“I needed to make a few calls and when I contacted Jack, he told me to stay here as he’s going to be home early today.” She stands staring at me. “I saw you going up to the second floor; did you find a suitable room?”
Glad I’d found one, I stood and grabbed the copies of the blueprints I’d printed earlier. I point to the room I’d selected. “This one will do. It’s large enough and very wide. It’s perfect for lining with closets. If you could arrange to get someone in to fit them, we can get Laura’s things moved. Once we’ve emptied the room, I’d like to speak to the architect whenever you can get him to drop by. I’ll be completely changing the dressing room and bedroom on the first floor. I don’t want any memories of Jack’s past life creeping up on him when we’re alone.”
“I’ll run it past Jack but I doubt you will ever get Laura out of this house.” Ruby indicates behind her with her thumb. “That portrait is a constant reminder. I doubt very much that Jack will remove it.”
I’ll run it past Jack? Really?As we’d already discussed making changes,I wanted to say, “Well, you know him betterthan I do.” But I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction. She’d been kind to me and I didn’t want to sound ungrateful but I couldn’t help feeling like an outsider. For some reason Ruby made me feel superfluous, like the new puppy someone brings home and interest wanes after a few days when it pees on the expensive rug. “We’ll see. I’ll speak to Jack about the changes and then call you.” I tap my bottom lip. “Who do I see about changing the drapes and linens when they arrive? Is it Sue or George?”
“George handles the running of the staff and Sue handles everything else.” Ruby crosses her arms. “Is there anything else I can assist you with? I have a few calls left to make.”
I so want to ask her about Tom Bates but bite my tongue. I have no idea if they were close friends and if he was in any way involved with Laura’s death, but I need to keep that revelation to myself. I stand and shake my head. “No, not for the moment. Thank you for dropping by. I’ll call you after I’ve spoken to Jack.”
I go to the door and watch her walk back to her office. I follow at a discreet distance and slip into the kitchen. Luckily Sue is there and she turns to look at me. “Hi there.”
“Oh, Mrs. Hunter, I apologize. I completely forgot about asking Pierre to prepare your lunch.” She looks at me with an aghast expression. “He won’t be back until four.”
I smile at her and shake my head. “That’s okay, I’m sure I’ll find something in the refrigerator. I don’t eat much for lunch.” I go to the refrigerator and swing open the door. As usual the shelves on one side have a selection of grab food. I take out egg salad sandwiches, wrapped in plastic complete with the date and time they were made. “Goodness, this is like living in a delicatessen.”
“If you’ll go into the dining room, I’ll bring you a cup of coffee or whatever refreshments you require.” Sue turns away to refill the coffee pot.
I place the sandwiches on the island and sit down. “I would rather sit here if you don’t mind? There are a few things I need to ask you.”
“Sure.” Sue turns and leans her back against the kitchen counter. “What can I do to help?”
I slowly unwrap the sandwiches and Sue instantly gives me a plate. “Thank you. There’s a couple of things I need to speak to you about. One of them is the furnishings for the new main bedroom. I’m not sure what the protocol is here for purchasing drapes and furniture. I’m not sleeping in the same bed as Laura, so everything in that room will need to be replaced.”
“Have you spoken to Mr. Hunter about changing everything? He doesn’t like me to touch the bedroom at all. I am only allowed to go in and dust the dressing room.” Sue pushes hair behind her ears in an almost nervous gesture. “He wouldn’t throw out any of her things. I collected everything she’d left around the house and stored it in boxes in the loft. I did this because seeing her things made him upset.”
I nibble at the sandwich and stare at her. “Yes, I have. I understand you never went back into her bedroom after the night Laura died.”
“That’s right. He didn’t either, as far as I know. He wouldn’t sleep in his room. He slept on the couch in his office until a new bed arrived, which he had placed in the bedroom that you’re using now.” Sue takes down cups and then smiles at me and collects a mug from a line of pegs under the above cabinets and fills it with coffee. “He asked me to gather three sets of clothes for him from the dressing room. The next morning his new wardrobe arrived, along with his tailor. He had new suits on order so he’d replaced everything in his closets upstairs within a week.” She hands me the mug and places the fixings on the table. “Have you asked him if he’d like to go shopping for new furniture? It might be something he’d enjoy.”
I smile at her. “I will, that’s a great idea.” I add creamer and sip the coffee and then lift my gaze back to her. “Have you met Tom Bates? I believe he is, or was, Jack’s bodyguard. Is that true?”
“Yes, he was until Laura died.” She frowns. “I hope you don’t mind me calling her Laura; it’s just easier to distinguish between you and the last Mrs. Hunter.”
I nod. “That’s fine. Then we all know who we’re talking about.” I take another bite of the delicious sandwich. “What do you know about Tom Bates?”
“Ah, well.” She glances at the kitchen door and drops her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I did hear he became involved with Ruby, and Mr. Hunter has a no-fraternization policy in his firm. He still works there but, after Laura died, Mr. Hunter wanted to fire him. Ruby pled his case and he ended up demoted and works in general security, as in he takes care of the building.”
I stare at her, dumbfounded. “Can you recall when this happened?”
“Vividly.” She leans closer. “It was when Mr. Hunter, Ruby and Tom arrived home after Laura fell overboard. I didn’t hear exactly what went on as they were in the office but Tom stormed out, packed his belongings and left. That’s the last time I saw him.”
I swallow the sandwich and stare at my plate. “I wonder what really happened on the yacht that night.”
“That’s what we’ve all been thinking for the last seven years.” Sue’s eyes rounded as Ruby walked into the room but she gathered herself well. “Ah, Ruby. Great timing. Did you smell the coffee?”
TWENTY
I wonder if Ruby was eavesdropping in the hallway and, if so, what will she do? Hiding a smile, I add another spoonful of sugar to my mug. I love the rich brown sugar that Jack prefers. I stir it slowly, waiting for Ruby’s reaction.
“Mrs. Hunter…or may I call you Willow?” Ruby smiles at me. “I’m not sure Jack would approve of you eating in the kitchen with the staff. Would you like me to carry your meal into the dining room?”
I’m sure Jack has explained that I’m not from his usual circle of society friends and Ruby is only trying to be helpful. She must figure I’m a trophy wife without a brain in my head and must be told how to behave. As she calls my husband “Jack” and seems to be beside him every waking moment, I must assume she’s of great value to him. Although I feel the rebuff, which it is—even heavily disguised, it’s her attempt to pull me into line—I notice there is a hierarchy within the staff. Although Jack informed me that George oversees them, it’s clear that Sue runs the house, and it doesn’t take a fool to see that Ruby lords over all of them. I don’t intend my place in this house to be controlled by a member of the staff. “It’s Mrs. Hunter, if you don’t mind, Ruby, and I just happen to like Sue’s company but thank you for your concern.While I have you here, can you tell me who was on the yacht the night Laura died?”
“Jack and Laura, of course, the Suttons, Cleaves, Durums and the crew. I believe we had six people on board to serve drinks and a chef, a couple of cleaners, and the captain and second mate.” Ruby crosses her arms and I wonder if it’s a tell that she’s lying. “It’s a long time ago.”
I stir my coffee slowly and look at her. “You were on board as well, weren’t you, and Jack’s personal bodyguard? What was his name? Ah, yes. Tom Bates. Whatever happened to Mr. Bates?”
