In the Garden Trilogy

by Nora Roberts

  Fashion was one of the hot topics. He lost count of the times he overheard a murmured variation of: Bless her heart, she must’ve been drinking when she bought that dress.

  He’d had a taste of it at Roz’s holiday party, but this time out he was her escort, and he noted that changed the dynamics considerably.

  And he was the new kid in class.

  He was given the once-over countless times, asked who he was, what he was, who his people were. Though the manner of interrogation was always charming, he began to feel as if he should have a résumé typed up and ready to hand out.

  Ages ran from those who’d certainly danced to the swing music the band played when it was new, to those who’d consider the music retro and hip.

  All in all, he decided as he discreetly avoided discussing the more salient details of his work on the Harper family with a curious couple named—he thought—Bing and Babs, it was an interesting change of pace for a guy in a rented tux.

  Spotting Josh, he used his son as an excuse to cut the inquisition short. “Excuse me, my son’s just come in. I need to speak with him.”

  Mitch made a beeline through the tuxedos and gowns. “Hey, you clean up good.” He gave Josh a one-armed hug around the shoulders, then smiled at the little brunette. “You must be Shelby.”

  “Yes, sir. You have to be Josh’s daddy. He looks just like you.”

  “That takes care of the intros. Wow.” Josh scanned the room. “Some hot-dog stand.”

  The ballroom was draped with twinkling lights, festooned with spring flowers. Wait staff manned one of three bars or roamed the room with trays of drinks and canapés. Diamonds glittered, emeralds flashed as couples took the dance floor to a hot rendition of Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing.”

  “Yeah, a little Philadelphia Story.”

  “What?”

  Mitch sent Josh a pitying glance. “There were movies made before The Terminator.”

  “So you say, Pops. Where’s your date?” Josh asked.

  “She got swept away. I’ve been . . . oh, here she comes.”

  “Sorry, got myself cornered. Hello, Shelby. Don’t you look pretty.”

  “Thanks, Ms. Harper. That’s an awesome dress. Josh said you were coming with his father.”

  “It’s nice to meet you at last, Josh. Your father’s full of talk about you.”

  “Same goes. We’ll have to find a quiet corner and compare notes.”

  “I’d love to.”

  “I see my parents over there.” Shelby nodded toward a table. “I’d like to introduce you, Josh, and your daddy. Then I’ll have done my duty, and you can dance with me.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Dad says you’re into plants, Ms. Harper.”

  “Roz, and yes, I am.”

  “He kills them, you know,” he added as they worked their way around the room.

  “So I’ve seen.”

  “Mostly when they see him they just commit suicide and get it over with.”

  “Shut up, Josh.”

  “Just don’t want you to pull a fast one on her.” He gave his father a lightning grin. “Shelby says you live in that amazing house we passed on the way here.”

  “Yes, it’s been in my family a long time.”

  “It’s totally huge, and great looking.” He angled his head enough to send his father a quick, and not-so-private, leer. “Dad’s been spending a lot of time there.”

  “Working.” Mitch managed, through years of practice, to give his son a light elbow jab in the ribs.

  “I hope you’ll come spend some time there yourself, very soon.”

  Roz paused by the table where Jan and Quill sat talking to other friends. “Hello, everyone.” As Roz had expected, Jan stiffened, went a little pale. Deliberately, Roz leaned down, air-kissed Jan’s cheek. “Don’t y’all look wonderful.”

  “Mama, Daddy.” Shelby angled herself around to make introductions. “This is Joshua Carnegie, and his father Dr. Mitchell Carnegie. My parents, Jan and Quill Forrester, and Mr. and Mrs. Renthow.”

  Quill, a solidly built man with a glad hand and subtle comb-over, pushed himself to his feet to pump Mitch’s, then Josh’s hand, then inclined his head to Roz. “Rosalind, how are you doing?”

  “I’m doing just fine, Quill. How’s business?”

  He pokered up, but nodded. “Bumping right along.”

  “That’s good to hear. Jan, I swear, Shelby’s grown up to be an absolute beauty. You must be so proud.”

