"No.....no, thank you," said Bethany hastily. "I'm expected home for lunch. Will you tell Bennet I called? I..... my mother is giving a little dinner party for you pretty soon. I'll share the details with you when we're all set."
"That will be very nice. I'll tell my husband," said Clara politely, and accompanied her guest to the door.
As she watched Bethany's car move off the driveway, she experienced an unwanted sense of depression. She shouldn't have sent her away with such a startling impression, and she suspected that Bennet would not be pleased if he knew.
Well, it was too late now. She had been childish and indiscreet, but there had been something about Bethany Maloney all along that had rubbed her off the wrong way. The clock at the dinning room chimed, and she turned reluctantly to face the fresh ordeal of lunch with Beatrice and Isabella.
