The Girl On Legare Street by KAREN WHITE

Author:KAREN WHITE [WHITE, KAREN]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Romance
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2009-11-03T03:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

The evening seemed interminable. Although I did find people’s reactions to the current color palette of the house amusing, and took some pride and satisfaction in showing them our plans for the restoration, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched the entire time—and that a battle was brewing somewhere in the depths of the great house. I imagined during lulls of conversation that I could hear the house breathe—a soft pulse that emanated from the very walls and reverberated under my skin.

The kitchen hadn’t been included in the tour since, with the exception of resurrecting the fireplace and mantel, it had not only already been restored and modernized, but didn’t resemble a painting accident. Still, every time we’d walked near it, I’d glanced back at the closed doors and felt that the soldier was still inside, waiting for me.

The last guest had just left and I was sliding my grateful feet out of my shoes when the front door opened again. I was about to tell whoever it was that the tour was over but closed my mouth when I recognized Rebecca. She didn’t look as perky as she usually did, probably as a result of explaining where the ladies’ room was once too often, but she dimpled when she spotted Jack.

She approached him and gave him a kiss on his cheek before greeting everyone else with a perfunctory glance. “I’m sorry to stop by so late but I knew you’d all still be here. I wanted to thank everybody for participating and to let you know that it looks like we raised almost double what we raised last year.” She beamed, as if all the success firmly rested on her petite shoulders. “I also wanted to tell everyone that I’ve made a little progress on finding the origins of the window in the drawing room.” She paused for effect. “I ran into Sophie at the College of Charleston library, and I didn’t want to spoil the surprise before I had anything conclusive.”

Sophie and I exchanged a glance.

Rebecca gripped her hands together. “I discovered that the window was designed by an apprentice of Louis Tiffany’s, an Irishman by the name of John Nolan, who set up shop here in Charleston in 1880. His shop is long gone, but there’s a chance that his business records might have survived in archives somewhere. I figured we could ask Yvonne for help in finding . . .”

Her voice trailed away and I realized that she was staring at me. Although she’d only given me a cursory glance when she walked in, she must have just noticed the dress and jewelry.

Slowly, she walked toward me. “Your . . . jewelry. It’s beautiful.”

“Thank you,” I said warily. “My mother let me wear them.”

“Yes. I believe I once showed you a photo of your mother wearing them.” She faced my mother. “They’re heirlooms, I believe.”

My mother nodded, then moved to stand next to me. For some reason, I found comfort in that.

Rebecca continued.

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