Excerpt from Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy, plus links to reviews, author biography & more

Hannah Mitchell hated family business being discussed in front of Cathy.

"Why don't you come upstairs and have a shower, dear? The guests will be here in half an hour," she said crisply. "Fine, fine. Don't you want any help, Cathy?"

"No, not at all. As I say, my wine waiter will be here shortly," Cathy said.

"And Neil?" he asked.

"At a consultation. He'll be along when he can."

She was alone in the kitchen. So far she was surviving, but it was only fifteen minutes before eight o'clock. There were hours and hours to go.

Reprinted from Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy by permission of Dutton, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc. Copyright © 2001 by Maeve Binchy. All rights reserved. This excerpt, or any parts thereof, may not be reproduced without permission.