The Reluctant Hero by Lenora Worth

Author:Lenora Worth
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2000-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Now, what brings the lovely Stephanie Maguire back to my home so soon?”

Nadine Hamilton poured iced tea from a shimmering crystal pitcher that, as she’d so proudly informed Stephanie earlier when she’d escorted her into a front parlor where a maid had been setting out refreshments, had been in her family for over one hundred and fifty years. And so had the matching goblet she carefully handed to Stephanie.

Praying she wouldn’t drop the heavy and obviously priceless crystal, Stephanie took a tentative sip of the deliciously sweet, mint-and-lemon-laced tea and smiled up at her hostess. “I just wanted to drop by to follow up on the interview we did the other night. By the way, I really enjoyed the reception, Miss Nadine. You must have the loveliest garden in all of Atlanta, next to Calloway Gardens, of course.”

“Thank you. My cousin married a Calloway,” Nadine replied as she sat on a floral-covered chair, her back straight, her dress fluffed around her tiny ankles. Then, her expression changing from prim to precise, she touched a finger to the strand of pearls nestled in the lace at her collar and said, “Okay, darlin’, let’s cut to the chase. I get the impression you aren’t here to talk about roses and peat moss.”

Flustered but not defeated, Stephanie placed her half-full goblet of tea on the white lace doily supplied on the nearby Chippendale table. There was no beating around the bush with Miss Nadine.

“I’m here regarding your gardener, Miss Nadine,” she said in what she hoped was a businesslike tone. “I thought it was intriguing that he designed and landscaped your garden and several others along the tour. I’d like to do a feature story on him—you know, a lighthearted piece on his love for his work, and his immense talent. It would be perfect for these nice spring days when everyone is working outside anyway. But…the man’s hard to pin down.”

Miss Nadine’s blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Mr. Kane? He keeps to himself. Might not be willing to talk to you.”

Stephanie smiled, then tapped her pen on her notepad. “I was hoping you could help me out. What do you know about Mr. Kane?”

Nadine Hamilton sat straight-backed in her chair, then looked down her nose at Stephanie. “I know all I need to know. He’s a good gardener and he minds his own business.”

She stopped there, then took a dainty sip of her own tea. With a pleasant smile, she gave Stephanie a look of dismissal, as if to say, “And that’s all you need to know, too.”

“How did you meet him?” Stephanie asked, determined not to be intimidated.

Miss Nadine carefully placed her tea on the table, then fussed with a fresh arrangement of magnolia blossoms floating in a fluted glass bowl full of water. The lemony scent of the big white blooms rose out into the air, while Miss Nadine obviously debated whether to talk anymore or not.

Giving Stephanie another penetrating look, she finally said, “A good friend of mine, Louise

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