if his latest mood was any indication, his attitude would be far from pleasant.
"Thank you, Jeffry, please tell Mrs. Thompson that a light supper in my room would be just fine."
When Jeffry left, Laura set about exploring the small but elegant guest room. All the wood furniture was finished in white with edges of pale blue. The walls and draperies were covered with a watered silk in a pleasant shade of Wedgwood blue. The deep shag carpet was pure white and Laura thought it had an almost fur-like appearance. Judging by the furnishings of the room, Laura thought that most of its occupants must have been female. No man could ever be comfortable in such a feminine room. She ran her hand over the soft blue velvet covering of the chaise longue and sank into its cushions. Whatever else one might think of David, he certainly had good taste.
Laura thought for a moment, then walked to the small nighttable, picked up the telephone and dialed the number of the plant shop. Midge answered the phone and Laura hesitated, not really knowing what to say. When she spoke, her voice was low and unsteady.
"It's me, Laura. How are you, Midge?"
"I'm fine, Laura. How are
you
?"
"I'm a bit tired. I went shopping for clothes with David's secretary. It seems he didn't approve of my wardrobe." Laura's voice wavered, "Midge, I'm sorry if I've caused you any disappointment. Please forgive me. I honestly had no idea that David was Jonathan Lattimer, and I certainly didn't know I had married him… Do you believe me?"
Midge hesitated. "Look, Laura, this isn't the sort of thing we can discuss on the telephone. Why don't we meet for lunch tomorrow?"
"I'd love that, Midge. I'll be at the shop before twelve."
She had just hung up the receiver when there was a knock at the door. It was Jeffry, carrying a tray of food. He put the tray down on the small, round, cloth-covered table, then he set out the dishes and silver.
"Enjoy your dinner, Mrs. Lattimer. I'll return later for the tray." Laura couldn't help but wonder what the servants must be thinking about this strange marriage and her relationship with David. She was grateful for the glimmer of kindness and understanding she found in Jeffry's eyes.
The table was near the window and Laura could see the twinkling lights of the bay as she sat down to a dinner of fresh fruit cup, thinly sliced steak, rissole potatoes and small baby peas. Laura ignored the carafe of wine and went directly to the hot black coffee for her beverage. The chocolate mousse was as light as air and Laura felt thoroughly satisfied by the time her dinner was finished. She was glad she had decided against drinking the wine, because now, having rested for a few hours, she felt wide awake and refreshed. She decided to save Jeffry the trouble of coming for the tray by bringing it back to the kitchen herself. When she walked through the kitchen door she saw Jeffry and a stout older woman eating dinner at the small table. Jeffry looked up, startled, when he saw Laura. He jumped to his feet and snatched the tray from her hands.
"Mrs. Lattimer, you shouldn't be doing that. Mr. Lattimer would be very disturbed if he thought I was neglecting my duties."
Laura smiled, "Then we just won't tell him and he need never know; it will be our little secret. I'm sorry I disturbed you. Please finish
Similar Books
