Gennifer frowned. “I’m quite happy right here,” she said, pouting.
“It won’t take more than five minutes and then you can rejoin your friends,” George promised. “But you know as well as I do how your father would feel.”
Gennifer sighed and rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know. The things I do for that man.” She took a step away from Hugh and then turned back towards him. Leaning in very close, she whispered something in his ear that caused him to redden even more. She giggled and Bessie was sure, from the shocked look on Hugh’s face, that she’d just pinched his bottom.
“Come on, then,” she told George. “But only five minutes. I don’t want Hugh to get tired of waiting for me.”
George offered his arm and escorted the woman away from the group.
Nigel watched their progress with narrowed eyes. “She’s going to be sorry,” he muttered to no one in particular. After a moment, he helped himself to another glass of champagne from the table behind him and stalked off after Gennifer.
“I’m so very sorry,” Elizabeth said quickly. “Gennifer is, well, you’ve seen, I suppose. She and Nigel haven’t been together for long and they seem to take weird pleasure in making each other angry. One or the other of them is always flirting with someone else.” She didn’t wait for anyone to reply before she hurried off behind Nigel.
“What an unpleasant couple,” Bessie said, trying to lighten the tension that remained after Elizabeth’s departure.
“They deserve each other,” Doona suggested.
“Hugh didn’t seem to mind the attention,” Grace said softly.
“Of course I minded,” Hugh told her. “I just didn’t know what to do.”
“You could have introduced me, rather than leaving it to Bessie,” Grace said, clearly angry. “And you could have moved away from her, rather than just stand there and let her rub herself all over you.”
“She wasn’t exactly rubbing herself all over me,” Hugh protested.
“Well that’s what it looked like from here,” Grace snapped. “And you didn’t seem to mind at all.”
“Ah, Grace, you know how I feel about you,” Hugh said.
“No, I’m not sure that I do,” Grace replied. “And I don’t really want to talk about it right now.”
She turned on her heel and walked away. There was a small area with chairs and couches near the windows and Grace made her way over there and sat down, her back to Hugh and the others.
“Should I go and try to talk to her?” Hugh asked Bessie.
“I don’t know,” Bessie replied.
While the group stood and watched, Bruce, Jeremy, Sarah, and Emma walked over and sat down with Grace. Within minutes the group was chatting easily together.
“Give her a little bit of time to calm down,” Doona suggested. “Just make sure you’re there to give her a kiss at midnight. And stay away from Gennifer.”
“Believe me, I intend to,” Hugh said with alacrity.
“It’s Gennifer’s intentions that I’d be worried about,” John said seriously.
“Maybe I’ll just go and hide in the loo until midnight,” Hugh muttered.
“We can all keep an eye on Gennifer and try to help keep her away from you,” Bessie said. “If you’re sure that’s what you want.”
Hugh looked at Bessie and sighed. “She’s gorgeous and all, but I love Grace with all my heart. The last thing I want to do is anything that might spoil things between me and Grace. I want to spend the rest of my life with her, you know that.”
“I do, but Grace doesn’t,” Bessie pointed out.
“I’m an idiot,” Hugh said. “I should have proposed at Christmas like I planned.”
“Ask her at midnight,” Doona suggested. “That would be awfully romantic.”
“I didn’t bring the ring with me,” Hugh said miserably.
“Surely it’s more important that Grace knows how you really feel,” Bessie said.
Hugh shrugged. “We’ll see,” he said, looking down at his shoes.
People kept arriving, including many more of Bessie’s friends. She was happy to see Liz and her husband, Bill, arrive. Bessie had first met Liz at a Manx language class and then worked with her at “Christmas at the Castle.” She was a vivacious blonde with two small children and a third on the way. Tonight Liz was wearing a form-fitting dress and Bessie fancied that she could just see a hint of a bump developing.
She greeted the girl with a hug. “You look stunning,” she said.
“I feel as if I look bumpy,” Liz laughed. “But Bill said no one would notice.”
