“Not really. Tell me about your lunch date.”
“How do you know about it?”
“From Mrs. Aiken. She was quite angry that you stole food. ‘Just like Thorpe,’ she said.”
“I think maybe I look enough like him that his sins are piled onto me.”
“Add your own sins and that’s a heavy burden.”
Jack snorted in laughter.
She lowered her voice. “Maybe it’s the emptiness of this place but sometimes I feel like I’m being watched. Is your new girlfriend snooping around?”
“She has to stay away from her mother.” Jack’s jaw was clenched.
“She could move away from here, couldn’t she? She’s certainly old enough.”
Jack frowned. “Puck owns a gorgeous house where she grows herbs for the wreaths she makes.” He could feel himself getting angry. “It would be hard for her to move. She’s quite intelligent and she—” He broke off as Kate was smiling at him. “You did that on purpose.”
“Agitate the Wyatt temper and you learn all sorts of things. What did she tell you?”
“Nicky was drunk when he crashed his dad’s car, and Daddy didn’t love his son or anyone else for that matter. And Nicky was in love with Diana but she may or may not have run off with the stable guy. Puck thinks not. But then, I think maybe she had a crush on him.”
“Wow, that’s a lot,” Kate said. “Sounds like you two befriended well.”
Jack started to make a joke but instead told the truth. “She makes me want to defend her. I think she gets a raw deal around here.” He looked at Kate. “What did you find out?”
She glanced at the book on her lap. He could see that it was an old-fashioned ledger full of numbers. “Just that this place was nearly bankrupt when Isabella bought it.”
“You mean Sara bought it, don’t you?”
“I doubt if her name is on any document, but Aunt Sara plowed a fortune into this house. She must have really trusted her friend to do that.”
Jack raised an eyebrow. “Is she being paid back?” He knew Kate was good at finances.
“Yes, but slowly. When there’s any money in the pot, it goes to renovation and expanding.”
“Seems big enough to me.”
“I agree. Did you see all of it?”
“I think so.” He didn’t say that Puck had wanted him to look around. “Have you met Isabella yet?”
“No. She’s been in her rooms and Aunt Sara is—” She waved her hand.
“Alone with her camera,” he finished. “Did you find anything about the missing people?”
“I got carried away looking at numbers. Protecting Aunt Sara, that sort of thing. I’ve been thinking about something. Maybe...”
“Maybe what?”
“Maybe you and I should leave all this and go to the Highlands. We’re booked for four days in a castle. We could go touring and see the sights.”
“And I’d wear my kilt.”
For a moment, they looked at each other. They’d never really been alone together. For all that they lived in the same house and for a while Jack had stayed in Kate’s suite, there were always other people around.
“I’d like that,” he said softly.
“You’d miss singing with this Byon guy.”
“Yeah,” he said. “I’d get out of that.”
She laughed, then looked at her watch. “I better get dressed for dinner. And for meeting the illustrious Bella.”
“Bottomless-money-well Isabella,” Jack muttered. He got up and caught Kate’s arm. “I’ll be honest and say that I don’t really care who ran off with whom. If it was up to me, I’d let Sara stay here and research to her little heart’s content. We could pick her up on the way back. I’d like to see Scotland. I read that there’s a place you can buy cashmere sweaters for practically nothing.”
“Hawick,” Kate said, smiling up at him. “It’s on our itinerary.”
He grinned. “Should have known.” He let go of her arm. “I vote that we go. Let Sara deal with her mystery. You and I will go sightseeing.”
“Let’s do it!” Kate said. “We’ll tell her in the morning. Think she’ll be upset?”
“To be left alone in an old house with her camera and a mystery to solve? What do you think?”
“She’ll be in heaven. I need to go. We’re to meet in Bella’s apartment at seven for drinks.”
“That means dinner won’t be until eight and I’m hungry now.”
“Your American tummy will have to wait. I was told that they might be serving English beef.” She was backing toward the door. “With horseradish sauce and buttered parsnips. But maybe that’s just a rumor.”
“Yeah?”
Kate laughed at his delight. “Don’t be late.”
“Where is Bella’s apartment?” he asked, but Kate was already gone.
For a while he stayed in the barren little room, his mind full of the idea of a holiday with Kate. Sara had booked them separate rooms everywhere but he thought he could overcome that. Days of wine and heather, kilts and bagpipes. Time alone with Kate was something he’d longed for since the day he met her.
Now all he had to do was get through the evening. Tomorrow they’d leave.
Smiling, he went downstairs to the drawing room. He’d look at some fishing magazines and get his mind away from the question of who Nicky loved, why Diana ran off with Sean and how Bertie didn’t love anybody.
“I’ve got my own bad childhood,” he muttered. “I don’t need anyone else’s.”
* * *
Bella’s suite of rooms were sumptuous. Draped in green and pink silk, Marie Antoinette would have envied the place. There were tall windows curtained in silk so heavy Jack wondered how the rods held them. He had to refrain from investigating the understructure.
As for Bella, she looked as regal as the room. She was tall, with iron gray hair and a solid figure. Not fat, not thin, but straight up and down. Her face was handsome, and her clothes... Even Jack recognized the straight-cut jacket as Chanel. He’d put money on it that her tasteful little brooch of colored stones was real.
