delicately beaded gown to shame. Hers had a tight
bodice, with a flounce of fluted ruffles to cover a little
of her upper arms, displaying her shoulders to
advantage and creating a magnificent frame for her
creamy, swelling breasts. The red gown was cut very
low. The skirt was a masterpiece of ruffles, caught
with white silk flowers rain-dropped with iridescent
crystals. A few of these white silk blossoms were
tucked in her upswept hair, duplicating something
Scarlett O'Hara might have liked.
"Where's everybody?" she asked, looking
around, her radiant expression fading. "I waited and
waited to hear the music playing, then sort of dozed
off, thinking when I woke that I was missing out on
all the fun."
She paused and glanced around before a look of dismay flooded her expression. "Don't tell me nobody's going to come! I just can't stand another disappointment!" Dramatically she threw her hands
about.
"No one has as yet arrived, Miss," said Trevor
tactfully. "They must have lost their way, and I must
say you look a dream of loveliness, as does your
mother . "
"Thank you," she said, floating his way and
brushing his cheek with a daughterly kiss. "You look
very distinguished yourself." She dashed past Bart's
look of astonishment and ran to the piano. "Please,
may I?" she asked a young, good-looking musician
who seemed delighted to have something happening,
at last.
Cindy sat down beside him, put her hands on
the keys, threw back her head and began to sing: "Oh,