Return to Peyton Place Read Online Free PDF Page A

Boston, could her father perhaps be a big-time lawyer?”
    Ted looked at the floor. All the reasons that had made so much sense to him as he had walked toward Selena's house now seemed utterly shameful. Face to face with the reality of Selena, the machinations of making a career were both sordid and childish. But he had already committed himself to it; there was no turning back. In his heart he knew that salvation for him lay with Selena, but it could not be. It could not be. He soothed himself with this thought. It could not be! It was Fate at fault, not Ted Carter. It is by such means that weak men salvage their pride.
    â€œHer name is Jennifer Burbank. Her father is John Burbank of Bur-bank, Burrell and Archibald, one of the biggest law firms in Boston.”
    Selena threw back her head and began to laugh. “No, stop,” she gasped. “Honestly, it's too much! Jennifer Burbank! The biggest law firm in Boston!” She tried to stop laughing but was almost afraid to, for if she did not laugh she knew she would cry.
    â€œSelena, please,” begged Ted.
    And Selena stopped laughing. She twitched her head, and her long, dark hair flew away from her shoulder and rested on her back. Now there was no possibility of tears. Her purple eyes were almost black, and the soft red mouth that Ted had kissed so often was set in a tight little smile.
    Dear God, thought Ted, looking at her, I can see now how she must have looked when she murdered Lucas. I never thought she could look like that.
    â€œTell me about her, Ted,” Selena was saying in a soft voice. “What does she look like? Small, blond, with a pink and white skin and breasts like lemons?”
    â€œSelena!”
    â€œOh, but be careful of that kind, Ted,” Selena continued, her voice too controlled, too soft. “Some of those rich-bitch Boston families are terribly inbred, you know. She's bound to be a delicate type. Peyton Place would kill her. That thin blue blood can't stand up to our winters.”
    â€œWe won't be living in Peyton Place,” said Ted quietly. “When I finish at Harvard, her father is going to take me into his firm.”
    â€œAnd tell me, Attorney Carter, do the too-blue Burbanks know about us? You and me, I mean, and about Lucas? Or did they stop reading newspapers when Henry Adams died?”
    â€œThey know that you and I were at school together.”
    â€œMy, my,” said Selena, in mock surprise. “Listen to little Ted Carter. ‘At school.’ Did you ever notice that it's only people with a private school education who talk about having been ‘at school’? Have you noticed that, Ted? The rest of us poor slobs who went to public schools always say ‘in school.’ I'm so happy to see you're learning the language of your new family, Ted. I'd hate it if your inlaws had to think of you as a meatball. ”
    â€œSelena, will you please not talk this way? Can't we talk to each other like old friends? This isn't you talking, Selena.”
    â€œMaybe it isn't the old Selena, Ted. Maybe you're right, maybe it isn't me. But it's going to be me, Ted. I don't want to be good old sweet little innocent Selena, everybody's friend. And most of all, Ted, I don't want to be your friend.” Her voice was no longer soft; it tore from her throat, tortured and coarsened.
    â€œGet your coat and get out of here,” she cried.
    Ted stood up and watched Selena pour herself another drink. He put on his coat and stood helplessly in front of her.
    â€œWill you kiss me good-by?” he asked.
    â€œGet out of here!” Selena screamed. “I never want to see you again. You make me sick, do you understand? I'd as soon kiss dirt as kiss you. Now get out!”
    When he had gone, she sat for a long time, holding the brandy snifter in both hands. Then she stood up slowly and walked into the kitchen and poured the drink down the sink, as if Ted's presence had tainted it.
    She was