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‘I did—I do, but it’s not what I want to do for the whole rest of my life,’ Karen declared ‘I mean, I never really chose it, did I? It just sort of happened And it’s not as if I’ve got a lot of choices—I’m not clever like you—’ the way she tossed off the compli—I know could do that, and it’s got to be loads of fun I ht become a famous supermodel and make wads of cash!

‘Oh, Ronnie, this isto France has always been your drea not to see the irony in her words ‘I’ behind Mel’s back, she’s totally OK with it—you wouldn’t wantchance, would you?’ She pinned aface as her shoulders slumped

It was such a patently silly thing to say that Veronica rolled her eyes Of course she wouldn’t selfishly stand in the way of her sister’s newly minted ambitions—and Karen knew it!

‘Stop looking so tragic,’ she ordered, and Karen instantly obeyed, obviously sensing victory in the snappish words

‘Don’t be ed earnestly ‘I know it’s incredibly bad ti, but when destiny calls, what can you do?’

Veronica was teain, but controlled herself Her head had now recovered fro sensation and had settled to a painful throb

‘You were the one who persuaded ether—’ She sighed, thinking of the eeks of excited organising that had followed her late-night phone call to London on her sister’s birthday

‘Yes, but you were the one who first brought it up,’ Karen pointed out ‘You wanted me to persuade you, and once France was reat chance for you to pick up so’ Her voice becaood reason for wanting to be out of New Zealand right now, if I rehtly—’

‘Well, that’s all irrelevant now, isn’t it?‘ Veronica cut her off hurriedly The ‘little gift thing’ that Karen dis up—a corp

orate and personal gift-buying service, which she was intending to expand fro sideline into a fully-fledged company

She throttled another upsurge of choking disappointment as she faced the full i to do about all our bookings?’

But Karen had it all worked out She didn’t care about losing her half of the expenses—she was going to , she said Since everything was prepaid, Veronica should sio to Paris for five days, then on down to Provence When Karen got back froht down to Marseilles—and join her sister for the rest of the holiday

And when Veronica expressed reluctance about i herself on the Reeds, Karen scoffed

‘Oh, don’t talk rot! They’re already down there and expecting you to turn up It’s a self-catering cottage in the garden, not a guest suite in the villa You’ve met Melanie and Miles before, and others are just family, so it’ll be all very laid-back and casual Mel likes you, you know she does She thinks your working for Muanic farm business makes you a kindred spirit I’ve been to France before, so it was more for your sake than for mine that she made the offer…after I told her all about your secret passion for all things French and how you drooled over her books set there—’

‘Oh, you didn’t?’ Veronica groaned, not fooled by her sister’s innocent look Had Melanie recognised the manipulative ploy? ‘That just makes it even ling for an invite Maybe I should at least suggest some kind of payment—’