“Jack, I don’t think this is working out.” She spoke, barely moving her lips, not changing her pose at all. “I want to help, but I don’t have what it takes to sit silently staring into nothing.”

  “I know what you are.”

  It sounded alarming. “What? What I am?”

  “I knew the word but couldn’t pull it out of my brain yesterday.”

  “What are you talking about?” she asked, barely managing to hold the pose.

  “Autodidactic. Someone who teaches themselves—an autodidact.”

  “Is that like being one’s own doctor? Foolish is as foolish does?”

  “Don’t deflect.”

  She didn’t answer, but stared into the distance as instructed.

  “You see how well I’m getting to know you?”

  He sounded smug. She ignored him.

  He moved away from the canvas and came over. “I need to arrange your legs.” Jack touched her calf and gently moved her leg back nearer the other foot. An infinitesimal movement, yet it seemed to please him. He slid his hand under one of hers and lifted her fingers.

  “Take these shoes and dangle them from your fingertips like you did when you walked in.”

  She tried to hide her reaction. Was her face flushed? She felt hot and trembly. Any words he spoke during the interaction tumbled in her brain, their meaning lost in the sensations evoked by his touch.

  “Rachel, give me your hand.” He shaped her fingers, slipping the toe of one slipper over them. “Now, hold it like that.”

  For one tremulous moment, he lingered, his eyes meeting hers, then went to his canvas.

  It was ridiculous for her to respond this way to a man’s attention. Especially a man who usually forgot she was even around. It wasn’t as though she’d never dated, even if the dates weren’t exactly memorable, at least not in a good way. In fact, they were marginally better than a visit to the dentist. Ed with his ceramic dog collection. Jimmy with the restored car. He insisted on driving it everywhere and never exceeded thirty miles per hour. The car was more interesting than Jimmy. It was just as well. She didn’t have time for a boyfriend. Her life was busy. She worked hard to take care of Jeremy.

  Was he supposed to stop being her concern now? Because he now belonged to some other woman? As simple as that?

  Well, not so fast. Jeremy would stop being her concern after she’d had it out with him about his trip to Rock-somewhere. Once she was sure he was okay, then she’d have only herself to worry about, to live for. Just her.

  Jack’s voice brought her back to the dining room combo studio. “You can get up now.”

  “Oh? Okay.”

  “I don’t want to use up all of your goodwill in one sitting. Can we do this again tomorrow morning at ten?”

  “Shorter than I expected. Not so bad, after all.”

  “You sat for an hour.”

  “No way.”

  “You were lost in your thoughts. Not all of them looked pleasant.”

  “I’d better go change.” But she stood there, shoes still dangling from her fingers.

  “Is something wrong?”

  “I’d like to know how this dress ended up in my room.”

  It was a long moment that stretched across the six feet separating them, a moment that drifted on the sunlight streaming in through the many tall windows in this room. It floated and hung there. She fancied Jack saw it, too, and knew it was time to be honest with her.

  “My sister saw you liked it.” He watched her face.

  “Helene.”

  “Yes. You aren’t surprised?”

  “No. Does she live in the old nursery quarters?”

  “Yes, the governess/nursery suite. Don’t disturb her, please. She’s very fragile.”

  “Okay.” Rachel turned away and headed toward the door, her bare feet cool against the wood floor.

  “Wait.” He frowned. “You’re curious about everything. Aren’t you curious about her?”

  “Yes, but you’ll tell me about her when you’re ready. Now I’m going to change.” She walked away, sashayed, in fact, swinging her hips. Suddenly those watched moments, the wispy figure disappearing around the corner, and that first night when she’d awakened, the floral scent she sometimes encountered in the halls—it all made sense now. Watched, but not threatened. Helene satisfied her curiosity in her own way. Rachel could respect that.

  ****

  She went to her room, carefully unfastened the pearl buttons and slipped the gown down to the floor so that she could step out of it. She laid it on the settee in the sitting room, arranging the fabric and lace so it wouldn’t wrinkle. She pulled on her shorts and blouse, and made her way to the nursery suite.

