Now that he was close to her, Scarlett could see...
Now that he was close to her, Scarlett could see that Colum was years
younger than Jamie and not really all that much like her father, except
for his round face and short stature among his taller cousins and
nephewsColum's blue eyes were darker, more serious, and his round
chin had a firmness that Scarlett had seen on her father's face only
when he was on horseback, commanding his mount to take a jump
higher
than sanity allowedColum smiled when Jamie introduced them, and
his eyes were almost lost in a network of creasesYet the warmth
gleaming from them made Scarlett feel that meeting her was the
happiest
experience of his entire life
"And are we not the luckiest family on the face of the earth, to have
such a creature one of us?" he said"It only wants a tiara to
complete your gold splendor, Scarlett black gucci bags darlingIf the Queen of the
Fairies could see you, wouldn't she tear her spangled wings to ribbons
in envy? Let the little girls have a look, Maureen, it will give them
something to aspire to, to grow up as breathtaking as their cousin
Scarlett dimpled with pleasure"I believe I'm hearing the famous
Irish blarney," she saidI wish only that I had
the gift of poetry to say all I'm thinking
Jamie hit his brother on the shoulder"You're not doing too badly, for
all that, you rogueStep aside and give Scarlett a seatI'll fetch
her a glass Colum found us a keg of real Irish ale on his travels,
Scarlett darlingYou must have a taste Jamie spoke name and
endearment the way Colum did, as if they made one word:
Scarlettdarling"Oh, no, thank you," she said automaticallyThen,
"Why not? I've never tasted ale She would have tas hermes had champagne
without thinking anything of itThe dark foamy brew was bitter, and
she made a faceColum took the mugfrom her"She adds to her
perfection with every second that passes, he said, "even to leaving all
the drink for those with the bigger thirst His eyes smiled at her
over the rim when he drankScarlett returned the smileIt was
impossible not toAs the evening wore on, she noticed that everyone
smiled at Colum a lot, as if reflecting hispleasureHe was clearly
enjoying himself so muchHe was leaning back in a straight chair,
tipped to rest against the wall near the fire, waving his hand to direct
and encourage Jamie's fiddling and Maureen's rat-tat-tat with the
bonesHis boots were off, and his stockinged feet fairly danced on
the rungs of the chairHe was the picture of a man at hisease; even
his cc chanel logo earrings collar was off, and the neck of his shirt was open so that
his laughter could vibrate in his throat"Tell us, Colum, about your
travels," someone would urge from time to time, but Colum always put
them offHe needed music, he said, and a glass, to refresh his shirt
and his dusty throat
Tomorrow was time enough for talkingScarlett's heart, too, was
refreshed by the musicBut she couldn't stay very longShe had to
be home and in bed before her grandfather returnedI hope the
driver
keeps his promise and doesn't tell him he brought me here
Grandfather wouldn't care two pins how much I needed to get away
from
that mausoleum and have a little fun
Jamie was hardly out of sight when the carriage rolled up to the
door
She ran up the stairs with her slippers in her hand and her train
bunched up under her armShe pressed replica tiffany jewelry her lips together to keep
from
gigglingPlaying truant was fun when you got away with itBut she
didn't get away with itHer grandfather never learned what she had
done, but Scarlett knew, and the knowledge stirred the emotions that
had warred within her all her lifeScarlett's essential self was as
much her heritage from her father as was her nameShe was
impetuous,
strong-willed, and had the same coarse, forthright vitality and courage
that had carried him across the dangerous waters of the Atlantic and
to
the pinnacle of his dreams-master of a great plantation and husband
to
a great lady
Her mother's blood gave her the fine bones and creamy skin that
spoke
of centuries of breedingEllen Robillard also instilled in her
daughter the rules and tenets of aristocracyNow her instincts and
her training were at omega deville watch wa