Pearl in the Mist (Landry 2)

"It doesn't matter. She should know better. I had to tell Mrs. Clairborne you weren't here. She was very disappointed."

"What did she want?"

"Something remarkable has happened," Mrs. Penny said, leaning over and whispering loudly. She looked around to be sure none of the other girls were in earshot.

"Remarkable?"

"Her grandson . . . Louis . . . he asked that you be invited to dinner at the mansion . . tonight!"

"Oh," I said, surprised.

"None of the girls at Greenwood have ever been asked to dinner at the Clairborne mansion," Mrs. Penny said. I just stared at her. My lack of elation shocked her. "Don't you understand? Mrs. Clairborne called to invite you to dinner. You'll be picked up at six-twenty. Dinner is at six-thirty sharp."

"You told her I would go?"

"Of course. How could you think of not going?" she asked. She studied me a moment, her face trembling. "You will go, won't you?"

"I feel a bit nervous about it," I confessed.

"Oh, that's only natural, dear," she said, relieved. "What an honor. And one of my girls too!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Her smile evaporated quickly. "But I must chastise your art teacher. She should have known better."

"No, you must not, Mrs. Penny. If you do, I won't go to Mrs. Clairborne's," I threatened.

"What?"

"I'll tell her about the rule and I'll see to it that my father provides the necessary permission slip, but I don't want Miss Stevens to get into trouble because of me," I said firmly.

"Well . . I . . if Mrs. Ironwood should find out."

"She won't."

"Well . . . you just make sure you tell your teacher and get that permission slip," she said. She paused and returned a happy smile to her face. "Now go find something pretty to wear. I'll see to it that the car is here at six-twenty. Congratulations, dear. One of my girls . . . my girls," she muttered as she hurried off.

I took a deep breath. I couldn't help myself from trembling. How silly, I thought. It was just a dinner. It was not like I was being tested or auditioned for anything.

But now that I knew the dark history of the Clairbornes and why Louis was the way he was, I couldn't help swallowing back lumps. Why had I followed the sound of that sweet, sad music and wandered into that room?

Of course, it would have been impossible to keep my invitation a secret, even if I had wanted to. Mrs. Penny was determined to brag about it, and in no time all the girls at the dorm had heard about Mrs. Clairborne's call. Gisselle was annoyed because she thought I had known about it since the tea and kept it from her.

"I have to find out about my sister from strangers," she chided after she had wheeled herself through our doorway. As usual, Samantha was at her side, ready to do her beck and call.

"I just returned from painting all day at the river with Miss Stevens, so I just found out myself, Gisselle."

"Painting all day with Miss Stevens. Peachy."

She gazed at the dresses I had laid out on my bed for Abby and I to consider.

"It looks like you've been planning. You must have known about this."

"I haven't. I just this moment took out my clothes, right, Abby?"

"Yes," she said, eyeing Gisselle, who still fumed. "Well, why did she ask only you?" she demanded. "I don't know," I said.

"It's because her grandson wants you there, right?" Gisselle followed quickly. Sometimes there was no hiding things from her. Her mind wandered through the labyrinths of deceptions and intrigues so often she knew the routes better than a professional spy.

"I guess," I said.

"He can't even see you and he wants you to come back? What did you two do?"