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“Thank you. I’m sure it will be delicious.”
“Ma’am?” Havisham says to Maddie.
“I think I’ll try the herbal. Thank you.”
The rest of our party chooses the black tea, and when Havisham is done serving, he bows and exits, leaving the trolley.
Ennis takes a bite of his scone, chews, and swallows. “I know you Yanks probably had a large lunch, so I didn’t have Havisham prepare a full tea.”
“What is a full tea?” Maddie asks.
“A very good question, lovely lady. A full afternoon tea consists of cucumber sandwiches, of course, scones with clotted cream, but also something hot and savory, such as a mini quiche, and something sweet, perhaps a cupcake or tart.”
“That sounds great,” Maddie gushes.
“I would love for you to join me here tomorrow for afternoon tea.”
“That’s kind of you,” I say. “Can we, Donny? What’s on our schedule tomorrow?”
“More sightseeing. The first concert isn’t until the day after.”
“Then it’s settled,” Ennis says. “Tea tomorrow here at my house. I promise you a better tea than you’ll get anywhere else in London. Be sure to bring the rest of your companions if they’re available.”
“That sounds exciting, doesn’t it, Brianna?” Maddie says.
“Sure, Maddie.” I give her a weak smile.
As much as I’m trying not to think about Jesse, he keeps creeping into my head. How can’t he? His sister is right next to me.
It’s slowly driving me insane.
We finish our tea, and Brock stands. “Ennis, I need to speak with you in private, if I may.”
“Yes, of course.”
The two of them leave us in the living room with the tea service. Havisham returns and cleans it up.
I look at Donny as a brick hits my gut. Brock is telling Ennis about Patty Watson, who was my grandmother’s best friend in college and Ennis’s girlfriend, until she disappeared. Donny and Brock found some of her bones on our property, and then Uncle Ryan’s birth mother, Wendy Madigan, admitted to being behind the deaths of both Patty Watson and Brendan Murphy’s great-uncle, the original Sean Murphy, who was my grandfather’s best friend.
That woman was evil.
I can’t even imagine what Ennis is going through. She was his one and only love, according to Brock and Rory, who visited him several weeks ago.
“That poor old guy,” Maddie says.
“I can’t believe he never got married,” I say.
“Sometimes you only find it once,” Maddie says. “It’s sad.”
“I think there probably could’ve been someone else for him,” Donny offers. “He just poured himself into making Steel Vineyards the best boutique winery ever and then training Uncle Ryan to take over. That was his life. He certainly doesn’t seem any worse for the wear.”
“No. He does seem happy.” Maddie looks around the room. “This is a beautiful home, after all. And I’m sure your family gave him an excellent retirement package.”
“Oh, we did,” Donny says. “According to Uncle Ryan.”
About twenty minutes later, Brock returns with Ennis. Ennis looks okay. His eyes are a little glassy, but he’s all right.
“I suppose you all know where we’ve been,” he says.
