On the night of the auction, Arabella Donovan wore a light-colored dress with a white trench coat, giving her a slightly more composed look than usual.
"Lovely. Our Serena is so pretty, she looks good in anything. But won't you be cold wearing so little?"
"Not at all. It's insulated, so it may look thin, but it's actually quite warm."
"That's good." Guinevere Preston was finally at ease, smiling warmly as she stroked Arabella Donovan's hair. "You should head over early, then, to avoid traffic and miss the excitement. Come back right after the auction. Don't stay out too late. Your granduncle and I will be home waiting for you."
"Oh, you don't have to do that. I have no idea when it'll be over. You two should go to bed early. Don't wait up for me; I'll come straight back as soon as it's finished."
Dennis Donovan and Guinevere kept a regular schedule, going to bed and waking up early. They were usually in bed before ten at night, so waiting for her would mean staying up late.
