CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR – A FULL SCALE PRODUCTION

A week later, Mara found herself in the midst of another whirlwind – this time, preparing for a dinner party at the Noble mansion. Clarissa had decided, on a whim, to host an intimate gathering for twenty of her "closest friends." "Intimate" in Clarissa's world, Mara quickly learned, still meant a full-scale production. Mara spent the morning coordinating with caterers, arranging for a string quartet, and overseeing the delivery of an obscene amount of flowers. She had just finished setting the elaborate table when Clarissa swooped in, frowning. "No, no, no," Clarissa tutted. "These place cards won't do at all. Calligraphy is so last season. I want something more... avant-garde." Mara bit back a sigh. "Of course. What did you have in mind?" "I don't know," Clarissa said with a wave of her hand. "Something edgy. Unexpected. Figure it out." As Clarissa sashayed away, Mara looked at the clock. Two hours until guests arrived, and she needed to completely redo the place cards. Fantast