As I drove through, I cast a wary glance around me. Suddenly, I felt a very long way from civilization. A world away from my beloved Charleston. I was on my way to meet Louvenia Durant, a woman I barely knew, in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps not the smartest thing I’d ever done, but despite my distrust of the Krolls, I couldn’t imagine that anyone in the family meant me harm. Too many people knew of my whereabouts. A mishap on their turf would be hard to explain. At least that was how I reasoned away my unease.
The narrow road wound through mile after mile of solid evergreens. With my window down, I could smell pine and cedar mingling with the darker scent of the hawthorn. I had the sense that I was traveling through the black forest of a childhood fairy tale and was glad when the trees cleared and I could see patches of sunlight ahead.
As I topped a ridge, the woods gave way to rolling pastures dotted with wildflowers. Behind well-tended fences, magnificent horses grazed peacefully in the afternoon heat, the only interruption to their rural paradise the distant crack of a rifle.
Rounding a curve, I finally caught sight of the house, a sprawling three-story plantation home with a small army of chimneys rising from the rooftop. The spread was beautiful in the somnolent light. Even the outbuildings and stables had the well-cared-for look of a place where money had never been a concern.
A uniformed maid answered the door, her dark eyes at once appraising and dismissive. “Whatever you’re peddling, we already got a dozen more’n we need.”
Her bluntness took me aback. “I’m not selling anything. I have an appointment with Mrs. Durant. My name is Amelia Gray.”
The shrewd gaze narrowed as she rested a hand on her scrawny hip. “That cemetery gal from Charleston she told me about? Didn’t nobody call you this morning?”
“No, I haven’t heard from anyone all day.”
“Well, don’t that beat all.” She threw up her hands in frustration. “I swan, I don’t know why Miss Vinnie keep that gal on, not worth a plug nickel, you ask me, never do a thing a body tell her to do.” The woman heaved a weary sigh as she gave me another doubtful scrutiny. “I reckon you better come inside, but mind them feet. Don’t go tracking dirt in here on my rugs.”
“It seems I’ve come at a bad time,” I murmured. “Maybe I should just wait outside.”
“Come in,” she barked. “Before you let the flies in.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Quickly, I wiped my shoes on the mat before stepping into a large foyer with aged pine flooring and thick plaster walls. A ceiling fan stirred currents of chilled air and I had to suppress a shiver.
“Wait right here while I go fetch Miss Vinnie.” I had a feeling the woman wanted to caution me not to touch anything but managed to curtail the impulse by tightly pursing her lips before she turned and disappeared down a long, spacious hallway.
Left alone, I gazed around curiously, craning my neck to see into the well-appointed parlor on one side of the stairs and the dining room on the other. I would have expected to find family portraits lining the magnificent walls, but the artwork was mostly equine in nature. Through a row of French doors, I spied a peacock strutting across the lawn, and beyond the garden, a horse and rider jumped hedges at the edge of a pasture.
I watched for a moment, mesmerized even from this distance by the grace and symmetry of both animal and human before turning back to my immediate surroundings. I couldn’t help wondering if Ezra Kroll had once lived in this house and if he had ever regretted leaving behind such a comfortable life for the meager existence of the commune.
“Miss Gray?”
I whirled at the sound of my name.
Louvenia Durant had come through the dining room while my attention had been diverted and now she stood in the large doorway observing me. As our eyes met, I had the unsettling notion that she knew exactly what I had been thinking.
“Your trip over was pleasant, I trust.” Her gaze was very direct and vaguely anxious.
“Yes, it was a nice drive, thank you.”
“I’m sorry my assistant wasn’t able to reach you before you left Charleston.” Her face darkened as her gaze went to the window that looked out on the front grounds. The rider I’d glimpsed earlier had left the pasture and now walked the magnificent chestnut sedately up the long drive. For a moment, Louvenia seemed struck by the sight and then she collected herself. “I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans.”
“Oh?”
“Something unexpected has come up. A family matter that can’t wait. Our meeting will have to be postponed. I’m terribly sorry. I can’t apologize enough for the inconvenience.”
“No worries. I hope it’s nothing serious.”
“That remains to be seen,” she murmured, her gaze darting back to the window.