The Visitor(56)

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.

The rider was still some distance away, but when he removed his helmet, I saw the spill of silvery-gold curls across his forehead. I sensed a mounting tension in Louvenia as Micah Durant drew closer.

“My grandson,” she finally said. “He’s only been back a short time and already he has the household in an uproar. Not to mention that poor horse in a lather.” Her lips thinned in disapproval as he steered the chestnut off the road, taking a shortcut across the lawn to the stables. She tore her gaze away and offered a strained smile. “I’ll be tied up with family business for the rest of the afternoon, but I’d like to reschedule our meeting as soon as possible. That is, if you’re still agreeable.”

“Of course,” I said, trying to curtail my disappointment. Or was it relief? “Shall I call you in a day or two to set something up?”

“I don’t want to wait that long. I feel that time is of the essence and we should get started on the restoration as soon as possible.” She brushed her hands down the tail of her shirt, a nervous tic that made me wonder what was going on inside her head. “I know this is terribly presumptuous of me, but I wonder if you’d be willing to come back in the morning. Say around eight?” Before I could answer, she quickly added, “I don’t expect you to drive in from Charleston at that hour, but maybe you’d be willing to stay over. I’ve taken the liberty of arranging accommodations for you in town at my sister’s bed-and-breakfast. Dr. Shaw and his associate are occupying the upstairs guest rooms, but there’s a small cottage in the garden that I think you’ll find cozy. And of course, I’ll be more than happy to reimburse you for your time.”

“That’s very generous of you, Mrs. Durant.”

“I’m a businesswoman, Miss Gray. If I were in your shoes, I would expect no less. Please do consider the offer. As I said, I’m anxious to get started on the restoration. I’ve put it off for far too long, but now that I’ve made up my mind, I find myself impatient to have it done with.”

“I’ll make a call and see about rearranging my schedule,” I said, mentally going over my commitments for the rest of the week. “Will it be all right if I let you know later this afternoon?”

“Yes, of course. Just leave a message with Grace Anne. She’ll make sure I get it.”

I nodded my agreement. “I won’t keep you, but may I ask a favor before I go?”

She lifted a curious brow.

“I understand Dr. Shaw has already begun his investigation at the cemetery. I’d like to drop by there to see him this afternoon if you’ve no objection.”

“I’ve no particular objection, but the cemetery is difficult to get to. Are you sure you can find it on your own?”

“Dr. Shaw gave me a map and I can always call him if I get lost.”

She gave a brief nod. “You’re anxious to see Rose’s grave, I expect.”

“I’m interested in the whole cemetery, but I can’t deny a fascination for a grave with my name on it.”

“You do look so much like her,” Louvenia mused. “At least, the way she looked when she first came here.”

“Miss Toombs said she and her twin were very devoted to Rose.”

“They adored her. She was always so gentle with them and so very protective. I’m thankful they had her in their lives, even if for only a short while. God knows they had little enough joy. People can be so unspeakably cruel.”

“Yes, unfortunately that’s true.”

She glanced at me with a frown. “You must know about my sisters. It seems you’ve spoken with Nelda at length.”

“She mentioned they had a difficult childhood,” I said carefully.

“To put it mildly. In this day and age, my sisters would be favorable candidates for separation since they shared no vital organs, but back then surgery on conjoined twins was tricky. We were told the lengthy operation might result in one of their deaths. How do you choose?”

It was a rhetorical question so I said nothing.

“Mother wouldn’t accept the risk,” Louvenia went on. “Had she lived, things would have been easier—on all of us—but after she passed, the care of the twins fell to Ezra and me. When he came back from the war, he could barely look after himself. I’ll be the first to admit that I should have been a better guardian.” Her fingers tangled in the tail of her shirt as if she were trying to wipe away something unpleasant from her hands.