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“Then Marcus should be able to find out who she was.”
“I would think so. Marcus is very good at what he does.”
“How was the museum?” I asked.
“Good. I actually managed to get some work done before I abandoned all professional responsibility to call you.”
“Three whole hours.”
“As I said, remarkable self-control.”
I laughed. “Oh, I almost forgot.”
“Forgot what?”
“He invited me to the trustees’ dinner tomorrow evening.”
“You are not going to believe this.”
“What?” I asked.
“I’ll be there too.”
I laughed. “You’re kidding. We have to stop meeting like this.”
“At this point, we seem to run into each other more often than we actually make plans. The museum sponsors one of Blackwood Hall’s preservation initiatives and I was invited a few weeks ago.”
“Well, now I’m looking forward to it even more.”
“Good,” she said. “It’s about time I got to see the two of you together instead of hearing about it afterward. Have you decided what you’re wearing?”
“The plum dress, I think.”
“Perfect.” She didn’t hesitate. “It’s elegant without trying too hard, which somehow always seems to suit you.”
“Thank you. What about you?”
“The emerald silk. I always feel beautiful in it.”
“Charlotte, you are beautiful.”
“Thank you, Emilia. Coming from you, I’ll believe it.”
We talked a little while longer, about nothing in particular.
“We’ll finish this conversation tomorrow night,” Charlotte said.
“I’m counting on it.”
After we said goodbye, I carried my empty mug into the kitchen and turned off the lights. Without knowing why, the image of Alexander standing outside Harbor House with the phone at his ear came to me. Something had made him tense. I wondered what it was.
When I slipped beneath my comforter, I let the question go and thought about Sunday morning instead. It was going to be a good day.
* * *
I woke the next day with an idea that immediately made me happy. I was going to spend the morning at Blackwood Spa.
It felt wonderfully indulgent. I had no intention of spending the next few hours combing through emails, looking at data, or preparing for the week ahead. The spa had a morning appointment available, and within twenty minutes, coffee in hand, I headed toward the main building.
