第14部分(第3/7 頁)

vee。　The　dress　was　simple；　but　provocative。

She　had　bought　it　the　year　before　for　one　of　those　blundered　attempts　at

a　date；　and　would　have　avoided　it　for　that　reason。　Unfortunately；　it　was

the　only　dressy　dress　in　her　wardrobe　that　was　of　recent　vintage。

In　other　respects　she　felt　confident。　Her　hair　was　brushed　to　a　fine

sheen；　swept　back　behind　either　ear；　and　held　in　place　with　buds　of　pale

blue　silk。　The　single　pearl　at　each　ear　matched　the　strand　around　her

throat。　And　her　eyes　were　luminescent。　From　her　makeup；　perhaps？

Whatever；　she　felt　like　a　porcelain　princess　descending　the　stairs。

Ross　was　clearly　pleased。　〃You　look　lovely；〃　he　said；　gently　taking　her

arm。

She　felt　suddenly　shy。　〃Where　are　we　going？〃

〃Farmington　Court。〃

She　caught　her　breath。　〃In　Newport？　How　did　you　ever　get　reservations？〃

〃Oh；　I　managed；〃　he　said　with　a　coy　grin。

Chloe's　excitement　was　genuine。　〃They've　only　had　the　dining　room　open　a

few　months。〃

〃You　haven't　eaten　there　yet；　then？　I　was　hoping　I'd　be　the　first　to

take　you。

〃You　are；〃　she　said　and　tried　to　get　a　handle　on　her　breathiness。　〃I

usually　eat　in；　remember？　No；　I　haven't　eaten　at　the　Court；　but　I've

wanted　to。　I　heard　that　the　dining　room　is　gorgeous　and　the　food

incredible。〃　She　arched　a　brow。　〃You　are　hungry；　aren't　you？〃

Ross　smiled。　〃Since　we're　dining　in　style；　I'll　try　not　to　paw　through

the　pitd。〃　He　tossed　his　head　toward　the　door。　〃Let's　go。〃

The　drive　to　the　farm　took　them　in　a　large　U；　from　one　fingertip　of

land；　back　to　the　mainland；　then　out　to　the　other　fingertip。　Their

conversation　was　light；　in　contrast　to　the　heavy　darkness　t