To Perish in Penzance Read Online Free PDF

heard your name. Heavens, you’re right up on the top of the heap, aren’t you? You must think I’m an idiot, not recognizing you.”
    â€œActually, it’s—this sounds terribly conceited and sort of world-weary—but it’s rather refreshing. I was pleased when you didn’t take any particular notice of me yesterday at the hotel. I don’t care for being treated like a celebrity, at least when I’m not working. On a shoot, of course, it’s part of the image.”
    I let it go at that, but I was still confused. Alexis Adams had been a top fashion model for years, in
Elle
and
Vogue
and the rest. This girl didn’t seem more than twenty-two or -three. Had she begun as a precocious adolescent?
    Whatever the case, she was famous. Shopping with her might be rather trying.
    As it turned out, it was great fun. Either the salespeople didn’t recognize Alexis in blue jeans and no makeup, or they had better manners than to say anything. She was, as I ought to have anticipated, an absolute expert where fashion was concerned, and knew immediately what would look good on me and what wouldn’t. I tried on one outfit after another, many of them things I wouldn’t have looked at twice, and loved them all. I finally bought the two most beautiful of all, stifling conscience pangs at the prices.
    â€œYou won’t be sorry, Mrs. Martin,” Alexis assured me with the confidence of one who knows what she’s talking about. “They’re excellent style and they suit you. And they’re not extreme. You’ll feel pretty in them for years.”
    â€œI’d better. My credit card is going into meltdown. But what about yourself? Didn’t you see anything you liked? Or—how silly of me. I suppose you buy originals.”
    She laughed softly. “I wear them for a living, but I don’t buy them. They’re too far out for me. I did actually see one frock I rather liked, but I’ve no need for it here, and it would be a bore to pack.”
    â€œShow me!” I demanded, a plan beginning to stir in the back of my head.
    She tried it on. It was a floor-length evening slip of burgundy satin, meant to skim the figure, touching it in all the right places. What made it spectacular was the black chiffon overdress that floated on top. Embroidered with a lush, black baroque border at bust and hem, it moved beautifully over the slip, creating beguiling patterns of light and shadow as it swirled.
    It cost three hundred pounds, more than I’ve ever paid for a garment in my life, and quite possibly less than Alexis spent on her blue jeans. Never mind. On her it looked like a million dollars. Of course, on Alexis a flour sack would have looked like a million dollars.
    â€œIt’s you,” I said flatly. “Buy it.”
    â€œBut it’s silly. I don’t need it.”
    â€œYes, you do.” I made up my mind. “Alan and I are going to a party tonight. We were invited at the very last minute, so it’s plainly the sort of thing where it doesn’t matter if a few extra people show up. Buy that dress and come with us.”
    â€œOh, but I couldn’t! Not without an invitation—and I don’t know the people—”
    â€œNeither do I. Neither does Alan, really. We ran into the host at St. Michael’s Mount yesterday, and it turned out they’re old cronies, but they haven’t seen each other for thirty years. Oh, for charity’s sake, Alexis, come.”
    â€œFor charity’s sake?”
    â€œYes, in aid of me. If you come, there’ll be one person, besides Alan, that I can talk to. Besides, Alan’s put out because he doesn’t have his tux with him, but if you come with us in that dress, nobody will give him a second glance. Or me, or anyone else in the room, for that matter.”
    She grinned, not the famous model’s smile I had seen earlier, but a genuine, mischievous grin. “I