Who Loves Them? (Who--? Series) Read Online Free

were on her, something that made her profoundly uncomfortable.  She was seated at the table with her mother, who kept one eye on her throughout the entire performance, making sure Chris’s plate was never overfull, and orchestrating the conversation artfully.  For someone who had spent all of her youth outside of the circle to which she now belonged, her mother had certainly adapted quickly, Chris thought grimly.  According to her father, Elisa had once been a sharp-witted, intelligent young woman, but years of marriage in the Fontenot clan had turned her into another vapid society lady.  Being intelligent and quick were not admired traits in a society wife.  It was little wonder, Chris mused, that her father’s sparkle dulled whenever her mother walked into the room.  He must be bitterly disappointed in the loss of the vibrant girl that he had married.  Chris wondered if her father thought it had been worth it to go against his father’s wishes when he married her mother.  She wondered if she was destined to become her mother, and if so, when would the brainwashing begin?  Was this all some kind of test?  Had she broken the rules?
    Elisa had frowned sharply when she saw her daughter’s earrings, but said nothing, no doubt knowing her husband’s hand in their selection.  Besides, she had too many other things to concentrate on today.  She made sure Chris engaged in conversation with each of the girls that she had invited, a few of which she was fairly sure Chris had never met before.  No matter, though, they were girls whom Chris needed to know, and Chris, to her credit, and conscious of her mother’s gaze on her, behaved just as if she had known each one all her life.  Chris had been raised to act a certain way, and she managed to do so, despite her discomfort.  She wouldn’t do anything to embarrass her mother.
    Chris was surprised that Lilly had been invited, granted her mother’s disposition towards the girl .  “A full grown woman and not married!” Her mother was bewildered.  “What is the matter with the girl?  Is she barren?  It’s not that hard to please a husband.” Chris had shrugged off her mother’s comments, saying that Lilly had many suitors, and she was waiting for one of them to ask her hand in marriage.  But she knew, in her heart, that Lilly would most likely grow old without a husband, and live a happy life with a countless string of lovers, something Chris would have preferred.  She felt caged by her mother’s wishes for her to marry early and have children.  She wished she could sort it all out in her own time. 
    The cake was as Christina had expected, a white, fluffy, towering concoction covered in flowers and berries, and while it tasted delicious, Chris kept herself to a small sliver, knowing she would hear about it later if she ate more.  Besides, her appetite was not much anyway.  She had expected all of this, but it was still a bit of a disappointment, to have her birthday turn into just another stage for her to be paraded on.  She truly hated feeling like a pampered poodle that was paraded in front of judges who gave her a score on how well she behaved, and how perfect her hair and attire were.  She blew out her candles without much fanfare, wishing quietly on the candles: Please, let something change this year .
    Perhaps she should have been more careful about what she wished for.
    After the party had died down, the girls all said their goodbyes and the servants came to clear out the garden .  Lilly waited behind and pressed a small box into her hand, no bigger than her palm.  “Open this in private later,” she whispered, hugging her firmly around the waist.  “It’s a surprise.”
    Chris nod ded and walked inside with her mother, tugging fretfully at a hairpin.  “I have a bit of a headache,” she said quietly.  “I think I might go upstairs.”
    “Not yet, dear,” her mother said, smiling as her husband walked into the room .  “Your