"I've always admired Gail's sense of democratic. Now I know why."
Barbara could not help herself; she laughed then. She wanted to know more about him, but did not want to ask him about himself. He would be too insufferable describing his virtues. She would have to wait until later, and ask Gail.
He's conceited as hell, but my God, he is beautiful!
But was he Prince Charming? Barbara thought he might be some girl's. But remembering what she and Gail agreed they dreamed of in a husband, he was more than likely not hers.
"He's the only son of one of the wealthiest industrialists on the North Shore," Gail told Barbara that night as they lay side-by-side on their stomachs on the bed in her room. "He plays tennis like a professional, but what he's best at is, he's a player with girls. 'Love 'em and leave 'em broken-hearted,' is what he's called. He's interested in you. I can tell."
"I can't imagine why," Barbara said, meaning it.
"I heard you put him off while we were riding. Nothing turns Chet on more than a beautiful girl who doesn't fall madly in love with him on-sight."
"I was just, talking straight. Letting him know who I was. And that despite his fantastic looks, I wasn't interested."
"That's all it takes." Gail got up and offered Barbara a cigarette, then lit one for herself. "You've made yourself interesting to him. Desirable because you might be unattainable. The rabbit and the carrot; that kind of thing."
"Oh, my God!" Barbara exclaimed, lighting up.
Gail looked at her earnestly. "Are you interested?"
Barbara was uncertain. Chet was, after all, an Adonis, an incredibly beautiful young man. And very rich. He had ridden his stallion like Prince Charming, even though the smirk on his handsome face told her he was more conceited and insincere than any Prince she wanted to ride off with.
The phone rang in the hall outside Gail's room. Although she could afford one, it was against house rules for girls to have their own phone. A few moments later, there was a knock on Gail's door and a girl out in the hall called in, "Phone for you, Gail."
Gail put out her cigarette, because the house mother was known to lurk on her floor to catch girls at misdeeds such as smoking, and went out to the hall phone.
"Gail, it's Chet," she heard the caller say. "Is your friend Barbara there? Can I speak to her?"