  “Of course. I don’t think I understood you were acquainted with Shelby’s escort.”

  “His father and I are great friends.” Beaming, she slid her arm through Mitch’s. “In fact, Mitch is researching the Harper family history. He’s finding all sorts of secrets and scandals.” Playing it up, she gave a little head toss, a little laugh. “We just love our scandals here in Shelby County, don’t we?”

  “That’s where I’ve heard the name,” Renthow spoke up. “I’ve read one of your books. I’m a bit of an amateur genealogist myself. Fascinating business.”

  “I think so. In any case, the Harper ancestors led me to Roz.” In a smooth move, Mitch lifted her hand, kissed it. “I’ll always be grateful.”

  “You know,” Renthow put in, “I’ve traced my ancestry back to the Fifes in Scotland.”

  “Really?” Mitch perked up. “A connection to Duncan Phyfe, before he changed the spelling?”

  “Yes, exactly.” Obviously pleased, Renthow shifted in his chair to angle toward Mitch. “I’d like to put something more detailed together. Maybe you can give me some tips.”

  “Happy to.”

  “Why don’t we all sit down for a few minutes?” Shelby began. “Then y’all can get acquainted while—”

  “We’re expecting friends,” Jan interrupted. “Our table’s full. I’m sure Rosalind and Dr. Carnegie can find another table. And we’ll all be more comfortable.”

  “Mama,” the word was a shocked whisper that Roz overrode with an easy smile. “We already have one, thanks. In fact, we’re going to steal this handsome young couple here. Shelby, why don’t I show you where we’re sitting, and Josh and Mitch can get us both a drink?”

  Hooking her arm through the girl’s, Roz led her away.

  “Ms. Harper, I . . . I’m sorry, Ms. Harper, I don’t know what’s the matter.”

  “Don’t you worry about it. Here we are right here. Let’s sit down, and you can tell me how you met that gorgeous young man before they get back. And you call me Roz, now. Why, we’re practically on a double date here.”

  She put the girl at ease, chattering away until their dates returned with drinks and canapés. Only when Josh took Shelby to the dance floor did Roz show any fire.

  “She didn’t have to embarrass that child the way she did. If she had a brain in that spiteful head of hers, she’d have known I wouldn’t have sat with them. That’s a sweet girl. I can only conclude she does not come by it naturally.”

  “You smoothed it over. One of the reasons I eased out of academia was to rid my life of these little snarling matches and petty grudges. But wherever you go, life’s just pocked with them, isn’t it?”

  “I suppose. I mostly stay out of this arena, too. I have no patience for it. But I feel obliged to make an appearance now and then.”

  “You’re not the only one,” he said, and linked his fingers with hers on the table. “How much is it going to upset you to know Bryce Clerk just came in, with that same blonde he was with when he tried to crash your party?”

  Her hand stiffened in his, then slowly relaxed. “I had a feeling he’d show. Well, that’s all right. I’m just going to slip off to the rest room for a minute, give myself a little talking to, and freshen up. I don’t intend to have another public scene, I promise you.”

  “Wouldn’t bother me.”

  “That’s nice to know, in case the talking to doesn’t work.”

  She rose, walked out of the room, and turned down the corridor toward the lounges.

  Inside, she
freshened her lipstick and began to lecture herself on proper decorum.

  You will not lower yourself to his level, no matter what the provocation.

  You will not allow that silly girl to draw you into a catfight, even though you’d leave her bleeding on the floor without chipping a nail.

  You will not—

  Roz broke off the self-lecture when Cissy slipped in.

  “I had to use a chainsaw to sever myself from Justine Lukes. Bless her heart, that woman can talk you deaf, dumb, and blind without having a single interesting thing come out of her mouth. I wanted to get over to your table. I swear, Roz, could you look any more glamorous?”

  “I think I’ve reached the top of my game. How’d the visit with the in-laws go?”

  “If I’d’ve cold-cocked her with a cast-iron skillet, she wouldn’t have been any more stunned. I tell you, honey, even she couldn’t find anything to pick at, though I did have to spill wine on my new shirt as a distraction when she asked me about one of the shrubs. The one with the arching branches and all those white flowers? Smells delicious.”

