Page 73

Eleven-thirty came and went.

By this time Cindy was the only one having a

good time. The musicians and servants seemed to

adore her. Eagerly they played and she sang. When

she wasn't singing, she was dancing with every man

there, even Trevor and other male servants. She

gestured to the maids, inviting them to dance, and

happily they joined in the festivity she created around

her as they took turns to see that she, at least, was

entertained.

"Let's all eat, drink and be merry!" Cindy cried,

smiling at Bart. "It's not the end of the world, brother

Bart. What do you care? We're too rich to be well

liked. We're also too rich to feel sorry for ourselves. And look, we have at least twenty guests . . . let's

dance, drink, eat, have a ball!"

Bart stopped pacing to stare at her. Cindy held

high her glass of champagne. "My toast to you,

brother Bart. For every ugly thing you've said to me, I

give you back blessings of good will, good health,

long life and much love." She touched his highball

glass with her champagne glass and then sipped,

smiling into his eyes charmingly before she offered

another toast. "I think you look absolutely terrif, and

the girls who don't show up tonight are missing the

chance of their lifetimes. So here it is, another toast to

the most eligible bachelor in the world. I wish you

joy, I wish you happiness, I wish you love. I would

wish you success, but you don't need that." , He couldn't move his eyes away: "Why don't I

need success?" he asked in a low tone.

"Because what more could you want? You have