Misplaced (72 page)

A
lou
d
gratin
g
soun
d
brok
e
th
e
scene’
s
tranquility
.
A
t
the
opposit
e
en
d
o
f
th
e
pasture
,
Khar
a
sli
d
th
e
bar
n
doo
r
closed.
W
earin
g
a
blac
k
turtleneck
,
slee
k
blac
k
ridin
g
breeches
,
and
knee-hig
h
equestria
n
boots
,
sh
e
strod
e
to
w
ar
d
V
ictoria
.
Her
straight
hair,
pulled
a
w
ay
from
her
face,
s
w
a
y
ed
gently
at
her
w
aist
with
each
step.
The
coronation
bracelet
seemed
to
ha
v
e
grow
n
bolder
,
it
s
gol
d
gleamin
g
e
v
e
n
brighte
r
agains
t
th
e
slee
v
e
o
f
he
r
dar
k
s
w
eater
.
Th
e
settin
g
su
n
surrounde
d
he
r
wit
h
a
halo
of soft light.

“
Y
o
u
loo
k
so—s
o
modern,
”
V
ictori
a
commented
.
Seein
g
that
the boots
w
ere scuffed,
she asked, “Where
’
d you get those?”

“The
y
belon
g
t
o
Bea,
”
sh
e
ans
w
ered
.
“They
’
r
e
wonderful,
aren’t
they?
I
may
ne
v
er
take
them
off.
The
rest
came
from
our
day of shopping.”

“What ha
v
e you been doing all day?”
Khar
a
nodde
d
a
t
th
e
barn
.
“Th
e
grounds
,
th
e
horses
,
Celeste.
I can’t get enough.”

“W
ell
,
sh
e
ha
s
a
housefu
l
o
f
guest
s
w
aitin
g
dinner
.
W
e
should hurry back.”

V
ictori
a
too
k
a
fe
w
step
s
befor
e
turnin
g
t
o
f
in
d
he
r
frien
d
rooted where she stood.
“
Aren’t you coming?” she asked.

“
I
wis
h
Rober
t
Chilto
n
coul
d
se
e
yo
u
lik
e
this
.
Surel
y
he
woul
d
los
e
hi
s
hear
t
fore
v
er.
”
Sh
e
cam
e
clos
e
an
d
too
k
the
fabric
of
the
dress
bet
w
een
her
thumb
and
finger
to
explore
the
w
ea
v
e.
She
paid
special
attention
to
the
bright
floral
print,
the
placement
of
the
seams,
the
fit
at
the
w
aist.
“This
garment
suits you far better
than what you usually
w
ear.”

“I
f
you
’
r
e
jus
t
goin
g
t
o
stan
d
there
,
I’
m
goin
g
t
o
dinner
without you.”

“I
doubt
that.
But
it
would
do
you
good
to
think
of
yourself
once
in
a
while.
Truthfully,
you
worry
more
than
Nandor
e
v
er
did. No doubt he would respect you for it.”

The
mention
of
Nandor
made
V
ictoria
shi
v
er,
but
just
then
Khar
a
too
k
he
r
arm
.
The
y
w
alke
d
i
n
th
e
middl
e
o
f
th
e
road,
Heather following, ascending the small hill to the main house.

“When
I
am
gone,”
Khara
began
with
a
forsaken
look,
“you must promise me that you and Robert will be together.”

W
ith a heavy heart,
V
ictoria nodded
w
eakly.

Fro
m
th
e
w
a
y
th
e
con
v
ersatio
n
quiete
d
a
s
the
y
entered
th
e
livin
g
room
,
i
t
w
a
s
obviou
s
thei
r
surpris
e
visi
t
w
a
s
being
discussed.
V
ictoria hoped that discretion
w
as among Celeste’s many good traits.

“E
v
eryone
,
mee
t
V
ictori
a
Barrón
;
sh
e
i
s
a
dea
r
frien
d
of
my
niece,
Bea. And
this
impeccably
dressed
young
woman
is Khara.”

A
woma
n
no
t
muc
h
olde
r
tha
n
Maggi
e
sa
t
o
n
th
e
couch, cradlin
g
a
bab
y
co
v
ere
d
loosel
y
wit
h
a
blanket
.
Sof
t
sucking
sound
s
coul
d
b
e
hear
d
fro
m
underneat
h
th
e
y
ello
w
gingham
co
v
er
.
Sh
e
inquire
d
i
n
a
gentl
e
voice
,
“Ho
w
lon
g
wil
l
yo
u
stay?”

“My
visit
must
end
in
thirty-nine-and-a-half
days,”
Khara ans
w
ered;
“perhaps
e
v
en
sooner,
if
the
gods
are
willing.
May
I?
”
sh
e
asked
,
e
y
e
s
glue
d
t
o
th
e
smal
l
bundle
.
Touchin
g
the
small, pink foot, she asked, “Does she ha
v
e a name
y
et?”

“O
f
course
;
it’
s
Angela
,
becaus
e
she’
s
m
y
littl
e
angel
.
Isn’t
she the s
w
eetest thing you’
v
e e
v
er seen?”