Chapter Four

Kate piled greens onto her plate, trying to identify the dressing. She heard a screech and looked up in time to see Jessica jump up from her seat and launch herself into the arms of a tall, dark, very handsome stranger. Trace looked up at the same time and stood up. From the expression of surprise and confusion on his face, he didn’t know the stranger either, but the man leaned down and kissed Jessica squarely on the cheek. Trace put down his napkin and walked toward his fiancée.

Unfazed, Jessica turned to Trace, her arm still around the newcomer. She introduced them and the men shook hands, but neither man smiled.

“Didn’t know he was coming,” a man’s voice murmured behind her.

Kate turned to see a tall, gaunt elderly man staring at the threesome. He glanced down at Kate and Paul, who had just joined Jessica. “I’m Bertie.” He held out his hand, and Paul shook it. “Handsome fella, isn’t he, and he’s done right well for himself. I always figured he’d be the one to marry Miss Jessica. Maybe he came to claim her.”

“Really?” Kate raised an eyebrow. “They seem to be old friends.”

“Yes, indeed. Brian’s father was the stable master here at Gentian Hill Manor when Brian was just a boy. Miss Jessica used to follow Brian around like a little puppy dog. He was older, but he treated her like a little princess and taught her to ride. After the missus died, Brian and his father moved out west near one of Mr. Mackenzie’s resorts. Now they have a fine horse ranch where they train thoroughbreds.” He slowly nodded his head. “He and Miss Jessica used to spend hours with the horses.”

Gordon and Monica got up to greet Brian, then escorted him to their table. They moved over, giving him a seat next to Jessica. The four of them began a lively conversation. Poor Trace seemed forgotten at his own wedding shower.

Kate and Paul went to sit next to the Jenners at a table looking out toward the valley. Large umbrellas shaded the tables from the late-afternoon sun. The band was still playing, but the music had become more subdued.

“That’s Brian Levy,” Livvy said, leaning in toward Kate. “I remember him when he was just a kid, maybe eleven or twelve. He came to my Sunday-school class once in a while, although most mornings he stayed home to help his father with the Mackenzies’ horses. He was a quiet young man. He and his father moved soon after Amelia died.”

Kate looked over at the man in time to see a tall, model-slender young woman come up behind him and wrap her arms around his neck. He looked up at her. She gave him a flirty grin, then she glanced sideways at Jessica with a look that Kate thought presented a challenge.

“Who’s that?” Kate asked.

“That’s Kristin Holloway, Jessica’s cousin,” Livvy said. “She used to spend a lot of time here.”

“Ah...” Kate watched the cousins. Jessica was smiling at Kristin, but Kristin was practically ignoring her cousin. All of her attention was focused on Brian. It wasn’t hard for Kate to deduce that Kristin had a crush on Brian. Kate wondered about the relationship between the two cousins. Could Kristin be the trust-fund thief?

Kate’s thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of a bell. Kate looked up to see Renee Lambert standing by the edge of the patio, trying to get everyone’s attention.

“It’s time for door prizes,” she said, clapping her hands.

The older woman looked poised in high heels, silky slacks, and sequined top. She was in her element, Kate decided, watching with amusement.

“And the lucky winner of a spa day is...” Renee drawled in her most dramatic voice, fishing for a name in a crystal bowl. She drew out a slip of paper and unfolded it.

“Kate Hanlon!” Renee announced. “You’ll spend a day at the Hamilton Springs spa with the Mackenzie girls, a gift from Monica and Gordon. Congratulations,” she said.

“Me?” Kate said. “I’m delighted!”

Jessica smiled at Kate from across the patio and gave her a thumbs-up. Trace sat on one side of her; Brian sat on the other side, with Kristin next to him, apparently doing her best to occupy his attention.

Renee gave away several more door prizes. The last prize went to Danny Jenner for a day of golf with Gordon and Trace.

“Looks like we got the grand prizes,” he told Kate across the table.

“We certainly did,” Kate said, laughing. She didn’t spend much time at the spa, but she was looking forward to a nice relaxing massage.

“Time to open the gifts,” Renee announced from a central spot on the patio.

As she orchestrated the proceedings, having everyone move into a circle around the couple, servers brought out a large cake decorated with pink roses. The housekeeper brought out stacks of gold-edged Wedgwood dessert plates. Monica cut neat squares of cake, and Kate and Livvy passed out the desserts while Jessica opened her presents. She ripped into a package wrapped in heavy gold paper with a large gold and white bow. She folded back the paper.

“Oh!” Jessica looked over at Monica. “Thank you!” She held up a gold-framed print of Gentian Hill Manor with two horses and riders posed in front of the house. “It’s Dad and me,” she said. “It’s perfect!”

“Your father thought you’d like it,” Monica said simply.

Jessica’s smile slipped a slight notch, but she nodded. “He’s right. Thank you.” She passed it to Trace, who looked at it and made an appreciative noise.

Kate wondered if the stepmother realized she’d distanced herself from the gift or if she’d done it on purpose. She couldn’t figure out Monica Mackenzie. She had a perfect smile as she moved among the guests. Too perfect, perhaps. Her smooth, tanned skin and composed features never creased. Kate hadn’t noticed any laugh lines, or any lines at all, in the stylish woman’s countenance.

Kate watched her for a moment, until Monica caught her staring and she had to look away. Jessica didn’t appear to be suspicious of her stepmother, but then she seemed to trust everyone.

“Won’t she make a lovely bride?” a voice close to Kate said with a clipped English accent.

Kate blinked. Turning around, she saw a sturdy older woman wearing a paisley dress and a pillbox hat with a little netting around it.

“You’d be Kate Hanlon,” the woman said. “Jessica has told me all about you. I’m Flora Ripple; I’m Bertie’s wife. I was also Mrs. Amelia’s housekeeper,” she said.

“How nice to meet you,” Kate said.

“Jessica told me how you’re helping her. I’m glad. She needs it,” Flora said, staring at the young couple.

Kate wondered if Flora was referring to Jessica’s missing trust-fund money or the wedding, but she didn’t ask. Either way, she definitely wanted to talk to the retired housekeeper and discover what the woman might know.

“Have Jessica bring you to visit me soon,” Flora said, casting a furtive glance around the patio. “We need to talk.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Kate saw Gordon watching them from across the patio.