Shadow Lane Volume 4 by Eve Howard

Author:Eve Howard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
ISBN: 9781926585321
Publisher: CCB Publishing
Published: 2010-05-31T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Three

Chronicles of Random Point

For many months after he caned her, Laura Random made herself virtually inaccessible to Hugo Sands. This frustrated him, as he knew from lawyer Cooper, that Laura’s divorce from William would be finalized shortly.

She came to his annual Halloween party, stunning in a black chiffon ball gown, and played with everyone but Hugo. Then she and Marguerite Alexander left for Europe for six weeks.

Laura returned to Random Point in mid-December without bothering to visit Hugo’s shop for Christmas gifts. When they met by chance in the village, a brief, bland “How are you?” was all he received from Laura, who then refused to look at him until he walked away.

Laura knew that she was meant to belong to Hugo Sands. But she had an instinct not to make it easy for him. She forgave him for the caning fairly quickly, but the embarrassment of the public humiliation remained a strong memory. She felt unable to confront him for months, not knowing what her attitude ought to be.

Then, one day in the Summer, as Laura Random drank her morning coffee on a balcony of Anthony Newton’s house, she finally changed her point of view. It was a deep blue morning, the sea air smelled sweet and she felt restless with longing for a man who understood her needs.

She bathed and dressed in a linen halter dress and ankle strap sandals and made a ponytail out of her long, chestnut brown hair. She placed three color illustrations mounted and covered with tissue in her large leather portfolio and left the house. Laura drove down the hill and into the village; parking her old Thunderbird in front of Hugo Sand’s antiques shop.

No one was in the main room when she entered, so she freshened her dark red lipstick in one of the many mirrors. At the tinkle of the bell Hugo came out of his office in back and was agreeably surprised to see Laura so bright, fresh and smiling before him.

“Why, Laura, how nice to see you,” he said, coming around from behind the counter and taking the liberty of kissing her on the cheek. She allowed this without returning the embrace and slipped lightly out of his reach immediately.

“Do you have a few minutes?” she asked in a blandly friendly tone.

“Sure. All the time you want.”

“Can we go in your office? I brought something to show you,” she preceded him. Once they were in Hugo’s office she opened the portfolio.

“Here are some drawings I’ve been working on for you. I hope you can use them,” she said, displaying her work.

“They’re beautiful, Laura. Of course I can use them. I can write you a check right now if you like.”

“That won’t be necessary. I’ll send you an invoice.”

“Fine,” Hugo said, studying the exquisite pieces in detail.

“I did have another reason for coming by,” she said, pulling a large manila envelope out of the portfolio.

“Oh?” he sat on the edge of his desk.

“I have an ad that I’d like you to put into your next issue.

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