Shaded Light: The Case of the Tactless Trophy Wife: A Paul Manziuk and Jacquie Ryan Mystery (The Manziuk and Ryan Mysteries Book 1) (13 page)

With a start, he realized the main problem was that she was wearing ivories and beiges that, on Jillian, would have come to life. On Shauna, however, they had all the impact of a shroud. Bart’s mind drifted off.
What if…?

Breakfast over, the house guests scattered. Nick, true to his promise, got in the pool and found a floating chair to lie on with the large glass of lemonade Ellen had asked Mrs. Winston to make for him.

“You know I was joking,” he protested with his disarming grin.

“Of course I do,” Ellen said with a smile. “But I thought it was a great idea if you really want to relax. Though I must say you don’t seem like the relaxing type. You’re usually rushing somewhere—down a hill or across a football field or on a date somewhere.”

“That’s why this is such a welcome change. Thank you very much.” He kissed her lightly on the cheek and launched his chair.

Shauna wandered off to see the rose garden by daylight.

After studying the locations of each of the others and stopping to speak for a moment with Jillian, who was lying on a chaise lounge watching Peter dive, Bart followed her.

He cornered her against a trellis of climbing roses. “So, tell me, why do you let Jillian criticize you in front of everyone, or even in private for that matter?”

Shauna watched her foot make a circle on the thick grass. “It’s no concern of yours.”

“Do you enjoy it?”

“No, but, you would never understand!”

“I might.”

“She’s beautiful and mature and elegant!”

“You think she’s perfect?”

“Yes.” Shauna looked up at him for the first time. “She is, isn’t she? Perfect! She always has been. Even when she was a little girl, people always noticed her. She had long golden hair and you just always noticed her!”

“And I suppose you got left behind all the time?”

“Oh, I didn’t mind. You see, she loved all the attention. I’d have hated it. I’d much rather curl up with a good book or go for a walk. She loves to be with people and have them admire her.”

“Sounds boring.”

“Oh, but see how well she’s done! Married to a wealthy lawyer who gives her everything she wants. All those beautiful clothes!”

“You’re not jealous?”

Her eyes widened and again she looked at him. “Jealous? Of Jillian? Of course not! I’m delighted for her. Her life is just what it should be, but it would never suit me.”

Her sincerity took Bart by surprise. For a moment he said nothing. Then he remembered his original question. “But that doesn’t explain why she talks to you the way she does. Or why you let her.”

Her eyes returned to a careful scrutiny of the grass at her feet. “Oh, that.”

“Yes, that.”

She shrugged her shoulders. “It’s just her way. And I do exasperate her so. I guess I wish she wouldn’t say things in front of other people, but I don’t really blame her.”

“You don’t?”

“She’s tried to help me, even given me clothes, but, well, it doesn’t help much.”

Bart chose his words carefully. “Have you ever tried to do anything about your—your—”

“My ugliness?”

“You aren’t ugly. Just a little dowdy, maybe.”

She quickly averted her face and walked away.

He let her go. He knew he’d hurt her, but what he’d said was true.

She’d gone only a few feet when she suddenly spun around. He was prepared for tears and anger, but he saw neither.

“You think I’m dowdy? Dowdy? What do you mean?”

Bart was for once at a loss for words. “I—er—”

“I want to know. Dowdy means drab or outdated. But this dress is quite new. And it’s one of Jillian’s favorite colors for daytime. What’s wrong with it?”

Bart blinked. All right. She’d asked. “Let Jillian wear it, then.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “I don’t understand. Do you mean it would look good on her but not me?”

“That’s right.”

“Then you do think I’m ugly.”

“No, I just think Jillian should wear that dress. Not you.”

“But…”

“Do you have any money with you? Or a credit card?”

“Upstairs in my purse. Why?”

“Well, if I had the ready cash, I’d buy you a new dress and some different makeup and get your hair cut and styled. And I’d get new frames for those glasses, or, better yet, contact lenses. And I guarantee at the end of the day you wouldn’t know yourself.”

Shauna stared at him. “But Jillian—”

“You aren’t Jillian! And you don’t have to be a poor imitation of her, either. Be yourself!”

“Do you really mean it? You could show me how to look good?”

“Let’s go.”

“No, I couldn’t. There must be a dozen things you’d rather do.”

“Nonsense. I’ll get a car and meet you in the front drive in fifteen minutes.”

“Oh, no, it wouldn’t be right.” She was slipping into her shell again.

“You’re a big girl, Shauna. You can do anything you want.”

“I mustn’t. Maybe I’ll see what Jillian thinks.”

“Then I won’t take you.”

“What?”

“If you tell anyone, you would spoil the surprise. No one must know. Not even Jillian.”

“The surprise?”

“Sure. Let’s surprise the lot of them.”

Shauna’s eyes widened again. “Could I, do you think? Oh, I don’t know what to do.”

“Go up and get your purse. Meet me out front in fifteen minutes. And don’t tell anyone. Surely you can handle that.”

“Well…”

“On your way. And don’t chicken out on me.”