“I noticed, but I already knew about the baby,” Bessie said. “I’m sure if I hadn’t known, I wouldn’t have guessed.”
“We’re ready to start telling people anyway, so I suppose it doesn’t matter either way,” Liz said.
Bessie greeted the woman’s handsome young husband with another hug. “Congratulations on the impending new addition,” she told him.
“Thanks,” he said with a grin. “We’re very excited.”
As Bessie chatted with the pair, she kept one eye on Gennifer, who was talking with several of George’s business associates. Liz glanced around the room and then frowned at Bessie.
“Is that Gennifer Carter-Maxwell?” she hissed.
“Yes, she and Elizabeth, Mary’s daughter, are friends,” Bessie replied.
Liz looked at Bill, who flushed and looked at the ground.
“You didn’t know she was going to be here, did you?” Liz demanded.
“Of course not,” Bill replied quickly. “I haven’t spoken to her in five years or more.”
The woman in question interrupted the conversation.
“Bill Martin, it is so very lovely to see you again,” Gennifer said silkily. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him for an uncomfortably long time.
“I think that’s quite enough,” Liz snapped.
“Oh, Liza, isn’t it? Are you and Bill still together? I never imagined you’d last this long,” Gennifer said as she released the man.
“We’re married with two children,” Liz said steadily. “And we’re very happy, thank you.”
“Yawn,” Gennifer replied. “And you used to be so much fun,” she said to Bill. She whispered something into his ear and then winked at Liz. “Good luck,” she said before she walked away.
Bessie watched as the woman sashayed away, this time heading towards Nigel. Whatever she said to him, his face reddened. A moment later Bessie watched as Gennifer swept out of the room. A glance at her watch told Bessie that she still had another hour to wait for midnight. As soon as they’d rung in the new year, Bessie was determined to head for home.
“It’s quite wet and windy out there,” Hugh told her a short time later when he joined her near the bar.
“Is it? It wasn’t a bad walk over,” Bessie said.
“Grace and I came in a taxi so that we could both have a few drinks, but you’re welcome to ride home with us,” he replied.
“I may have to take you up on that,” Bessie said.
“That is, if Grace is speaking to me again,” he added sadly.
Bessie turned and spotted Grace, still sitting with a small group of Elizabeth’s friends. “Maybe you should go over and talk to her,” Bessie suggested.
“I’ve tried, like ten times,” Hugh replied. “But she won’t even look at me. I finally went for a walk outside to calm down, but it’s really awful out there.”
“I’ll have a word, shall I?”
“I don’t know,” Hugh said. “I don’t want you dragged into the middle of all of this.”
“Maybe you can talk in the taxi on the way home, once you’ve dropped me off,” Bessie said.
“She’s meant to be staying with me for a while,” Hugh told Bessie. “The girls she had that flat with in Lonan all split up to go their separate ways, so I told her she could stay in my spare room to save having to drive back and forth from Douglas every day from her parents’ house.”
> “She’s still working in Laxey?” Bessie asked.
“Yes, she’s going to be supply teaching there for the rest of the school year and I thought, well, I thought we were going to be engaged by now anyway when I asked her to stay with me,” Hugh sighed deeply. “I’ve made a real mess of everything,” he said gloomily.
“I’m sure you’ll be able to make things up to her,” Bessie said. “You just have to keep trying.”
“I hope so,” Hugh said. He asked the man behind the bar for a pint of lager. Drink in hand, he squared his shoulders. “I’m off; wish me luck,” he told Bessie.
“Good luck,” she said, hoping that her good wishes would help. She really liked both Hugh and Grace and she thought they were perfect for one another.
The minutes continued to tick along slowly. Bessie enjoyed the delicious food and drank a bit more champagne than maybe she should have. Mostly, she appreciated the chance to chat with some of her friends. Nearly everyone seemed to be having a good time, although she kept a worried eye on Grace and Hugh and also Liz and Bill, who seemed at odds with one another. Bessie couldn’t work out if Elizabeth’s friends were having fun or not. They all seemed to be drinking a great deal and every time she looked over at them it appeared that different pairs of men and women were snuggled up together.
