Burning With Passion by Emma Darcy

Author:Emma Darcy
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-07-25T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

CAITLIN could not have been more satisfied with the way the party was going.

Her mother was floating on a cloud of happiness, basking in her husband’s adoration, showing off the pearls he had given her to all the guests-a lovely pearl ring and ear-studs as well as the necklace-and glowing with pleasure in the shower of congratulations and good wishes.

Her father, intoxicated by his new-found power to woo his wife, continued to woo her with a gallantry that was the envy of all her friends.

David dispensed French champagne which had suddenly and mysteriously appeared from some unknown source. The pleasure of such unexpected extravagance added bubble to the party. He had certainly thought of everything. For her, Caitlin reflected with heady pleasure. He had done it all for her.

Trevor, impressed, did his best to cultivate a friendship with the man who owned a Ferrari and obviously dabbled in French champagne. He found that being the barman might still be classified as menial work in his own classification of important jobs, but it did have its compensations.

The only person who was not happy was Michelle. ‘What on earth got into Dad to act like that?’ she remarked peevishly to Caitlin. ‘It’s not at all like him!’

‘Perhaps he remembered how it once was,’ Caitlin answered, her voice soft with the secret yearning to have the same feeling between her and David one day.

‘He’s got Mummy all moonstruck. She’s behaving like a silly little girl.’ This clearly did not meet with Michelle’s approval.

‘What’s wrong with that?’ Caitlin queried.

‘Who’s to know where it might lead?’ Michelle grumbled.

Caitlin observed her sister keenly, recollecting the smug air she had thought suspicious earlier. ‘Is that a problem for you, Michelle?’ she asked, wondering how much her sister had contributed to the breakdown of communication between her mother and her father.

‘Of course not!’ Michelle snapped. ‘I just think it’s all very.. .ridiculous!’ Her eyes narrowed on Caitlin. ‘Are you and David Hartley at the bottom of it all?’

‘I wish we were, Michelle,’ Caitlin said with a warmth that showed her heartfelt approval of the romantic reconciliation.

Michelle dropped that line of conversation and they were too busy to talk much for a while. The twenty-eight guests were seated with their host and hostess at the long, beautifully decorated table that had been set up in the rumpus room. David and Trevor circled the table with bottles of wine, pouring what was requested by the guests. Caitlin and Michelle served the pumpkin soup.

Michelle opened fire again as she and Caitlin prepared the entree. ‘Who is David Hartley, anyway?’

‘You know that already.’

Caitlin didn’t wish to divulge the information that she had quit her position today. It was none of Michelle’s business. Besides, at the rate things were happening, Caitlin couldn’t discount going back to work for him. Maybe tomorrow.

‘What is he?’ Michelle asked tartly.

‘You know the answer to that as well.’

‘How much money does he have?’

‘I have no idea. Why don’t you ask him?’

Michelle’s eyes narrowed. ‘How much money does he owe on the Ferrari?’

Caitlin began to bristle.

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