“I—I’ll see.”

Peter and Kendall were practicing dives at the deep end of the pool. Nick was prone on his lounge chair in the middle. Jillian found herself a floating chair and paddled it toward Nick.

When she was only a few feet away, Nick rolled off his raft and swam to the edge of the pool. He pulled himself out of the water and shouted, “You game to try some tennis, Mr. Martin? For amateurs only?”

Peter paused at the foot of the ladder before waving and calling back, “Sure. Why not? One more dive and I’ll get ready.” He did a perfect somersault before following Nick to the change room.

Kendall refused an invitation to accompany them. “Too hot. I’m going to do a few laps and then go inside and read for a while.”

Alone on her red raft in the middle of the pool, Jillian lay back in the warm sunshine. Only her left hand moved, tapping against the side of the raft in short, hard jerks. She watched Peter and Nick leave, and her blue eyes were as hard as diamonds.

On the way to the tennis court, Peter said, “Hadn’t occurred to me before, but a good game of tennis is just what I need to work up an appetite before lunch. This lazing around isn’t really my style.” He touched his stomach. “Course, Jillian says I should go on a diet, but I don’t see it. I’ve worked hard all my life, worked for everything I’ve got, and while I can afford good food, I’ll be darned if I’ll go on a diet. I’m going to enjoy myself. That’s my philosophy, Nick. Work hard, and when you get the money, spend it on what you want. Some men work all their lives and put every cent in the bank and then leave the whole thing for their kids. Not me. No, sir. Good wine, good women, good everything. What about you?”

“Pretty much the same. Enjoy yourself while you’ve still got it.”

“George says there’s some doubt about your joining us. Are you sure you know what you’d be turning down?”

“I guess I’m just not ready to settle in yet. Maybe I never will be.”

“Haven’t met a woman to give you roots, eh?”

“I’ve got no plans involving women.”

“Do I detect a hint of bitterness there? Had some bad luck?”

“My parents are divorced.”

“Oh? Mine might as well have been. My father was never around. It’s hard, but the strong survive.” Peter paused. “I guess you know I’ve been divorced a few times myself. Jillian’s the fourth. And not likely the last.”

Nick gave him a grim look.

“You don’t like that, eh, Nick? You’ve got a lot to learn. When I was your age, I had a wife and three kids. A few years later, we called it quits. Truth was, the only thing we had in common was sex. Too much, too soon, if you know what I mean. After Patty, there was Hildy, and Genevieve, and now Jillian. Life goes on.”

“I don’t think I could do that.”

“Neither did I when I was twenty-five. But things happened. Now it’s part of my program for having the best. You get what you pay for. That shocks you, doesn’t it? It would shock Jillian, too, if I told her I know she married me for my money. She’s convinced herself I’m head-over-heels in love. What a sweetheart!”

They had reached the tennis court, so Nick was spared having to reply. For a few moments, they watched the foursome play. The teams had been well-matched. Douglass, although normally a better player than George, was not quite at his best today. Lorry and Hildy were very even, Hildy’s experience and desire to win making up for Lorry’s youthful speed. It made for a good spectator game, and Ellen, comfortably reclining in a lawn chair, had enjoyed herself thoroughly.

As the game ended, George called to Nick, “Come take my place! Lorry’s young enough to manage another set, but I’m going to go and just drop into the pool.”

So Nick took George’s place and Peter coaxed a reluctant Hildy into staying when Douglass left with George.

“You realize the caliber of play is about to plummet?” Nick called to Hildy. She smiled.

Kendall had gone into the house shortly after Peter and Nick left. He paced back and forth in his large bedroom, wondering what to do. He didn’t like telling lies. In fact, he hated it. Yet he had been lying to Nick for the past month about his relationship with Marilyn. It was true they were friends. In fact, he liked her a lot. But only as a friend.

Oh, there was someone all right. But he didn’t want anyone, especially Nick, to know who it was. Not yet. Once he joined the firm and everything was under control, then he would introduce her to the world as his chosen bride. For now, she was a secret that gave him goosebumps. He wasn’t used to lying. Not that he was lying, exactly. Just not telling the truth. Perhaps it would be best if he did make a bit of a fuss over Lorry, though. Make his mother happy. Keep her from asking questions.

Left to herself, Jillian paddled her raft to the edge of the pool and gracefully rolled onto the cement without getting wet. She stood up, lithe and tanned in the revealing cream floral bikini.

Anne was lying on a lounge chair near the pool. She was wearing an expensive plain green one-piece bathing suit with a matching green and yellow floral sarong. She had been lying there for some time watching the others, pretending to read a magazine from a stack on the table. As Jillian stood up, Anne looked over the top of the magazine.

Unfortunately, Jillian turned at that exact moment, and their eyes met. Anne quickly looked down at the magazine.

“Don’t you wish!” Jillian said in what Anne considered a most insolent voice.

“I’m sorry?” Anne replied haughtily. “Did you speak?”

“What a drag it must be to know you’re middle-aged, overweight, and over the hill! But then, I don’t expect you ever looked this good.”