Looked like the profits of the hotel weren’t all being spent on renovations.
She was, of course, charming. Sara had told them that Bella grew up in the finest English boarding schools, had hobnobbed with the cousins of royalty. Smiling, Bella promised to take Kate shopping, admired Sara’s latest photos and asked Jack about his construction work.
“Sara told me what you did for the Morris women,” she said to Jack. “I thought you were a true hero.”
“He was,” Sara said proudly.
“We wouldn’t have continued if it hadn’t been for Jack,” Kate said.
He could feel himself beginning to blush. “So what’s for dinner?” he blurted, sounding like a workman who’d accidently been let into the palace—which he kind of was.
Bella wasn’t perturbed. “English beef, what else would we serve?”
To save him, Sara began asking questions about the estate.
* * *
Mrs. Aiken did indeed serve a dinner of slabs of rare roast beef, with buttered parsnips and roast potatoes. The food was delicious, but her “serving” showed her displeasure. She loudly dropped bowls and a platter in the middle of the table while glaring nastily at Jack.
After she stormed out of the room, Bella looked at Jack with sympathy. “I’d apologize but that would imply that things will improve. It seems that you remind her of someone she greatly disliked.”
“The groomsman,” Jack said. “I saw his domain today. Nice building. Did anyone ever try to find him after he ran off?”
“I don’t think anyone cared enough to search for either of them,” Bella said. “I believe young Diana was planning to marry Nicky. Her leaving must have been a blow to him.”
“And Mrs.
Aiken adored Nicky,” Kate said.
“I believe she did,” Bella said.
“Surely, someone must have seen something between them before that night,” Kate said.
“I have no idea,” Bella said. “I never met any of them.”
“What about the engaged couple?” Sara asked. “A happy woman doesn’t leave without a good reason. When I left Cal, I—”
Both Kate and Jack leaned forward. They very much wanted to know why Sara had so abruptly run away from Jack’s grandfather.
But Sara didn’t complete her sentence. “I wonder if something else happened that night. Maybe Diana saw Nicky with someone. Or they had one of those arguments that puts an end to everything.”
“Like when a man tells a woman that after they get married she has to quit her job and have dinner on the table exactly at six.” They all turned to look at Jack. “I’d never say that.”
He looked at Kate to back him up, but she just smiled, then she turned to the others. “Everyone assumes that the groomsman and Diana ran away together but what if they didn’t? Maybe Diana saw something and said, ‘I’m out of here,’ then...” She looked to Sara to complete the story.
“Then Diana ran to the stables, said she was leaving, and the groomsman said, ‘I’m fed up too. I’ll go with you.’”
“Then they fell in love,” Bella said with a sigh. “Oh, Sara, I do love your books!”
Kate smiled. “It seems that someone would have heard something by now.”
“Maybe they have,” Sara said. “From what I understand, none of the group has seen each other in years. We don’t have any idea what they know.”
“How sad,” Kate said. “They went from being inseparable friends to not speaking to each other.”
“All because of what happened in one night,” Sara said. “Must have been dramatic. I look forward to talking to these people and finding out what really happened.”
“Speaking of friendship,” Jack said, “I’d like to hear more about you two.” He was looking from Sara to Bella.
“It was cosmic,” Sara said. “Meant to be.”
“I’m afraid I intruded.” Bella looked at Sara. “You’re the professional storyteller—you tell it.”
“I only tell a story if I have a contract and a check arriving.”
Bella smiled. “I rudely shoved my way into Sara’s life.”
She shrugged. “The restaurant was so packed she was being turned away.”
“It was in New York, it was late and the rain was pouring.”
“Not a nice, soft, sweet English rain,” Sara said, “but a good ol’ New York blaster. It was turning umbrellas inside out.”
“The maître d’ told me I could wait until someone finished or...”
“Or leave,” Sara said. “Which is what I’m sure he wanted you to do. Couples give bigger tips than single women. But then...” She looked at Bella.
“Then I saw Sara sitting alone at a table. I said, ‘Oh heavens, there’s my friend. I’ll join her.’ So I went to Sara and she played along with it all.”
“It was the accent,” Sara said. “Of course I told the snobby man that she was my dearest friend in the whole world.” She smiled at Bella. “And that was that.”
“Yes.” Bella smiled back. “The poor waiters! How annoyed they were that we wouldn’t leave.”
“We talked for hours,” Sara said. “We had such a lot in common. Bella grew up going to top-drawer English boarding schools and living in a mansion, while I grew up in the slums of Lachlan, Florida. She was married and had a child and I had a life of writing and not much else. We were a perfect match.”
The two women were smiling fondly at each other.
“I think it was our differences that were attractive,” Bella said. “And Sara’s fascination with history. I must say that my friend was very modest. She told me she’d written a few books. She didn’t tell me she was a superstar in the publishing world. But maybe I should have guessed since I was staying downtown in a shabby little hotel while Sara was in a suite at the Helmsley Palace. I assumed it was a once-in-a-lifetime holiday.”
