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Prologue

Be kind, irl And be happy!

Spring was in the air—ripe, verdant, full of pros

Marietta Muir stood on the porch of her cottage in her nightgown and robe Across the gravel drive was the main house—her Sea Breeze The old white wooden house with its black shutters and gabled as dark and quiet in these early hours It was a handsoracious staircase that curved out like a sarage In the center of the courtyard an ihs that to her appeared as a great hand protecting theenerations of Muir ancestors and countless storms and hurricanes That it could weather them all, scarred and bent perhaps, yet endure, was testath of the family

Marietta lived in the stime maid and companion, Lucille To her e” Marietta had hter Harper had purchased the house froood decision Living in the quaint guest cottage, Marietta was free of the hassles and distractions of caring for that big house and all those possessions She’d spent a lifeti shutters for roo over parties or going to parties, decorating for holidays, and celebrating the y, or in truth the desire, to do all that Running a household and raising children were tasks for the young!

She held a cup of coffee in her hands and sipped slowly, enjoying the war such as this when the air was heady with scents She lowered her cup froered in the air, but there was the pervasive scent of pluffsweetness of jased theher lips, she could alhtful freshness of ered like spirits at dawn

Marietta aith the sun er to rise froe, each day granted was a blessing And today was especially exciting Carson was arriving ho with anticipation Now they could begin the wedding festivities in earnest, for in only twotheir weddings

Just the thought gave Marietta palpitations So irls before they took this important step in their lives

But what? What ords could she share with them that would inspire? What words could she say that they could pull froh and they needed reassurance and guidance to persevere?

When Marietta was soon to be married, her mother, Barbara, had taken her to tea for a privateday was only a week away, and a flurry of parties were being given by friends and fahter, to share with her the advice that only atea, her mother had presented Marietta with a book of etiquette by E up a houidance at her fingertips for any question shethe correct deportment of a lady with a well-appointed house Marietta had already been thoroughly instructed on the rules of conduct, the customs, and the expectations of Charleston society “Yet,” her mother had told her, “refinement and charm are more elusive”

She had placed the book in Marietta’s hands and said, “My dear girl, remember that this book only outlines for you the thousands of detailed instructions and protocol of polite society But at the root of all etiquette and manners is kindness These rules were not contrived to make one feel important or better than another As Emily Post said, rules can be learned by anyone Every hu alone in a cave—is a member of society of one sort or another

“Rather, think of etiquette as a philosophy of living and enjoying life with grace, compassion, and respect for others If, say, someone at your dinner table uses your bread plate, do you racious and make no mention of it Why? Because you would not want to eravest breach of etiquette You see, while etiquette provides the rules for socially accepted behavior, good entleman or a lady is a code of behavior that draws on decency, integrity, and loyalty—not only to friends and fairl And be happy!”

Marietta had held her e Eh thank-you notes, birth announces, and funerals But her mother’s words were the spirit behind them

Mas approaching, she knew exactly what she had to do

She closed her robe tight and hurried back into the cottage Inside, the walls and sparse furniture were all white Splashes of color brightened the room in the lowcountry art and the blue linen drapes at the s She went directly to the one wall lined with bookshelves This was the only change she’d hters had redecorated it following Lucille’s death Marietta loved her books and had had a difficult ti which to keep from her vast library The furniture she had no difficulty parting with But the books were like old friends

Marietta knew the book was here soertips slid over the spines of dozens of books packed side by side on a shelf At last she found it Emily Post’s Etiquette She pulled it out and caressed the orn blue binding with satisfaction Opening it, she found the folded book cover and the inscription on the opening page, With best wishes! Emily Post

She went to the sofa, flicked on the lalasses, began to read, going through the chapters: “Introductions,” “The Art of Conversation,” “Entertaining at a Restaurant,” “Balls and Dances,” “Preparations for a Wedding,” “Table Manners,” “Protocol in Washington,” and so on The tone was encouraging and concise, the instructions thorough and direct She felt again the sa the countless rules for specific situations that she had experienced as that young bride sixtysootten so cards—but for the rained in her as her DNA She read until the sun brightened the sky, her coffee cup was elasses, and let her hand rest on the book