Chapter 6: Suitable Gifts

Caroline put two large gift boxes on the drawing-room table.

"These were ordered before you arrived," she explained.

"It seemed such a lovely way to begin."

She pointed me toward the pink box.

Audrey stood beside the white one with her hands in her pockets.

Hallie sat on the window seat, watching without a scorecard.

Victor had gone to fetch Edith.

Caroline lifted the lid of my box herself.

Inside lay a pale silk scarf and a small embroidered purse.

"Audrey's taste," she announced.

Audrey looked into the box.

"Is it?" she asked.

Caroline touched the scarf.

"I meant something she'd like you to have."

"Would you?" I asked Audrey.

She looked at my jacket hanging beside the door.

"I'd like you to have your clean socks," she said.

Hallie took one foot out of the way before Caroline could glare at her.

I lifted the scarf from its box.

It was beautiful and very easy to snag.

One corner caught the dry skin beside my thumbnail.

I freed it carefully and put it down.

"Thank you," I told Caroline.

"You needn't wear it for gardening," she replied.

"I wasn't going to," I said.

Audrey opened her own box before anyone could help.

A pink riding hat stood in tissue paper.

She lifted it with both hands.

"I don't ride," she said.

Caroline looked at the hat.

"You could learn."

"I asked to once," Audrey answered.

"You said horses damaged posture."

Hallie turned toward the window.

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