“I was doing a new contract,” Sara said, “and they wanted me there.”
“I was in New York for an international hotel convention. I’d been in the business all my adult life and I was trying hard to interest someone in restoring Oxley Manor and making it into a five-star hotel.”
“But you agreed to give her the money.” There was no humor in Jack’s voice.
“Not then,” Sara said. “In fact, Bella didn’t even tell me what she was trying to do until years later.”
“I had too much pride to admit the truth to a stranger,” Bella said. “Sara invited me to tea in the Gold Room the next day. That’s when four women came up to us and asked for her autograph. Only then did I realize how successful she was. I, uh... I hid my own situation from her.”
Sara smiled. “Four or five years later, after we’d exchanged a zillion emails, I came to England to do research and I saw this place. It was in bad shape.”
“Sara is being kind,” Bella said. “It was rotting. The roof was nearly gone. I’d given up trying to find a backer to repair it. The National Trust didn’t want it as there was no money to go with it. And besides, in England, Oxley Manor is small, with no historical significance.”
“What about the chapel?” Kate asked. “I haven’t seen the inside, but surely it’s important.”
“If it were in the US,” Sara said, “it would be a tourist attraction, but here those places are a dime a dozen. Look at Savills website some time. Houses like this, in perfect condition, are always for sale.”
“So you decided to take on the project,” Jack said.
Sara narrowed her eyes at him. Sometimes his self-appointed role of being a protector was too much. “There have been several businesses that I have invested in.”
Since Jack’s construction company was one of them, he knew he’d been put in his place. When he drank from his wineglass, his eyes were glittering in amusement. Sara sure knew how to slash and burn.
“Should we go into the drawing room for coffee?” Bella asked, then looked at Sara. “Or the very strong tea that you like?”
“It’s late so I think I’ll say good-night.”
“Me too,” Jack and Kate both said.
Minutes later, they were heading up to their rooms. The main staircase was wide and impressive. They went up side by side. At the top, Sara turned to them and in a low voice said, “What is it that you two are dying to tell me? Other than insinuating about my friend, in front of her, that she’s trying to rob me?”
“Uh...” Jack said.
Kate stepped forward. “He’s just a worrywart is all. We want to ask if you’d mind if we went on the trip to Scotland right away.”
“That’s why I made the reservations.”
“But we thought you wanted help with the mystery,” Jack said.
She put her hand on his arm. “My darling boy, that was an excuse. I’d love two weeks in an empty hotel. Yes, there’s a mystery to solve but I can do that. I think it will be an entertaining weekend with those people who are coming. You’re sure you don’t want a chance to sing with Byon Lizmere?”
Jack glanced at Kate. “I’m sure.”
“Go then. You have my blessing. When you get back I’ll have a story of great passion to tell you.”
“Put it on paper and sell it,” Jack said.
“I’ve taught you well.” She kissed his cheek. “Now go to bed. Don’t stay up late. Get some sleep. I’ll see you two tomorrow.” She kissed Kate’s cheek.
They left her outside her bedroom, not even staying to see the big room, but hurrying upstairs.
Jack and Kate were a bit awkward outside their doors. Tomorrow they were going away. Together. Just the two of them.
Kate repressed a yawn. Jet lag was catching up with her.
“See you in the morning,” Jack said. “If you need anything, you know where I am.”
“Right beside me. I mean—”
“I know.” His hand was on the knob. “You can lock the connecting door if you want.”
“I don’t think I will,” she said, then quickly went into her room and shut the door. The tall princess bed was gleaming in the light of a single lamp.
Suddenly, the long day hit her and she was exhausted. It took only minutes and she was in her pajamas and in the bed. Visions of men in kilts and the sound of bagpipes danced in her mind. She went to sleep smiling.
Six
Jack was in bed, sound asleep. “Get up,” he heard Sara say. He glanced at the windows. The heavy curtains were drawn but he could see that it wasn’t daylight. “Too early to leave,” he mumbled, and turned over.
“We have to go.” She sounded urgent.
Alarm ran through him. “Kate?”
“She’s fine.” Sara’s camera was around her neck and a sling bag at her back. Wherever she was, she went out early to take pictures. “It’s your buddy Puck. She wants us outside. Now, before daylight.”
Quickly, he got out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans. “Is she okay?”
“Yes, my rescuing knight, she’s also fine. She’s waiting for us. I’m going to get Kate. Make no noise.”
“I’m intrigued.”
“Me too.” Sara’s eyes were alight. She opened the connecting door and went into Kate’s room.
Jack could hear them moving about. One of the things he liked about Kate was that she could dress in minutes and was always up for an adventure. Well, actually, maybe she was a bit too ready as well as too fearless and way too unafraid. Jack put his running shoes on. Whatever his women were up to at this hour, he planned to be there.
They met in the hall outside their rooms. Sara put her finger over her lips. No talking; no noise. Even with the hotel mostly empty, she meant to take no chances. Silently, they went down the carpeted hallway, then down the stairs. On the ground floor, Jack took the lead as he made sure no one was about. The exterior door was locked from the inside but he threw the double bolts aside.
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