CHAPTER FIVE
Stella fought for control. She wasn’t going to let Grace see how much that comment had hurt and unsettled her. Even if Grace ended up being her enemy as a result, she refused to give her that satisfaction.
“I guess people’s tastes change as they mature. Vaughn changed a lot in Chicago. He’s a very different person now,” she commented in a mild tone, smiling benignly back, and watched Grace scowl in disappointment that her sniping hadn’t hit home.
Nobody seemed to be touching the petit fours, and Stella was relieved that, a moment later, Viv stood up.
“I’d better get going. I have to attend that charity musical this afternoon,” she said.
“Would you mind if I excused myself also? It’s been wonderful, but I have to unpack,” Stella added, seizing the opportunity to make a pol