With only a few minutes to go until midnight, everyone began to gather around a large television that was showing the celebrations in London city centre. In the corner of the screen, the last five minutes of the year were being counted down. Bessie found herself standing next to John and Doona as Mary and George passed around party poppers and those annoying party blowers that make too much noise.
Bruce and Howard seemed to be having a contest to see who could make more noise with his blower and Bessie found herself wishing she’d taken some headache tablets before she’d come out. Elizabeth seemed to have lost her shoes somewhere, and as Elizabeth whispered something to Emma, Bessie noticed the sparkling silver clip that was holding up Emma’s hair.
“5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1, Happy New Year!” the crowd shouted as the countdown finished.
Bessie smiled as John and Doona hugged and then jumped apart quickly. She hugged the handsome policeman and then gave her best friend a squeeze. Looking across the room, she watched as Grace turned her back on Hugh as he held out his arms. She frowned when she saw Liz giving Bill a perfunctory kiss on the cheek. Elizabeth and Howard were caught up in an embrace that Bessie found embarrassing to watch. Jeremy, Bruce, Sarah, and Emma had an awkward sort of group hug, with Sarah hanging on to Bruce a little bit longer than strictly necessary. As the noise level rose and then dropped again, Nigel came rushing into the room.
“Has anyone seen Gennifer lately?” he demanded in a loud voice.
Chapter Three
“She’s probably gone to her room to sulk because she wasn’t getting enough attention,” Sarah called out.
“Which man is missing?” Bruce asked. “She’ll be with him, wherever he is.”
“Who else is missing?” Elizabeth giggled. She looked around the room and then shrugged. “I don’t see anyone else missing except for daddy. She won’t be with daddy, of course.”
Bessie glanced around in surprise. Elizabeth was right; George Quayle wasn’t in the great room. She caught Mary’s eye and raised an eyebrow.
“George had to deal with a small matter,” Mary said. “I believe he’s still in the wine cellar.”
“I’d like everyone to remain here,” John said, taking charge. “Mary, could you show me where to find the wine cellar?”
“What’s going on, then?” George demanded from the doorway.
“Ah, there you are,” John replied. “It seems that no one knows where Gennifer has gone.”
“I haven’t seen her,” George said quickly. “Not for at least an hour.”
John nodded. “She left the party just after eleven,” he agreed. “Mary, can you send someone to check her room, please?” he asked.
“This is silly,” Elizabeth said. “I have to say, you’re very sexy when you’re playing policeman,” she said to John. “But I’m sure Gennifer has just found herself a new plaything from among the staff and is off having some fun. I refuse to let her spoil the party.”
“We can all split up and search the house,” Mary suggested a moment later when one of the maids returned to report that Gennifer wasn’t in her room. “Maybe she wandered into one of the wings and can’t find her way back here.”
“That’s a good idea,” John said. “Maybe a few people would like to volunteer to help with the search? Everyone else can get back to enjoying themselves.”
Bessie, Hugh and Doona all quickly walked to where John was standing. Bruce and Emma joined them as well, as did a few of George’s middle-aged businessmen friends that Bessie didn’t know. Behind them, Elizabeth loudly demanded more champagne.
John frowned and then turned to Mary. “You know the house and I don’t. What’s the best way to split it up and search it?”
“There are half a dozen wings, each starting from a different part of the main house,” Mary explained. “I can’t imagine who designed the place; it’s really something of a mess. Anyway, if you want to follow me, I can show you the entrance to each wing and someone can check all of the rooms there. Almost the entire house is empty now, so the search shouldn’t take long. I’ll search Elizabeth’s wing and the rooms where George and I have been staying myself.”
