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like it?’
    ‘I like it exceptionally well. And I must tell you how happy I am to see you here. You appear to be just the type of girl that Harry needs. Sit down here on the bed and tell me about Katie Russel.’ The directions were accompanied by a pat on the blankets to indicate where she should sit. Katie complied. ‘Now, you will call me Aunt Grace. Tell me all about yourself.’
    ‘I—I don’t quite know what to say,’ Katie stammered. This lady had all the attitudes and inflections of Grandmother Russel. A most sweet and loving woman, who could get information out of anyone—man, woman, or child—as simply as if she were peeling an artichoke. And before Katie realised, she had displayed her life from her first birthday party until the day before yesterday.
    ‘And so you see,’ she ended, ‘I got lost in the mountain, and my engine stopped dead before I got to your gate and I knocked on the door and they thought I was the home-help come to take care of the baby, and things have been so rushed that I haven’t had a chance yet to tell Harry—Mr King.’ At which point in the recital she ran out of breath and came to a full stop.
    Aunt Grace raised one eyebrow reflectively. Then she picked up a crisp of bacon and nibbled at it, deep in thought.
    ‘And isn’t that nice,’ she finally concluded. ‘We have no need to tell Harry. We mustn’t overburden the poor boy with too much information. How very nice. Stand up and twirl around.’
    Never thinking to question, Katie complied, then enquired by a look and got no answer. ‘I haven’t had a chance to change,’ she apologised. ‘I left Carolina in the rain, and I put on my oldest jeans and shirt, and I—’
    ‘You’re just a shade too thin for your height, my dear. How tall are you?’
    ‘Five foot ten in my stocking feet, ma’am. I haven’t been eating too regularly lately, I suppose.’
    ‘Lovely face, my dear. Such smooth skin, so nicely rounded. And I like your hair. Russet natural curls?’ She didn't wait for an answer. ‘And those lovely green eyes. Harry’s exactly six feet four, did you know that? Yes, you’ll do very well. Tiny waist, fine rounded hips—’ Katie began to get the feeling that she was standing on the auction block, being checked out as a brood mare. And she wasn’t quite sure how to respond.
    ‘But somewhat—lacking, perhaps, above?’
    Katie smiled, and looked down to where her tiny breasts were having no difficulty at all concealing themselves from public view. ‘Well, it saves a lot of money,’ she said wryly. ‘I never have to buy bras. What did you mean, I’ll do? As soon as I get my car repaired, I’m off to Ohio.’
    ‘Ah. Of course. Of course. But it might take longer than you think to get your car repaired. And in the meantime, you will have to remain here as—Oh, there you are, Harry. Did you bring coffee for Katie, too?’
    ‘For who?’
    ‘For Katie. I was just telling her that she must consider herself our guest until you can get her car repaired. Don’t you think?’
    ‘I’m afraid I don’t understand, Aunt Grace. Katherine was hired—’ He stopped talking to watch his aunt slowly swing her head from side to side. ‘Well, okay. You can explain it to me later. Here’s your coffee. And I brought up my own, and I thought I would—’
    ‘Would immediately go back downstairs and bring up another cup for Katie. Do you take cream and sugar, my dear?’
    ‘No—I drink coffee black,’ Katie protested. ‘And I can go down and get my own. And have some breakfast, too, if I may. Who’s with the baby?’
    ‘Eloise is minding the kid. She’s not entirely helpless, you know.’
    ‘That’s something you will have to prove to me,’ his aunt told him in glacial tones. ‘Maybe you had better go and have your breakfast, Katherine. Lovely name. My great-grandmother was named Katerine. Did you know that, Harry? A lovely woman. Presented her husband with six children. Where was I? Oh yes, you go