The Wife Who Knew Too Much(48)
We stepped into another enormous room, lined with shelves and hanging poles displaying an incredible array of clothes. There was a beautiful dressing table with a professionally lit mirror, and across from it, a three-tiered full-length mirror with a pedestal to stand on, like you’d see in a tailor’s shop. There was elaborate floral wallpaper, a marble-topped packing dresser with crystal knobs, glittering sconces, and a crystal chandelier. The clothes were organized by color as well as category. There was an entire section of furs, another of woolen coats, one that held only black clothes, another only white. The most flamboyant section displayed evening gowns in every color of the rainbow, glittering with sequins and beads, embellished with feathers. Racks and racks of shoes and bags and hats, a safe in the wall that must contain precious jewels. It went on and on.
“Wow,” I said.
“Everything was inventoried not long after her death,” Juliet said. “We’re in talks with a couple of auction houses. Rest assured, it’s all being looked after properly. There’s so much here. Hermès and Chanel bags. Vintage evening wear. Furs. The value is significant, and it belongs to the estate.”
“Oh, of course—I wouldn’t—I don’t think any of it is mine,” I said.
Juliet gave me a strange look, and I saw that I’d misunderstood her, and said something foolish, though I didn’t know exactly what. The prospect of spending days among strangers in this enormous, glamorous yet gloomy house, uncertain of how to behave, having to watch my every word, made me feel exhausted suddenly.
A knock sounded on the door, and Dennis wheeled in my suitcase.
“Is there anything else we can do for you, Mrs. Ford?” Juliet asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
“If you need anything, I have a room on the third floor, next to the housekeeper. I’ll be staying there for the next several days to help you settle in. And Dennis lives over the garage.”
I nodded. “Thanks, but I’m used to fending for myself. I won’t be any bother.”
“No bother, ma’am,” Dennis said. “That’s our job.”
“Thank you. If you’ll excuse me, I’m very tired. Good night.”
I rushed them out, closing the door behind them and collapsing against it, relieved to be alone. But that feeling lasted only a moment. I felt a prickling on the back of my neck and turned to see Nina staring at me from the wall, her grayish skin and haunted eyes redolent of the grave. I was an interloper here, she seemed to say, and shouldn’t get too comfortable.
23
I got in bed and turned out the light. The bed itself was more luxurious than any I’d been in before—a fluffy duvet, acres of pillows, a feather topper that made the mattress soft and welcoming. But I couldn’t relax. I lay in the dark with my eyes wide open, alert for any sound that stood out against the drone of wind and surf outside, exhausted yet utterly awake. I couldn’t get over the fact that Nina had slept in this bed. Touched these sheets. Made love with Connor here. Despite the heavy duvet, I felt a chill in my bones that I couldn’t shake.
Realizing that I wouldn’t sleep tonight, I flipped the light back on and dialed Connor’s phone. The call went to straight to voicemail.
“Hi, babe, it’s me,” I said. “Um, Juliet put me in the master. She said that’s what you wanted. I don’t mean to be squeamish, but it’s a little freaky, sleeping in Nina’s old room. I’m wondering, maybe if you could call her and ask her to move me somewhere else? Or, anyway just call. I miss you so much.”
Hours passed. I left the lights on and slept only intermittently. It was one-thirty when he finally called back.
“I’m so glad to hear your voice,” I said, huddled under the covers, my back to Nina’s portrait. “It’s strange being here without you.”
“You said Juliet put you in the master?”
“Yes. She said that’s what you asked for.”
“I didn’t ask her. Gloria should be handling everything.”
“Gloria was asleep by the time I got here.”
He made an annoyed sound.
“Don’t blame her. It was pretty late,” I said, worried that I’d gotten Gloria in trouble with Connor.
The housekeeper would hate me now, and we hadn’t even met. There was nothing I had resented more in my life as a server than another server ratting me out to management.
“It’s Juliet who’s the problem,” he said. “She was Nina’s personal assistant. I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing, hanging around you. You didn’t encourage her, did you?”
“Encourage? I mean, I don’t know. I’m really not used to having staff. It would be easier to navigate this stuff if you were here.”
“You’re going to have to fly on your own for a little bit, Tabby cat. I’m afraid I have to go to Riyadh.”
“Where’s that?”
“Saudi Arabia.”
“Seriously? Connor, no—”
“Baby, don’t make it harder, okay? You know I want to be with you. But this is important. I have to finesse things with Hank. I told him we got married, by the way.”
“How did he take it?”
“Better than I expected. He’s smart enough to realize I have the best claim to the estate, which includes Nina’s voting shares. As long as I play ball on the direction of the company, he has no interest in antagonizing me, or in swapping me out for that whackjob sister. Better the devil you know, right?”