  Rachel knocked softly. She put her face close to the wooden door and spoke, “Helene?”

  After a full minute with no response, she backed off. After all, she didn’t know how extreme Helene’s emotional problems might be. The gift had been like an invitation—one that didn’t involve her brother, Jack. But perhaps not. Maybe it was less an invitation and more an acknowledgement.

  Helene confined herself, except for nighttime excursions around the house, to her suite. And the attic? Jack had told her to stay away from that side of the attic. The facts were falling into place. If she wanted to meet Helene maybe it would be there.

  Jack had asked her not to approach Helene. She had no trust in what David had told her, and Jack’s tone when he spoke of Helene was gentle. Yet if there was any chance of Helene being in trouble and needing help, then she had to do something about it. She couldn’t count on David’s unreliability or Jack’s seemingly caring manner to put the question to rest. She needed Helene to do that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  A few Sweet Gums were tinged with brownish-red. Not yet autumn, but it had been hot and very dry.

  Rachel held her phone tightly, much the same as she would’ve held Jeremy if he were here in person. “I can’t tell you how relieved I am to hear from you. We have a better connection this time, thank goodness. When are you coming back?”

  “In two weeks. It’s been an unbelievable trip. We’ve been mostly backpacking.”

  “We? Is that male or female?”

  “Most definitely female. Her name’s Lia, and I can’t wait for you two to meet. You’re going to adore her.”

  “Was this trip her idea?” She tried to keep the edge from her voice, but didn’t succeed. Jeremy was silent. She envisioned some dark-eyed, dark-haired femme fatale seducing her relatively innocent brother into taking an exotic trip—camping and hiking in the Rocky Mountains. Or maybe not a femme fatale and not exotic. Maybe a tall blonde Viking type who could lug a pack with the best of them.

  “You knew I was coming to visit. Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t going to be here?”

  “I was going to be there, but you arrived early. You’re not even due in Richmond yet.”

  “I got worried when you didn’t call me back, so I moved my trip up. I expected to find you here. You never mentioned going off anywhere.”

  “My phone died on the way out of town. It took a hard fall going through airport security. I’ll replace it when I get back.”

  He’d avoided responding to her charge that he hadn’t mentioned a trip. She sighed and let him get away with it. “How did you know then? That I was already here? When you called before, you called Wynnedower.”

  “I called Wynnedower after I tried your cell phone. I tried your cell phone because I called John Brookes, my former…my boss. He told me you’d been there looking for me.”

  She’d run out of words. She didn’t feel like number one any longer, that was for sure.

  “Sis, I want to talk to you about it, but not until I return. We should speak face to face. How much longer will you be at Wynnedower? Which, by the way, I find it unbelievable that you’re still there.”

  “I don’t know. If you have something to tell me and you don’t think I’m going to like it, then I’d much rather you told me now.”

  “When I get back. If you’ve already returned to Baltimore, I’ll come there to see you.”

  “I think you need to spend some time worrying about your job and grad school.”

  “That’s part of what I want to speak with you about.”

  She bit her lip.

  “I love you, sis. We’ll talk in two weeks. Please don’t worry about me.”

  The call ended abruptly. She waited to see if he’d call back, knowing he wouldn’t.

  So, what didn’t he want to tell her? That he was in love and getting married? That he was throwing away his opportunity to be a CPA? She’d worked so hard to get him what he wanted. Her heart felt bitter.

  Dried leaves, their edges brown and brittle, were caught here and there along the brick wall, leftover, discarded, unwanted—futile. She shook herself. She’d done her best. That’s all she could’ve done.

  Jack’s big show was just over a week away. She hadn’t promised for certain sure that she’d stay all the way through. She stared out at the woods, glad to be alone. She felt bereft and knew it showed on her face, but it didn’t matter because there was no one here to see or care.

