第14部分(第4/7 頁)

hat　had

fallen。　Even　the　moon　had　disappeared　behind　gathering　clouds。

Chloe　was　vitally　aware　of　Ross。　His　strapping　presence　filled　the　car

and　her　senses；　adding　to　her　excitement。

Farmington　Court　was　on　the　outskirts　of　Newport。　Without　any　help　from

Chloe；　Ross　found　the　place　with　ease。

〃How　did　you　find　out　about　the　Court？〃　she　asked　when　the　farm　appeared

on　a　gentle　rise　ahead。　〃Not　many　people　know　about　the　dining　room

here。　Not　many　outsiders；　that　is。　It's　a　well…kept　secret。〃

His　smile　reflected　the　bright　lights　of　the　house。　〃Maybe　it's　supposed

to　be　a　secret；　but　it's　slowly　creeping　out　anyway。　I　had　a

remendation　from　a　friend　in　New　York　who's　been　here。〃　He　paused；

then　confessed；　〃I'm　not　a　total　stranger　to　Newport。　Little　pton；

yes。　Newport；　no。　I　was　here　last　summer。〃

〃You　were？〃　she　asked　cautiously。

He　nodded。　〃I　spent　several　days　here　sailing　with　friends。〃

〃I　didn't　know　you　sailed。〃

〃There's　plenty　you　don't　know　about　me。〃　With　a　flick　of　his　wrist；　he

turned　the　car　into　a　space　in　the　graveled　lot。　He　slid　from　behind　the

wheel；　rounded　the　car；　and　helped　her　out。

She　learned　something　else　about　him　when　they　passed　through　the　door

of　the　sprawling　seaside　estate。　Not　only　did　he　greet　the　maitre　d'　by

name；　but　he　spoke　in　fluent　French。　Along　with　her　Southern　accent；

Chloe　had　long　since　lost　what　little　French　she　picked　up　as　a　child　in

New　Orleans。　She　remained　silent；　enjoying　the　smooth；　romantic　sound。

Following　several　moments　of　low　conversation　during　which　both　men

seemed　equally　at　ease；　the　maitre　dishowed　Ross　and　Chloe　to　the

s