he　pliment。　“As　if　you　can　really　cook　in　those　horrible　dorms　Blair’s　plained　to　me　about。　Many　times；”　he　added　with　a　teasing　wink　at　his　daughter。

Blair　rolled　her　eyes。　“I　was　thinking　about　moving　to　a　flat　in　town　when　we　get　back。　We　could　probably　find　something　on　College　Street。”　Right　now；　Chuck　lived　with　a　bunch　of　his　rowing　buddies　in　a　house　on　the　mortifyingly　named　Titmarsh　Lane。　It　would　be　nice　to　have　a　little　more　privacy；　and　a　bigger　bed。

And　a　better　mailing　address？

“If　that’s　okay　with　you；　Daddy；”　Blair　added。

“Wonderful；”　Harold　said。　He’d　always　trusted　Blair　pletely。

Blair　sighed　happily　and　nuzzled　closer　to　Chuck。　She　couldn’t　believe　this　was　the　same　Chuck　Bass　she’d　known　growing　up。　He　was　sweet　and　sensitive　and　got　along　well　with　everyone。　Blair　imagined　them　settling　down　in　Sloane　Square。　She’d　be　a　barrister；　he’d　work　as　a　banker　in　Canary　Wharf；　and　they’d　have　three　children　with　adorable　accents　and　picnic　in　Kensington　Gardens　on　weekends。

“Moving　in　already。　Sounds　serious！”　Harold　said　with　a　twinkle　in　his　eye。

“I　apologize　for　your　meddling　dad；”　Giles　piped　up　from　his　tea　party　in　the　corner。　“That’s　why　I　prefer　hanging　out　with　the　knee…high　set。”　Giles　ruffled　Pierre’s　dark　hair。

Suddenly；　the　sound　of　the　doorbell　filled　the　house。

“Did　we　order　something？”　Giles　asked。

Blair　threw　the　plaid　blanket　from　her　knees；　ran　to　the　entryway；　and　flung　open　the　door；　half　expecting　to　find　a　singing　messenger　or　some　over…the…top　surprise　that　Chuck　or　her　generous　father　had　planned　for　her　as　a　post…Christmas　surprise。　A　car？　A　pony？　A　private　plane　to　sweep　them　all　off　to　St。　Barts　for　New　Year’s？

Instead；　her　eyes　fell　on　Serena　van　der　W