Paxton Pride by Kerry Newcomb Page B

surged through her. Something important is going to happen tonight. I don’t know what it is yet, but something important is going to happen . And suddenly, too, she was glad for the party. Her whole being tingled with anticipation and she felt more alive than ever before. She settled back in the chair and dipped her pen into the ink well and sat poised with the tip against the page. Unmoving and lost in a confused welter of thoughts and excited expectations, Karen dreamed again while the deep blue stain on the page spread and spread.…
    The carriage let him off at the customary iron grill gate. Vance walked only a trifle unsteadily up to the Leighton house, there to be admitted by their Castilian butler and guided into the drawing room. The butler gave Vance a knowing smirk and excused himself after the Texan declined an offer of anything stronger than coffee. A moment later Earnest Leighton made a hurried entrance, stepping back in surprise when he saw his visitor.
    â€œWhy, Paxton! I’m … well … I didn’t even hear you come in. I swear that goddam butler never tells me anything. That’s the trouble with help these days, you know. You take them in, give ’em a job and they think they own the place. Have you got a drink?”
    â€œI told your man just coffee, thank you.”
    â€œThat’s all? I thought you Texans were drinking men.” He paused, staring curiously at Vance, then turning abruptly to the window behind him. “There was an influx of foreign servants and the like after Richmond fell. Virginia gentry always were fond of Europeans. Gave them a feeling of class. But a lot of them were put out of work by the war. Left to wander, as it were. Washington got more than its fair share, and we’re burdened with them even if we have managed to keep their salaries within reason. That’s how we came across Modero. Not a bad boy as these people go. Angie so dearly loved Spain when we were there. A lovely country. Lovely country.…”
    Vance stood unmoving as the congressman paced nervously back and forth in front of the window, his hands jerking spasmodically, his words spilling rapidly. A man who doesn’t dare or can’t stop talking. Something wrong with that man. Something bad wrong .
    Modero entered the room bearing a small silver tray on which rested a white china cup and saucer. Vance gratefully accepted the proffered cup and sipped the steaming, deep brown liquid, savoring its taste and waiting for the man he had cuckolded to continue.
    â€œAngie isn’t even dressed yet,” Earnest went on, his pace finally slowing. “You know women. They spend hours on their hair and face and a minute to dress. All that preparation.…” He sucked in a deep breath, imposing control on himself with an effort. The tension was gone when he turned back to Vance. His delivery was easily normal, businesslike and sincere. “I’m awfully sorry I won’t be able to join you tonight, but this damned meeting just can’t be postponed. Still, I hope to get away and possibly arrive late. It shouldn’t matter to a party of that sort. People seldom notice who’s come and gone.”
    â€œWe’ll keep an eye out for you, Earnest.”
    â€œDo that. I appreciate you escorting Angela. She’d be heartbroken if she had to miss Alfred and Karen’s party. And you certainly ought to attract attention in that outfit. Angie dearly loves attention. Thrives on it. Couldn’t wear such a getup myself, of course. Wouldn’t fit my personality.” A strand of graying hair fell away from his head and hung over his ear, revealing a chalky streak of scalp. He combed the lick of hair back into place with fingers in a slow, old man’s gesture. Another hole in the conversation stretched out lamely and Earnest Leighton fumbled awkwardly for his pocket watch, hauling it out and glancing at it too rapidly to read what time it said.