第24部分(第3/7 頁)

cream…colored　envelope　with　the　wordsMy　Darling　B　scrawled　on　it　in　Marcus？s　swirly　script；

and　a　small　black　velvet　box　with　the　word　BVLGARIprinted　on　it　in　gold。　Blair　resisted　opening

the　box　and　tore　open　the　envelope。　Inside　was　a　note　from　Marcus　written　on　a　matching

cream…colored　Crane？s　note　card　with　LORDMARCUSBEATON…RHODESprinted　on　it　in　Yale

blue　ink；　along　with　a　British　Airways　plane　ticket。

Blair　remained　standing　as　she　devoured　the　note；　trying　to　ignore　the　small　explosions　in　her

stomach；　like　soap　bubbles　popping。

Dearest　darling　Blair；　Bee；　my　bumblebee；

How　could　I　have　known　when　I　planned　a　brief　visit　to　New　York　after　I　finished　up　at　Yale　that

I　would　meet　a　girl　and　fall　in　love？　And　not　just　any　girl？you。　It　would　be　impossible　to　describe

my　feelings；　so　I　dashed　out　and　bought　you　two　little　somethings　to　go　with　the　necklace。

Promise　me　you？ll　wear　them　all　when　I　see　you　next；　which　should　be　only　a　few　weeks　away　if

you？d　be　so　kind　as　to　get　your　gorgeousness　on　the　flight　I　so　presumptuously　booked　a　ticket

for？first　class；　of　course。　It？s　in　two　weeks；　which　gives　you　ample　time　to　buy　a　whole　new

wardrobe；　have　a　series　of　facials　or　tanning　treatments；　or　whatever　you　do　to　keep　yourself

looking　as　stunning　as　you　always　do。　Sorry　for　running　out　on　you　like　this；　but　it？s　your

graduation…from…high…school　party；　the　only　one　you？ll　ever　have；　and　I　didn？t　want　to　put　a

damper　on　it　by　saying　good…bye。　All　right；　I？m　off。　Please　e　to　England。　I　shall　miss　you。

Love　for　always；

Marcus

Blair　snatched　the　black　velvet　box　off　the　white…painted　bureau　and　pried　it　open。　Two　perfect；

enor