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"I believe I need to sit down," she whispered"First you smile and
welcome them to Ballyhara," Charlotte saidHer tone would permit no
remonstranceScarlett did as she was toldBack inside the
house-which had now become an establishment-Scarlett began to
giggle
"They're all better dressed than I am," she saidShe looked at
Charlotte Montague's expressionless face"You're about to bust out
laughing, Charlotte, you can't fool meFitz must have
had a high old time planning this
"We did rather," Charlotte admittedA smile was the nearest thing to
"bust out laughing" that Scarlett could get from herScarlett invited
all the people from Ballyhara and Adamstown to come up to see the
revived Big HouseThe long dining room tiffany co table was spread with
refreshments, and she darted from room to room, urging everyone to
help
themselves, dragging them to see the High KingsCharlotte Montague
stood quietly to one side of the big staircase, quietly disapproving
Scarlett ignored herShe tried to ignore the discomfort and
embarrassment of her cousins and villagers, but within a half hour of
their arrival, she was close to tears"It goes against tradition,
MrsO," Rosaleen Fitzpatrick murmured to her, "it's naught to do with
youNo farmer's boot has ever crossed the threshold of a Big House
in
IrelandWe're a people ruled by the old ways, and we're not ready for
change
"But I thought the Fenians wanted to change everythingBut the change is for chanel flap bag in canvas a return to even older
ways than the ones that keep the boots out of a Big HouseI wish I
could explain more clearly
"Don't bother, MrsI've just made a mistake, that's allI
won't do it again
"It was the error of a generous heart
Scarlett forced a smileBut she was bewildered and upsetWhat was
the point of having all these Irish-decorated rooms if the Irish didn't
feel comfortable in them?
And why did her own cousins treat her like a stranger in her own
house?
After everyone left and the servants removed all traces of the party,
Scarlett went from room to room aloneWell, I like it, she decidedIt was, she thought, a damn sight prettier than
Dunmore Landing would ever be, or ever wasShe stood in the chanel replica bag midst
of
the reflected images of the High Kings and imagined Rhett there with
her, full of envy and admirationIt would be years from now, when
Cat
was grown, and he would be heartsick that he had missed seeing
his daughter grow up to become the beautiful heiress of the home of
the
O'HarasScarlett ran to the stairs and up them and through the
corridor to Cat's room
She was sitting at her little table, carefully pouring milk into a cup
for her big tabbyOcras was watching attentively from his
commanding
position in the center of the table"Sit down, Momma," Cat invited
Scarlett lowered herself onto a small chairIf only Rhett were there
to join the tea partyBut he wasn't, and he never would be, and she
had to accept christian dior handbags itHe would have tea parties with his other child,
his other children-by AnneScarlett resisted the impulse to grab Cat
in her arms"I'd like two lumps of sugar, please, Miss O'Hara," she
saidThat night Scarlett couldn't sleep
She sat upright in the center of her exquisite French bed with her
silk-covered eiderdown wrapped closely around her for warmthBut
the
warmth and comfort she wanted was to feel Rhett's arms around her,
to
hear his deep voice mocking the disastrous party until she could laugh
at it and at the error of giving itShe wanted comfort for her
disappointmentShe wanted love, grown-up caring and
understanding
Her heart had learned to love, it was overflowing with love, and she
had nowhere to men's rolex watches spen |
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