***
“It’s awfully nice of you to buy me coffee,” Mrs. Aubright batted her eyelashes. “I hardly think it’s necessary since I am delighted to give you advice on a birthday present for Emily.” Orange forced himself to smile at the older woman as she went on. “Though it is highly improper for the two of us to be alone you know.” She giggled like a schoolgirl. “That’s what makes this so fun!”
“You know most of the people in this town, don’t you?”
Mrs. Aubright pouted for a moment at Orange’s lack of participation in her nefarious intrigues. But sensing an opportunity to brag, she quickly recovered. She took a sip of coffee, her tapered nails clinking on the china. “Indeed. I can’t say that there is a single person that I do not know in all of Georgetown. Or South Carolina for that matter.”
