“I suppose he is,” Jacqueline said. “But he’s at heart a truly sweet boy. He would know that Maman would be hurt by losing things dear to her, and I don’t think he would do it on his own or be manipulated into it because of that.”
“Anyone else?” An’gel said. “What about your lawyer, Mr. Thurston? Is he in the house frequently?”
“Yes, he is,” Jacqueline said. “He’s never married and has no family to speak of, and he was Terence’s best friend. Maman relies on him a lot as an advisor, and he comes to dinner a couple of times a week.” She frowned. “I’d hate to think of him doing such a terrible thing to Maman because she’s so fond of him, almost treats him like a son in some ways. He took Terence’s place, I suppose, because Maman adored Terence, and the two of them were friends from childhood.”
“No one else?” An’gel asked.
“No, no one that’s here on a regular basis,” Jacqueline said.
An’gel felt frustrated because Jacqueline had reasonable arguments to explain why almost everyone on the list couldn’t, or wouldn’t, be the person behind the nasty tricks on Mireille.
Almost everyone, she thought. Everyone except Estelle.
She was so lost in thought she didn’t hear Benjy enter the room. He startled her when he spoke.
“Excuse me, ladies, but Estelle wanted me to tell everyone lunch is ready.”
“Thank you, Benjy.” Jacqueline rose. “Do you know where Tippy is?”
“Yes, ma’am. She’s with Miss Dickce in the kitchen. I thought I’d eat in the kitchen with her, and then take her upstairs to play or to nap,” Benjy said diffidently. “Does she take a nap in the afternoon?”
“Usually,” Jacqueline said, “though she can be difficult to settle down sometimes. If you can get her to be still for a few minutes, though, she’ll drop right off.”
“If you don’t mind me having Peanut and Endora in her room, I’m pretty sure I can get her to be still.” Benjy grinned. “I’ll tell her the animals need a nap.”
Jacqueline smiled. “I don’t mind at all. I may have to think about getting a dog or a cat for Tippy. We always used to have both in the house, but not since Tippy was born.” Her face darkened for a moment. “Someone told Sondra that old wives’ tale about a cat sucking away a baby’s breath, and after that she didn’t want an animal in the house.”
Benjy obviously didn’t know how to reply to that, so An’gel spoke to save him any embarrassment.
“Peanut and Endora are smart and well behaved,” she said. “They won’t harm Tippy, both Benjy and I can promise you that.”
“I’m not worried,” Jacqueline said. “I really appreciate you looking after my granddaughter.” She nodded at Benjy. “I think I’ll go wash up before we eat, if you’ll excuse me.” She walked out of the room after An’gel nodded.
“I never heard that,” Benjy said. “About a cat sucking away a baby’s breath. That’s crazy.”
An’gel shook her head. “Folklore, I suppose. Who knows how it got started? Probably something to do with witches and their familiars, who were usually black cats.”
“Interesting,” Benjy said. “I guess maybe people thought witches sent their cats to harm babies.”
“Something like that.” An’gel rose. “Enough of that morbid subject. I need to freshen up a bit myself. Thanks for all your help.”
“My pleasure.” Benjy smiled. “I’ll head back to the kitchen. I’ll need to take Peanut out again later this afternoon, so if you or Miss Dickce could take over for a little while, that would be great.”
“One of us will,” An’gel said. She intended for it to be Dickce, but she wouldn’t tell Benjy that.
They parted ways at the stairs, and An’gel trod up to her room, right off the landing at the back of the house. She went first to the bathroom to wash her hands, then into her room to check her hair and makeup. The vanity stood next to a window that looked out over the backyard toward the servants’ quarters, and when she finished her appraisal of her hair and makeup, An’gel stood and surveyed the scene.
The sun was out, and there were no clouds, she was thankful to note. A movement she noticed with her peripheral vision drew her gaze toward the servants’ quarters. She thought she saw the back of some person disappearing around the side of the building, into the trees, but she couldn’t be sure. She watched a bit longer, but whoever had ducked around the corner didn’t come back.
What reason could someone have for going into the woods? She couldn’t imagine why Jackson would be rambling around among the trees, and she knew Estelle should be downstairs in the kitchen.
So who was it? And what was he up to?
CHAPTER 28
An’gel wasted no further time in speculation. She headed downstairs to the kitchen to make sure Estelle was there and to find out where Jackson was.
On her way down the hall past the dining room, she caught a glimpse of the butler placing a dish on the sideboard. There was no way he could have made it from the servants’ quarters into the house so soon after An’gel spotted someone there.
Moving into the kitchen, she found Estelle busy at the stove, while Benjy and Tippy occupied two spaces at the table. Estelle noticed her and scowled.
“No need for you in here,” she said. “Most of the food’s in the dining room.”
“Fine,” An’gel said. “But I want to talk to you later.” She exited the kitchen before Estelle could reply. She really did not appreciate the woman’s constant rudeness, and that made her all the more determined to have it out with the housekeeper the moment lunch was done.
In the dining room she found Jacqueline and Dickce, along with an unexpected guest, Lance Perigord. He was sporting a black eye and a bruised nose but otherwise seemed his usual inconsequential self. When An’gel came into the room, he was telling his hostess and Dickce about a television show An’gel had never heard of but that Lance swore was totally riveting.
Jackson hovered near the sideboard, and he smiled when he saw An’gel. She immediately went to him and asked him how he was doing. “I’ve been worried about you,” she said.
“Thank you kindly, Miss An’gel,” he said. “I’m doing all right. The Lord is giving me strength.”
“Good. He does look after us,” An’gel said, and indeed the man did look better, she thought. His back was straighter, and his whole demeanor more positive than the last time she had seen him.
“That He does,” Jackson said. “That He does. Now why don’t you have a seat, Miss An’gel, and let me serve you your lunch?”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile. She joined the others at the table, choosing a seat across from Lance. She wanted to observe him as much as possible.
Lance continued to drone on about the television program, and Jacqueline and Dickce nodded occasionally as they ate their food. Jackson put a plate in front of An’gel. Estelle had taken the ground beef and made it into large patties. There was also grilled asparagus, mashed potatoes, and corn that An’gel suspected came from a can. She tasted the ground beef, and it was cooked to perfection and seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic, and another herb she couldn’t quite place.
When Lance finally ran out of things to say about the television show, An’gel spoke up. “I’m happy to see you, Lance. I was worried about you after what happened.”
Lance stared at her. “After what happened?”
An’gel pointed to her eye and her nose. “The encounter you had that left you unconscious on the floor.”
Lance looked confused.
“She’s talking about when you got the black eye and the sore nose,” Jacqueline explained.