“I can help with that,” Emma offered. “As I’m staying in Elizabeth’s wing, I mean.”
“Thank you,” Mary smiled at the girl.
The little group made their way into the corridor. “This hallway has about ten empty guest rooms,” Mary told them, gesturing down a dimly lit passage. “I don’t think anyone has ever actually used these rooms. I can’t imagine why they’re here, but they are all furnished, at least lightly.”
“When the Pierce family first bought the house, they used to have elaborate parties with dozens of guests from across,” Bessie told her. “I’m sure they used every room in the house in the early days. Over time, the parties got smaller and smaller.”
“Well, we’re going to turn them into suites for the other children and the grandchildren,” Mary said. “But not until after we’ve finished our own suite and Elizabeth’s wing.”
“Bessie, why don’t you and Doona check this wing,” John suggested. “When you’ve checked all of the rooms, just wait here for us to come back and collect you.”
Bessie was quick to agree. The group moved on with Mary talking about the next wing, which housed servant quarters, while Bessie and Doona started down the corridor.
“John gave us this section because he doesn’t think we’ll find anything,” Doona complained.
“I do hope he’s right,” Bessie replied.
Bessie turned the handle and pushed open the first door they came to. She switched on the light and shrugged. The large bedroom looked as if it had never been slept in.
“Is there an en-suite?” Doona asked.
“Undoubtedly,” Bessie said with a chuckle. It only took a moment to check that that too was empty.
They continued on, checking room after room. The rooms were all beautifully decorated and seemingly untouched.
“This is sad and almost creepy,” Doona said after a few minutes. “So much wasted space.”
“I’m sure it will all look and feel totally different once Mary is done with it,” Bessie said. “And it will be nice for her children to be able to stay with them once in a while.”
“Because they all live so far away in Douglas,” Doona laughed.
“I’m surprised neither of the boys were at the party tonight,” Bessie mused. “Perhaps they were busy with their own friends.”
They’d reached the last door on the hall. “Here goes nothing,” Doona said. She opened the door and switched on the light.
“Well, that’s interesting,” Bessie said as she looked around the room. Unlike th
e other rooms they’d inspected, the bed in this room appeared to have been recently disturbed.
“It looks as if someone has been sleeping in here,” Doona said.
“Or at least using the bed,” Bessie commented.
Doona held out her arm to stop Bessie from entering the room. “Someone might still be in here,” she whispered.
“Hello?” Bessie shouted. “Is there anyone here?”
“You’re going to get us both killed,” Doona hissed.
“The room feels empty,” Bessie told her. “I think someone just used it for a, um, romantic interlude or something.”
“You could be right,” Doona agreed. “But who?”
Bessie pushed Doona’s arm away and crossed the room. She pointed to one of the pillows, where a long red hair was clearly visible. “I could guess,” she said to Doona.
Doona sighed. “She has her own room,” she said. “Why use this one?”
“Why not?” Bessie shrugged. “Anyway, it might not have been Gennifer. The bed might have been like this for months or even years. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce clearly weren’t using this wing and the house has been on the market since last March. Maybe someone from the security team was having secret trysts here or something.”
Doona checked the en-suite. “Someone ran water in there recently,” she told Bessie. “The sink is still wet and so is the shower.”
“So we’ve discovered something, if not the missing Gennifer,” Bessie said.
“Now we just have to wait for John and the others to come back for us,” Doona said as they exited the rumpled room.
“Where does this go?” Bessie asked, pointing to a door on the back wall of the corridor.
“I don’t know, outside maybe,” Doona said.
Bessie turned the lock and pulled the door open. Hugh was right, it was windy and rainy outside. She looked out, trying to orient herself. “We’re right on the path that goes around the back of the house,” she told Doona. “You don’t suppose…”
Doona looked at Bessie and both women frowned. “Let’s get John,” Doona suggested.
“We should take a quick look,” Bessie argued. “I’d hate to waste John’s time.”
Aunt Bessie Knows Page 4