Everything I Ever Wanted Read Online Free PDF

box. And Marchman, of course."
    "No, you couldn't very well leave West behind," the colonel said wryly. "I trust you managed some discretion."
    Staring at the contents of his glass, South cleared his throat. "I rather suppose that depends on one's definition."
    The colonel's eyes narrowed. "My definition is widely accepted as standard: demonstrating good judgment; prudent. Above all that you were circumspect, not attracting notice."
    "Aaah," South said, one dark brow kicking up as he raised his glass."Well, there you have me. Afraid I attracted some notice."
    Blackwood merely stared at him before he finally surrendered a sigh. "You might as well tell me the whole of it now. I find the application of thumbscrews so tedious these days."
    Grinning, then wincing anew, South launched into his tale of his evening at the theatre, sparing himself nothing in the telling of it. His recitation was no more flattering to his character than the actual events had been. Since there was no point in taking refuge in his own embarrassment at having allowed things to get so completely out of hand, South simply acknowledged it, apologized, and went on. At the conclusion he was still stretched negligently in the wing chair, but with the tumbler of Scotch pressed lightly against his cheek and the corner of his lip. It was a small concession to his injury at the hands of Miss India Parr.
    The colonel was quiet for a long time. "I suppose," he said finally, taking a moment to finish his drink, "that it could have gone worse. Though it's difficult to see how at first blush."
    "I might have fallen from East's box and broken my neck."
    "That would have been better, South. Not worse." The colonel waved aside any more of his protege's attempts to be helpful."You made her acquaintance. That is something at least. She will have no difficulty remembering you. Was there anyone left in the dressing room to witness your introduction save her dresser and the Compass Club?"
    "There were loiterers in the hall. If they didn't glimpse it, they heard it. Berwin was among the last to be ejected. I believe he saw me exit, and I don't think he was alone. Grissom was there, I think. I made no attempt to hide my injury."
    "Good. Because you can count on your friends not to repeat the incident."
    "I know, but I think I can safely rely on Berwin and Grissom to spread the news of my comeuppance. It will soon be public record that I have alienated the affections of Miss Parr, which, indeed, I have."
    "That is your own doing. I did not suggest that."
    "It was a moment's inspiration."
    Colonel Blackwood withheld comment. He would let South work out how to right the matter. The younger man invariably did. "I should like to hear your assessment of Miss Parr. Refrain, please, from pointing out that she delivers a considerable wallop. I see the evidence of that for myself."
    "It was the earbobs," he said, pointing to the corner of his mouth. "I quite forgot she had them in her fist. Though I cannot say the same for her."
    The colonel ignored that. "Your assessment."
    "She is quite magnificent on stage. Dedicated to her craft, I think, judging by the way she took us to task for our disruption. I believed at first that she stepped in and out of character with uncanny ease, but I wonder at that now. While she was entirely confident behind the footlamps, I suspect she is much less so in other circumstances. In her own dressing room, for instance, surrounded by admirers, I found her to be less certain of her ground." South raised himself a few inches by pushing up on the arms of the chair with his elbows. "An impression, nothing more, I assure you. It flies in the face of the confident blow she delivered to mine, but I find I cannot entirely dismiss the notion that, left to her own devices, she is eminently vulnerable."
    Blackwood frowned. It was not precisely what he wanted to hear, though he was uncertain of what Southerton could have said that would have satisfied him. "Could she be