  Slowly, she returned her attention to her list. She’d met with an appraiser and wanted to make the notes while it was fresh in her memory, but she couldn’t stop herself from glancing down at her phone every few minutes.

  Jeremy, oh, Jeremy.

  The appraiser had given her pointers about differentiating the less valuable from the valuable. He also seemed excited, and she knew Jack would be pleased. She was a little sorry about that because he might be tempted to sell it all off, and having done that, he might find it easier to make the decision to abandon Wynnedower. Jack was in town for the day, tied up with something. There was still no sign of Helene. May had already cooked some casseroles, and left.

  Rachel was heartily sick of casseroles. Too much of a good thing.

  The phone rang. Startled, she dropped the clipboard. Loose papers took flight on a breeze. She grabbed the phone and scrambled for the papers at the same time.

  “Hello?”

  “Rachel, hi. I’m on my way. I’ll be there in a couple of hours.”

  “Daisy? Great. It’ll be good to see you.”

  “Is something wrong? You sound odd.”

  She set the clipboard like a paperweight on top of the papers. “I’m fine. I just got off the phone with Jeremy.”

  “He’s okay, right? He’s not hurt or anything?”

  “No, he sounded fine. Maybe too fine.”

  “The girl?”

  “We can chat when you get here. How long can you stay?”

  “An hour or so, that’s all. It’s a long drive to South Carolina. Is the master of Wynnedower in today?”

  “He’s not here now. Could be back any time. Maybe not.” She cleared her throat. “Daisy, sometimes your sense of humor takes you a little too far. Don’t embarrass me, okay?”

  “Well, that’s real nice. After all the trouble I’ve gone to?” She laughed. “No, now I really am teasing. I won’t embarrass you, but tell me how it stands between you so I can watch where I put my big feet. You’ve been down there forever. Are you two friendly? How friendly?”

  “He has these moods and tempers. Not dangerous, but disconcerting. He’s been much better lately. He asked me to stay for the inventory and to help watch the house and now for modeling. So, I think that means we’re getting along well.”

  “Unpaid labor is what that means. And did you say, ‘not dangerous’?”

  Rachel ignored the last question. “He contacted my employer and arranged a part-time assignment, so I’m officially on the books, but only part-time so I can do what suits me. Part-time caretaker, part-time inventory specialist, part-time model.”

  “Sounds interesting. I’ll see you when I get there.”

  “You know the way?”

  “I have GPS.”

  “Drive carefully.”

  She hung up, then gathered up and clipped the errant pages back with the others. What would Daisy think of this place? Of her host?

  She had a visitor. He strolled out of the woods and to the terrace as if he owned the place.

  “Where do you come from? Aren’t you afraid Jack will spot you?”

  He laughed softly. “There’s lots of old tracks and paths in these woods. You probably don’t know that I live near the main road. A nice walk. I don’t mind going to a little extra effort.”

  “You’ve gone to that effort for nothing. I told you I wouldn’t spy for you.”

  His smile never faltered. “I understand and respect that. You look well. Wonderful, in fact. I’m going out of town and wanted to make sure you were doing okay here before I left.”

  “Don’t concern yourself. I’m fine.”

  He leaned back against the brick wall, half-sitting on it with his arms crossed. “No word about Helene, I guess.”

  He mentioned it casually. Did her expression slip? Did she see a hardening of his expression? Along with a trace of smugness?

  “I told you I wouldn’t spy or pry.”

  “But you know something. I can tell.”

  “No.”

  “Don’t protect him.”

  “There’s nothing to protect. He hasn’t done anything wrong that I know of.”

  “If he hasn’t done anything wrong, then tell me what you know. I told you, I want to be sure she’s safe.”

  “There’s nothing to tell.” Rachel slapped the concrete ball with the flat of her hand. “I’ve said this before, but let me be clear and unmistakable. Leave and stay gone. You’ve been trying to manipulate me. I don’t appreciate it.”

  “Yet you haven’t told Jack.” He paused. “No answer, so you haven’t. Maybe because you’re not so sure about him after all?”

