Free Thurston House by Danielle Steel Page B

Jeremiah wandered aimlessly through the group, chatting with the men, being introduced to their wives, and eventually to a pretty young blonde whom Hubert had invited to join them. She was a livelier, healthier, much prettier version of his mother, and Orville seemed to find her particularly attractive as they got ready to go in to dinner. It was only then that he noticed that their numbers were uneven and called across to his wife.
    Where's Camilie? His wife looked faintly nervous and Hubert laughed before answering his father.
    Probably out back with one of her beaux! Neither the laughter nor the comment were tainted by brotherly kindness, and his mother was quick to scold him.
    Hubert! She turned to her husband then. She was upstairs dressing when we came down. Orville frowned and spoke quietly to his wife, and he was obviously displeased by Hubert's comment. Camille was the apple of his eye, a fact that was no secret to those who knew him. Tell her, 'Lizabeth, that we're ready to go into dinner.
    I'm not sure she's dressed. ' Elizabeth detested confronting her daughter, and giving her orders, even if they were not her own. Camille did as she pleased at all times, and tonight would be no exception.
    Just tell her we'll wait for her. The guests didn't seem to object to the opportunity for another mint julep, and Elizabeth Beauchamp disappeared upstairs and returned a few minutes later looking relieved as she whispered something to her husband. He nodded and seemed satisfied with the answer, none of which impressed Jeremiah very much as he strolled about among the guests, catching bits and snatches of conversations as he wandered around. And at last, he walked through the handsome double French doors into the garden and stood enjoying the balmy spring air, before going back inside.
    But as he crossed over the threshold this time, he stopped, fascinated by what he saw: a tiny delicate young woman with raven black hair and skin so white she looked like a snow queen as she stood there. Her eyes were as blue as a summer sky and she wore a pale blue taffeta gown and a string of blue topazes about her neck, which only enhanced the sparkle and the color of her eyes still more. She was the most dazzling-looking creature Jeremiah had ever seen, and the amazing thing was that she was the perfect combination of both her parents, her father's dark hair, her mother's milk white skin and blue eyes, and yet from two perfectly ordinary people had sprung this tiny goddess, this vision who floated between them now, almost dancing as she went, kissing and flirting and laughing. And Jeremiah was suddenly aware of the beating of his heart as he watched her. She took one's breath away, and it struck him that she looked a little bit like Amelia ' the same dark hair, creamy skin' . She could have been the girl that Amelia had once been, but he concentrated on Camille now as she pranced among the guests and made them laugh, flirting with the men, teasing the women, and linking her arm adoringly into her father's.
    You're still an impossible child! Jeremiah heard one woman say, not totally without venom, but it was easy to see that she must have been. And it was equally easy to see that she made her mother very nervous, and was clearly the object of her brother's hatred. But somehow Jeremiah found that amusing as he watched her cavort, and could easily imagine that she had been playing the same games since she'd been old enough to walk, and it was equally obvious that her father adored her.
    Mr. Thurston. Orville Beauchamp pronounced his name as though he were about to give him an award. May I present you to my daughter, Mr. Thurston? He beamed. Camille, this is Mr. Thurston from California.
    How do you do, Miss Beauchamp? Jeremiah graciously kissed her hand and watched the sparkle in her eyes. She was indeed a naughty little girl, but she had an enchanting quality about her, like a mischievous elf, or a slightly wicked fairy princess. He had never