Page 68 of Misrule
“As you know, I was wrong in regards tothem. You, especially, should understand that they make you sink to their level. Those people don’t allow you to keep your decorum. You have never been able to accept those barbaric bikers, even though, for the time being, you are married to one of them.”
“I hope it’s longer than for the time being,” Kendall retorted. “You apologized to Roxy,” she added, turning the subject away from her marriage and back to Charlotte’s behavior. “I thought your words to her were sincere, Charlotte. I’ve never known you to fib.”
Charlotte gasped. “Fib? You accuse me of being a fibber? That is such a harsh word, dear.”
Kendall bit her lip. “I’m so sorry.”
“I will have you know I was quite sincere when I said sorry to that woman. I was overwhelmed with emotions, thankful to be alive. These people try your patience. Test your resolve. Make you rethink if it is a good idea to socialize outside of your class. Think of Knox!Heapologized to them also after they beat the tar out of him.Hesaid he’d changed and accepted them, too. They are the ones who never change. They are the reason good folk like you and me and Knox Harrington go back on their word. We realize our efforts are useless. They are all morons. I see that clearly now. And I also clearly see Roxanne as a baseborn, ignorant, loudmouth piece of trash.”
Kendall gasped. “I won’t stop being her friend because of how you feel, Charlotte. Just as I won’t stop being yours.” Not that Roxy had ever, or would ever, demand such a thing of her. “Please don’t ruin this afternoon.”
“Just as that woman is the same, so am I. Thanks to them! I abhor the lot of them. My status hasn’t changed much since Brooks has gotten back into Outlaw’s good graces. Brooks is lucky that I love him. He still has me living like a pauper, while that Roxanne-woman is about to marry into one of the richest families in the country. It’s an appalling, ironic travesty.”
Kendall was getting nowhere with Charlotte, so she remained silent, advice offered to her by Dr. Briscow. Every statement didn’t require a response. Every topic up for debate didn’t have to turn into a battle. Kendall lived her life at war because her emotions and thoughts were always in turmoil. Wanting her family back was top priority, so Kendall would try her best to heed the psychiatrist’s suggestions.
A few minutes later, Kendall drove up to the Harrington mansion and stopped behind two cars already parked. She got out of her car and started toward the door, smiling at Roxy’s purple Navigator and scowling at Zoann’s Jeep Cherokee.
Charlotte was right on Kendall’s heels as they paused at the front entrance. Before they rang the bell, the door swung open and a butler in uniform stood there.
“Mrs. Donovan,” he greeted. “Mrs. Harrington and the others are awaiting your arrival.”
“Traffic held me up,” Kendall answered smoothly, when in fact, it was the detour to Charlotte’s house. She really hadn’t wanted Charlotte to tag along, but the poor woman had lost most of her society friends, and her family had drifted apart because she’d gotten on the wrong side of Outlaw. Kendall felt somehow responsible since the stand Charlotte had taken against Outlaw had been on Kendall’s behalf. She stepped aside so Charlotte could enter. “This is Mrs. Redding.”
The butler nodded, not betraying his thoughts about the extra, uninvited guest. “Very good, ma’am.” Once he shut the door, he walked past Kendall and Charlotte. “Follow me,” he instructed politely.
As she walked behind the butler, Kendall noted the crystal chandeliers, silk wallpaper, marble floors, and fine artwork in the corridors. The Harrington house was magnificent, suggesting not just wealth, butwealth. A bank account that would last for generations.
The butler opened a pair of double doors. “Mrs. Harrington, Mrs. Donovan and Mrs. Redding have arrived,” he announced.
“Mrs.Who?” Roxy asked sharply, unseen but quite loudly heard. “No, you didn’t, Kendall.”
A throat cleared. “Please, show them in, Merrick,” a voice as cultured as Charlotte’s said.
The servant stepped aside, and Kendall entered an airy room with traditional décor in tones of cream and white, with a French antique Aubusson rug in the center. She’d looked at something similar for one of the rooms in her house, but ultimately decided against it. In retrospect, it was because Johnnie wouldn’t have liked it even if he’d accepted on her behalf.
“Joan, darling,” Charlotte greeted, walking forward with the dignity of a queen.
Joan Harrington stood. “So good to see you,” she told Charlotte as they air-kissed each other’s cheeks.
Roxy threw Kendall a dark look.
“I’m sorry,” Kendall mouthed.
“Kendall, Charlotte, we have orange juice, coffee, pear spritzes, and cranberry-champagne cocktail.” Joan indicated the elegant setup of tables near the huge bank of windows. “I thought buffet style would work best for the meeting.”
“What would you like, Charlotte?” Kendall asked nervously, withering under Roxy’s burning anger. “I’ll get it.”
“The pear spritz,” Charlotte responded, seeming to stand taller in surroundings she felt she should be in. “Thank you, dear.” She headed to one of the Bergere chairs, while Joan seated herself in the other one.
“Meggie, Zoann, Bunny, Bailey,” Kendall greeted, since they only seemed to want to stare at her. “Roxy.”
“Hi Kendall,” Meggie greeted with a smile.
Kendall couldn’t place the tone in the girl’s voice. It almost soundedcool, but that wasn’t Meggie’s style, so Kendall dismissed it and headed to the table containing the drinks. She picked up the pear spritz and the cranberry-champagne cocktail, admiring the crisp, white tablecloths on the two tables. One held drinks and the other held fine china plates, cloth napkins, silverware, and trays of food.
Kendall brought Charlotte her drink, then sipped her own, assessing the room. Charlotte and Joan sat on one side in designer clothes with legs demurely crossed.
Meggie wore brown suede pants and a cream-colored cashmere sweater. Kendall had actually been with Meggie the day she’d purchased the outfit. She actually looked decent. Zoann wore scrubs—of all the tacky things. Bunny and Bailey wore jeans, while Roxy had on a stylish jumpsuit, drop earrings, and heels. Roxy dressed like she deserved to be a Harrington. Looking at each side of the room, where women who were worlds apart sat on separate sides, Kendall’s uncertainty surprised her.