  “The drooping leucothoe.”

  “I suppose. Anyway, I owe you my very life on this one. Isn’t that Jan’s girl you’re with?” Cissy sidled up to the mirror to fuss with her hair.

  “Yes, she’s with my date’s son, as it happens.”

  “Both of whom I’m just dying to meet. I do love adding to my quota of handsome men. I suppose you saw Bryce slither in.”

  She shifted her gaze from her own face in the mirror to Roz’s. “I broke away from Justine so I wouldn’t have to pretend to be civil to him. I don’t know if you’ve heard the latest, but—”

  She broke off, zipping her lip when Jan came in with Mandy.

  Both women stopped, but while Jan looked ready to move by quickly, Mandy marched forward and jabbed a finger at Roz.

  “If you don’t stop your harassment, I’m going to get a court order and have you arrested.”

  Entertained, Roz pulled out her compact. “I don’t believe attending a country club event could be considered harassment, but I’ll have my lawyer look into it in the morning.”

  “You know damn well what I mean. You called my spa pretending to be me and canceled all my treatments. You’re calling me day and night and hanging up when I answer.”

  Casually Roz dusted her nose. “Now why would I do any of those things?”

  “You can’t stand the fact that I’m going to marry Bryce.”

  “Has it come to that?” Roz closed her compact again. Part of her—that mean streak—did a little dance of joy. If Bryce had a rich one hooked, he was bound to leave her, and her family, alone. “Well, despite your rude behavior, you have all my sympathy.”

  “I know what you’ve been doing to Bryce, too, and to Jan because she’s standing as my friend.”

  “I haven’t done anything to any of you.” She looked over at Jan. “And couldn’t be less interested.”

  “Someone called one of Quill’s top clients, pretending to be me,” Jan said stiffly. “A drunken, vicious phone call that cost Quill an important account.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Jan. If you honestly believe I’d do something like that, I won’t waste my time, or yours, telling you different. Excuse me.”

  She heard Cissy’s exasperated, “Jan, how can you be so slow-witted” as the door shut behind her.

  She started down the corridor only to come up short when she saw Bryce leaning against the wall. In hopes of avoiding a scene, she turned and started in the opposite direction.

  “Retreating?” There was a laugh in his voice as he caught up with her. “You surprise me.”

  She stopped. She hadn’t finished that talking to, she thought. In her current mood, it would’ve been a waste of time. “You never surprise me.”

  “Oh, I think I do and will again. I wasn’t sure you’d be here tonight.” His expression turned sly, and smug. “I heard somewhere that you’d dropped your membership.”

  “That’s the thing about rumors, they’re so often lies. Tell me, Bryce, what are you getting out of all this effort? Writing letters, making phone calls, risking criminal charges by falsifying credit cards.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Nobody here for the moment but you and me.” She gestured up and down the empty corridor. “So let’s move straight to the bottom line. What do you want?”

  “Everything I can get. You’ll never prove I made any calls, wrote any letters, used any credit cards. I’m very careful, and very smart.”

  “Just how long do you think you can keep it up?”

  “Until I’m bored. I had a lot of time and effort invested in you, Roz, and you flicked me off. I don’t like being flicked off. Now I’m back, and you won’t get through a day without remembering that. Of course, if you were to make me a private, monetary offer—”

  “That’s never going to happen.”

  “Your choice.” He gave a shrug. “There are things I can do to keep chipping away at you. I think you’ll come around. I know just how important your reputation, your standing in Shelby County is to you.”

  “I don’t think you do.” She kept her eyes on his even when the lounge door opened several feet behind them. “You can’t touch me, either, where it counts, no matter how many lies you spread, how many people you convince to believe them. Quill isn’t a complete fool, and it won’t take long for him to realize you’re taking him for a ride. A costly one.”

  “You give him too much credit. What he is, is greedy. I know how to play on greed.”

  “You would, having so much of it yourself. Tell me, how much have you taken poor Mandy for so far?”