  “What I think is none of your business. I’ve tried being nice, I’ve been rude, but you won’t accept it. I didn’t say anything to Jack because I didn’t think it mattered. You’ve forced me to change my mind.”

  As she spoke, she watched the muscles in his jaw tighten. His crossed arms tightened and ceased being a place to hang his hands. She knew he was trying to hide his anger, but his color gave him away as his complexion reddened.

  “Go now. I’m not bluffing.”

  Without further argument, he said, “I apologize. I’ll leave.”

  He walked off, leaving her fuming.

  A quandary. Should she tell Jack? Yes. Not yet, though. He wasn’t here and Daisy was on her way. Rachel grabbed her clipboard and went inside to get ready for Daisy.

  ****

  Daisy arrived in her shiny red Audi and parked it next to Rachel’s not-shiny older sedan. She slid from behind the steering wheel and stood, never taking her eyes from the house. Rachel ran down from the porch.

  “It’s big,” Daisy breathed.

  “It is. But more than that, it has twisty-turny hallways and doors, door, doors.”

  They climbed the steps. Daisy’s head turned this way and that, taking it in.

  Rachel smiled. “What are you thinking?”

  “Dark Shadows, that’s it. Do you remember that show…well, the reruns. I can loan you the DVD set.”

  She ignored her friend’s joke. “Come on in. Would you like a soda or something? Maybe a cup of coffee?”

  “Nope.”

  They stopped in the central hall. Daisy continued looking here, there and all around.

  Rachel asked, “Have you eaten? It’s a little early for supper, but there’s nothing to stop us from popping one of May’s casseroles into the oven.”

  “May?”

  “May Sellers. She does some cooking and general upkeep for Jack and whoever else happens to be here.”

  Daisy said, “Nice.”

  “Nice? I guess so.”

  “Show me around.”

  Rachel wondered if Helene could hear their chatter and laughter while hiding in her rooms. Did it make her feel lonely?

  Daisy ‘oohed’ and ‘ahed’ as Rachel led her through the mansion. Rachel noticed her friend’s fingers moving and asked, “The doors, right?”

  “Have you counted them?”

  “No. I’ve had enough fun sorting out the keys.”

  “The keys?”

  “Skeleton keys. Believe me, everything I thought I knew about skeleton keys—well, I didn’t think there was a lot to know and that’s true, but they aren’t interchangeable. There are master keys that open multiple locks, but your average skeleton key opens one or two locks, and it takes forever to figure which out when there are this many doors.”

  Rachel escorted her through the first floor, and when they passed the closed dining room doors, Daisy pointed.

  “What’s that room?”

  “The dining room, but Jack uses it for his painting. We don’t go in there. He demands privacy.”

  “Maybe a peek? I’d love to see.”

  Rachel shooed her along. “He’s my host and this is his house. It’s important to respect his wishes.”

  ****

  Daisy continued exclaiming over the rows of furniture in the attic as they negotiated the stairs back down to the first floor. Instead of turning toward the main house, they went out into the conservatory.

  “You know what this makes me think of?”

  “Dark Shadows, you said.”

  “No. Robert Redford. The Great Gatsby and all that. His lover’s name was Daisy, you know. That’s why I paid attention when we read it in high school.”

  “You mean you read the book?”

  Her laugh was short and sharp. “No, I watched the movie. It was quicker and far more entertaining. I never liked my name until I saw that movie.” She walked the wide circle of the room, gazing up at the ceiling, the window walls, and seeming to draw the feel of it into herself. “I imagined myself as Daisy, that Daisy, the Mia Farrow version, of course. I dieted until I got sick. I was determined to get that hollow-cheeked, deep-set eyes look.”

  Daisy was tall and slim, and the vision of health and energy.

  They settled on the terrace.

  “You’re headed for the beach?”

  “That I am. I haven’t had a vacation in two years. A cousin offered me a timeshare right on the ocean.”

  “You left Bonnie in charge?”

 

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