26

MRS. ELEANOR ROBINSON CHANDLER ARRIVED AT LATHAM Manor Residence promptly at ten-thirty, the appointed time for her meeting with Dr. William Lane.

Lane received his aristocratic guest with the charm and courtesy that made him the perfect director and attending physician for the residence. He knew Mrs. Chandler’s history by heart. The family name was well known throughout Rhode Island. Mrs. Chandler’s grandmother had been one of Newport’s social grandes dames during the city’s social zenith in the 1890s. She would make an excellent addition to the residence and very possibly attract future guests from among her friends.

Her financial records, while impressive, were a shade disappointing. It was obvious that she had managed to give away a great deal of her money to her large family. Seventy-six years old, she had clearly done her share to help populate the earth: four children, fourteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and no doubt more to come.

However, given her name and background, she might well be persuaded to take the top apartment that had been intended for Nuala Moore, he decided. It was clear that she was used to the best.

Mrs. Chandler was dressed in a beige knit suit and low-heeled pumps. A single strand of matched pearls, small pearl earrings, a gold wedding band, and a narrow gold watch were her only jewelry, but each item was superb. Her classic features, framed by pure white hair, were set in a gracious, reserved expression. Lane understood full well that he was the one being interviewed.

“You do understand that this is only a preliminary meeting,” Mrs. Chandler was saying. “I am not at all sure that I’m prepared to enter any residence, however attractive. I will say that from what I’ve seen so far, the restoration of this old place is in excellent taste.”

Approbation from Sir Hubert is praise indeed, Lane thought sarcastically. He smiled appreciatively, however. “Thank you,” he said. If Odile were here she would be gushing that, coming from Mrs. Chandler, such praise meant so much to them, and on and on.

“My eldest daughter lives in Santa Fe and very much wants me to make my home there,” Mrs. Chandler continued.

But you don’t want to go there, do you? Lane thought, and suddenly he felt much better. “Of course, having lived in this area so many years, it’s a little hard to make such a complete change, I would think,” he said sympathetically. “So many of our guests visit their families for a week or two, then are very glad to come back to the quiet and comfort of Latham Manor.”

“Yes; I’m sure.” Mrs. Chandler’s tone was noncommittal. “I understand you have several units available?”

“As a matter of fact one of our most desirable units just became available.”

“Who most recently occupied it?”

“Mrs. Constance Van Sickle Rhinelander.”

“Oh, of course. Connie had been quite ill, I understand.”

“I’m afraid so.” Lane did not mention Nuala Moore. He would explain away the room that he had emptied for her art studio by saying that the suite was being totally redecorated.

They went up in the elevator to the third floor. For long minutes, Mrs. Chandler stood on the terrace overlooking the ocean. “This is lovely,” she conceded. “However, I believe this unit is five hundred thousand dollars?”

“That’s correct.”

“Well, I don’t intend to spend that much. Now that I’ve seen this one, I would like to see your other available units.”

She’s going to try to bargain me down, Dr. Lane thought, and had to resist the urge to tell her that such a ploy was of absolutely no use. The cardinal rule of all Prestige Residences was absolutely no discounts. Otherwise, fury resulted, because the word of special deals always got around to those who hadn’t gotten them.

Mrs. Chandler rejected out of hand the smallest, the medium-size, and then the largest single bedroom apartments. “None of these will do. I’m afraid we’re wasting each other’s time.”

They were on the second floor. Dr. Lane turned to see Odile walking toward them, arm in arm with Mrs. Pritchard, who was recovering from foot surgery. She smiled at them, but to Lane’s relief did not stop. Even Odile occasionally knew when not to barge in, he thought.

Nurse Markey was seated at the second-floor desk. She looked up at them with a bright, professional smile. Lane was itching to get to her. This morning Mrs. Shipley had told him she intended to have a dead bolt put on her door to insure privacy. “That woman regards a closed door as a challenge,” she had snapped.

They passed Mrs. Shipley’s studio apartment. A maid had just finished cleaning it, and the wide door was open. Mrs. Chandler glanced in and stopped. “Oh, this is lovely,” she said sincerely, as she absorbed the large alcove seating area with the Renaissance fireplace.

“Step in,” Dr. Lane urged. “I know Mrs. Shipley won’t mind. She’s at the hairdresser’s.”

“Just this far. I feel like an intruder.” Mrs. Chandler took in the bedroom section and the magnificent ocean views on three sides of the unit. “I think this is preferable to the largest suite,” she told him. “How much is a unit like this?”

“Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

“Now that I would pay. Is there another like it available? For that price, of course?”

“Not at the moment,” he said, then added, “But why don’t you fill out an application?” He smiled at her. “We’d very much like to have you as a guest someday.”