The Lady by Anne McCaffrey

Author:Anne McCaffrey [McCaffrey, Anne]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780345457578
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2002-02-19T08:00:00+00:00

Sybil had invited them for one o’clock on Sunday, which allowed them time to ride out, get the yard to rights, and shower and dress appropriately. Michael had heard about Catriona’s blistered feet and asked Eithne to be sure of the fit of a new pair of shoes, a task the two had undertaken on Saturday afternoon. Isabel had had good clothes sense, and Catriona, her dark hair unbraided and swinging down her back, looked quite fetching in a simple blue dress that matched the color of her eyes.

Sybil and Aidan lived in Mount Merrion, on North Avenue, in a semidetached, well-built four-bedroom house that had been constructed in the building boom after the war. Michael had always approved Sybil’s choice of husband: the Roche family had a solid business that was steadily expanding, and he got on very well with Aidan’s parents. It was obvious that he and Sybil were happy together, and they had two fine children to add to their happiness. Isabel had had some queer notion that Aidan might turn mean to Sybil, but there had never been any evidence of that.

Right now, his daughter and her husband welcomed their guests at the door, and little Perry and Ann came bouncing out of the lounge, shrieking with glee at the appearance of Grandda. Michael swung them both up and carried them into the room.

“Have you heard from Jack yet?” Sybil asked when everyone had been served their Sunday drinks and was seated in the lounge.

“No, although Patrick said he would contact both the Nicaraguan embassy in the States and the Order’s office in New York State.”

Sybil frowned. “I do hope they haven’t had another coup or revolution or whatever.”

“That would have made at least a mention in the papers,” Aidan replied.

“In any event, I managed to get a letter off to him, with a clipping from the Times,” Michael said.

“That was a very nice article,” Sybil murmured, and bent her head, dabbing at her eyes and nose with a tissue. “I honestly didn’t realize that Mother did so much community work . . . .” After a moment’s silence, she began afresh, lightening her mood with determination. “How’s that little waif of yours, Trina?”

“She’s come on a treat,” Catriona replied. She glanced at her father for confirmation and grinned as he nodded. “We caught her just in time. Another day and she’d’ve been too far gone. Poor thing. And she’s so sweet, despite the way she was treated. Some horses are like that, though, genuine, honest, kind.”

“Unlike Temper,” Philip said with feeling. He’d had a hairy ride on the gelding that morning.

“He’s one of the stubbornest animals we’ve ever bred,” Michael agreed.

The phone rang, and Sybil excused herself while Aidan courteously complimented his brother-in-law on his success in the show. When Sybil returned from the phone call, her eyes were a trifle reddened.

“Dear,” she said, “Nualla Fennell has called a meeting for tomorrow evening. Is that all right?”

Aidan grinned, teasingly proud. “This one’s following in her mother’s footsteps, doing community work.

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