Once More With Feeling Read Online Free PDF Page B

suspected."
    "You make me sound far more interesting than
I am," Elisabeth said.
    Marguerite's gaze flashed to Anna, who was
taking in this conversation with her lips softly parted in
disbelief. "I think there are unplumbed depths to our Elisabeth,"
Marguerite said. She looked straight at Owen. "And were I you,
Owen, renowned architect or no, this is one plumbing job I'd do
myself . . ."
    "Trust me, I could discuss Elisabeth's
plumbing with the best of them," he said.
    Elisabeth had seen Marguerite assessing
Anna. Elisabeth had never discussed her fears about Anna with
Marguerite, but now she knew intuitively that they were shared. The
warmth she'd begun to feel died a swift, icy death. She forced a
response. "I think I'd rather discuss this Gypsy Dugan. I have to
say the madonna-whore angle doesn't excite me."
    "Princess-whore," Attila said.
    "As bad. Let's not assume that because my
family's in the Blue Book I don't have all the normal instincts of
any other woman. Even a woman like Gypsy Dugan."
    There was a hiccup in the conversation. "Are
we back to plumbing?" Marguerite asked when no one else spoke.
    This time Elisabeth forced a smile. "No.
We're back to giving every woman her due, even a celebrity like
Gypsy Dugan. She strikes me as intelligent and witty. And the few
times I've caught the show"--she didn't even flinch at the
lie--"she's impressed me with her honesty. Maybe you need a box of
tissues when you watch, Lorraine, but it's clear that Gypsy Dugan
doesn't, and she doesn't pretend to. What you get is what you see,
and the viewers know they can trust her. I'd guess that's why she's
made it to the top."
    "The top?" Missy shrieked like a Mississippi
riverboat calliope. "Elisabeth, that show can't possibly be the
top! Not tabloid trash like that. Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters
are the top."
    "The latest Q scores say that Gypsy Dugan is
one of the most recognized female newswomen in America." Attila
turned up his hands. "And it looks like Elisabeth's the only one
here who understands why."
    "I know you have more than a passing
acquaintance with television news," Richard said to Elisabeth. "I
know you used to work in a television newsroom before you married
Owen. But take my word for it. We don't want to encourage these
kinds of shows or these kinds of people. This country has enough
problems with deceit and ignorance. Maybe a woman of your
background and intelligence can find something to admire about
Gypsy Dugan, but think about the average American. Is he or she
capable of sorting the truth from the rest of the trash?"
    "Why Richard, how unegalitarian of you,"
Marguerite said. "I thought you were the champion of the average
American. Have you changed political parties right along with
everybody else?"
    Elisabeth watched Richard's aristocratic
nostrils curl. She balanced her desire to continue the argument
with her duties as hostess. Duty won out. "I'm sure if my article
provokes even half as much interest in the subject as we've shown
tonight, the Sentinel's circulation will double. When is
this lecture scheduled, Attila?"
    "Friday at two."
    "Friday?" Owen caught Elisabeth's eye and
shook his head.
    For a moment Elisabeth didn't understand.
Owen had never interfered with her freelancing before. Of course
there had never been a reason to. She had made certain to put
everything else first.
    "The Caswells," he said.
    Her heart sank. Lee Caswell was a North
Carolina developer who was interested in having Owen's firm design
a prestigious oceanfront complex of hotels and condominiums. He was
coming to town for negotiations, and Elisabeth had agreed to take
his wife shopping on Friday morning. They were to join the men in
the afternoon for lunch.
    Owen waited expectantly. She knew what he
assumed she would do. She even opened her mouth to do it. Then she
shook her head. "I'll be there, Attila," she said. "I can change my
plans."
    "You're sure? Because it's a story I don't
want to lose."
    "I'm absolutely sure." Her gaze