  “Nothing she can’t afford to lose. I never took what you couldn’t afford, Roz.” He skimmed his fingers over her cheek, and she let him. “And I gave you good value for your money. If you hadn’t been so narrow-minded, we’d still be together.”

  “If you hadn’t stolen from me, cheated on me with another woman in my own home, we might be—so I’ll have to thank you for that. Tell me, Bryce, what is it about Mandy that appeals to you?”

  “She’s rich, but then so were you. After that, she’s young and you weren’t, and she’s remarkably stupid. You weren’t that, either. A little slow, but never stupid.”

  “Are you really going to marry her?”

  “She thinks so.” He took out a gold lighter, idly flicking the lid open and closed. “And who knows? Money, youth, malleability. She may just be the perfect wife for me.”

  “It does seem small of you to be going around, making prank calls, complicating her life—oh, and screwing with Quill and Jan, losing Quill clients. I think you need more constructive work.”

  “Two birds, one stone. It keeps them sympathetic to me and chips away at you.”

  “And what do you think will happen when they find out the truth?”

  “They won’t. As I said before, I’m careful. You’ll never prove it.”

  “I don’t think I’ll have to. You always did like to boast and brag, Bryce.” This time she patted him on the cheek, and thought of it as her kill shot. “Only one of your many failings.” She gestured behind him to where Jan and Mandy stood, faces shocked, bodies still as statues.

  Beside them, Cissy began to applaud lightly. Roz took a small bow, then walked away.

  It was her turn to be surprised when she saw Mitch at the end of the corridor.

  “Caught the show,” he said casually, and slipped his hand over hers. “I thought the female lead was exceptional.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You okay?”

  “Probably, but I wouldn’t mind some air.”

  He led her out on the terrace. “Very slick,” he said.

  “Very impromptu,” she corrected, and now, after it was done, her stomach began to jump. “But there he was, just dying to nip at me and posture around, and there they were, those pitiful, annoying women. The bonus being Cissy’s presence, too.
That little play will be making the rounds, word-for-word, in a New-York minute.”

  On cue, there was the sound of raised female voices from inside the ballroom, an abrupt crash, hysterical sobbing.

  “Want to go in for the second act?”

  “No, I don’t. I think you should ask me to dance, right here.”

  “Then I will.” He slipped his arms around her. “Beautiful night,” he said while the scene played out through the open doors behind them.

  “It really is.” With a long sigh, she laid her head on his shoulder and felt all those sharp edges smooth out. “Just smell that wisteria. I want to thank you for not riding to my rescue back there.”

  “I nearly did.” He brushed his lips over her hair. “But then, I thought you had it so completely under control, and I was enjoying my front-row seat.”

  “Lord, listen to that woman wail. Doesn’t she have any pride? I’m afraid Bryce had one thing right. She is stupid, bless her heart. Dim as an underground cave on a moonless night.”

  “Dad!” Josh charged through the doorway. “You’ve got to come see this.”

  Mitch just continued to circle Roz on the terrace, though the music had long stopped, giving way to shouts and scuffling feet.

  “Busy here,” he replied.

  “But Shelby’s dad just clocked this guy. Punched him out. And this woman ripped into him—the other guy, not Shelby’s dad. It’s all about teeth and nails. You’re missing it.”

  “Go on back, you can give us the play-by-play later. I’m going to be busy kissing Roz for a while.”

  “Man. I’ve got to come to country clubs more often.” With that, Josh rushed back inside.

  And Mitch lowered his mouth to Roz’s.

  SHE NEEDED TO relax. She’d handled herself, Roz thought as she replaced her jewelry in its case, and she believed that what she’d been able to do had finally pried the monkey of a vindictive ex-husband off her back.

  But the cost had been yet another public scene.

  She was tired of them, tired of having her dirty linen flapped around for avid eyes to see. And she’d have to get over it.

  She undressed, slipped into her warm flannel robe.

  She was glad they’d been able to leave the club early. Hardly any reason to stay, she thought with a sharp smile. The place had been a glorious mess of overturned tables, spilled food and drink, horrified guests, and scrambling security.