Sonnet of the Sphinx by Diana Killian

Author:Diana Killian
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: New York London Toronto Sydney
Published: 2006-09-28T22:00:00+00:00

“I think it’s necessary as a writer to experience everything life has to offer, don’t you?” Cordelia confided.

“Within reason,” Grace said cautiously. “Life has things to offer that would do neither you nor your writing much good.”

Cordelia made a face that indicated Grace was speaking in the predictable tongue of all adults.

The Citroën labored and puffed along like the Little Engine That Could. It was Thursday afternoon, and as promised, Grace had arrived at Brougham Manor to pick up Cordelia for the afternoon’s outing.

Cordelia had taken one look at the pear-colored Citroën and suggested they take Auntie’s Silver Cloud Rolls-Royce, which was not being used that afternoon. Grace had declined. She had taken one look at Cordelia’s black fingernail polish and the plunging red midriff top that emphasized the girl’s bony chest, and nearly suggested an exchange of her own. Was anyone paying attention to Cordelia? Certainly no one was in evidence that day.

Cordelia climbed into the Citroën and unfolded a newspaper. Was she planning to catch up on world events while Grace chauffeured her around? But no, it turned out that Cordelia was not quite as enthusiastic about Hadrian’s Wall as Lady Vee had made it sound. A deah, sweet child she might be, but she definitely knew her own mind.

“That old wall will always be there. We can see it anytime.”

Ignoring this sacrilege, Grace inquired, “Okay, what exactly did you have in mind?”

Cordelia quickly scanned the paper. “An Evening of Wine with Jane Taylor.”

Grace opened her mouth, but intervention was unnecessary. In disappointed tones, Cordelia added, “But that’s next Tuesday.” She brightened. “Hey, maybe we could…”

“I don’t think so.” Grace focused on her driving while Cordelia flipped through the paper.

“Cruise with a Lake Ranger. Hey…”

“No.” Grace had the uneasy sensation that she was rapidly losing control of the situation. If only she didn’t suspect that this was the first outing Cordelia had had all summer.

Cordelia grimaced. Then she sniffed the air. “I think we’re on fire.”

“This car always smells like that.”

Cordelia gave her one of those classic teenage looks, which manages to convey a superior being’s tolerance of adult absurdity, and went back to perusing the paper.

“Evening Jazz Cruise on Lake Windermere.” She added, “With buffet.”

Grace made a mental note to see if she could persuade Peter to join her for that one. “Probably not what your aunt had in mind.”

“All Auntie has in mind is to get me out of her hair for a few days. I want to go someplace with people.”

“The tour of Hadrian’s Wall will have people.”

“Not those kinds of people,” she said scathingly. “People my age.”

Boys, translated Grace.

“Here’s something. Boot Beer Festival.”

Now there was a visual: a drunk and boy-crazy Cordelia set loose upon the unsuspecting denizens of Boot.

“Definitely not.”

Silence while Cordelia thumbed through the paper. “Tango Geno with Geno Fabrosi.”

“Serve you right if I let you in for that one.”

On impulse, Grace decided to stop by Rogue’s Gallery. They parked out front, and Cordelia led the way up the flagstone path, critically sizing up the male half of a pair of customers who were carrying their purchases out of the shop.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.