along with fragrant rolls and a bowl of salad.
Marnie spread her napkin in her lap.
“This looks absolutely delicious, Mrs. Grady. I didn’t think I was hungry until I smelled your cooking.”
“Well, now. Everyone enjoy. Is there anything else you need before I leave for the night?”
“No, nothing, Mrs. Grady,” Ruth said. “Mary can take care of our needs.”
“There’s raspberry mousse for dessert,” she said as she turned toward the kitchen. “Mary will fetch it when you’re ready.”
“You’re lucky to have such an excellent cook,” Marnie said.
“She’s too familiar,” Ruth grumbled. “When I have a formal affair, I have to tell her to stay in the kitchen. She would be chatting with the guests if I didn’t put my foot down.”
“She’s been here since I was young,” David said. “She’s like one of the family.”
Ruth sniffed at that statement.
“Everything I’ve eaten has been delicious: blueberry muffins, soup, this roast, and all the meals she sent up to me. Every meal is perfect.” She was wondering how many hours the older woman worked every day, but she didn’t think she could ask such a thing. David spoke up, though, and seemed to read her thoughts.
“Mrs. Grady lives over what we call the carriage house in the back of this house. She has a nice apartment there. She says she likes just walking across the yard and not having to worry about getting to and from work. She fixes breakfast for everyone, and sometimes she fixes lunch. It depends on whether anyone is going to be home or not. If it’s just Jonathan and Mrs. Tucker, she may leave soup or simple leftovers for them to warm up. Most afternoons Mrs. Grady goes to her apartment and takes a nap then returns to finish preparing dinner. She has Saturday and Sunday off, and we eat what there is or go out. Mother likes to eat at the country club with her friends.”
“It sounds like that works out well for everyone,” Marnie agreed.
Ruth ate silently, not adding anything further to the conversation.
“I see you found your mother’s brooch,” David commented, looking at the ornament pinned to her dress.
Marnie’s hand went to the silver circle, and her fingers traced the leaves. “My mother’s? This was my mother’s?”
Ruth paused her eating, her hand frozen in place. She looked as if the bite of food she had just taken was rotten. As she stared at the jeweled adornment, her mouth twisted into a sneer.
“Yes,” David answered. “She wore it to work often. I complimented her on it once, and she told me it was precious to her. She said it had been her mother’s,” he said, glancing at his mother.
“I found it in a drawer. I had no idea.”
Ruth took the napkin from her lap and placed it beside her plate.
“I can’t eat any more. I’m going to my room,” she pronounced, and before David could get up and help her with her chair, she had risen and marched from the room.
Marnie looked helplessly at David.
“It wasn’t anything you said or did”—he laid his hand atop hers and squeezed it—“I shouldn’t have brought up your mother. I told you she was sensitive about Pamela.”
He withdrew his hand and started eating again. “I appreciate your dressing appropriately and being on time tonight.”
“I take it that is something unusual for me, since you’re mentioning it?”
“You might say that. It was hard for you to be anywhere on time, and it drives my mother crazy for people to be late for anything, especially dinner. I sometimes think you do it just to aggravate her. And when she complains about the way you dress, you’ll wear an even more provocative outfit the next time.”
Marnie didn’t know what to say about the actions she couldn’t remember.
“I have something to confess,” David said, glancing up at her.
“Something to confess?”
“Yes. This was a test, of sorts. I wanted to see if you would be late, as usual, and what you would choose to wear.”
“I see. Well, it almost got me. I was almost late because I had to try on so many dresses to find one that wasn’t too short or too low cut, much less too tight.”
He laughed. “I imagine that’s right.”
Mary entered the room from the kitchen. “Is there anything you need, Mr. David?”
“We’re ready for dessert now, Mary.” He turned to Marnie. “Am I rushing you?”
“No. If I don’t stop now I won’t have room for raspberry mousse. It sounds delicious. And”—she laughed—“all my dresses will be too tight for sure.”
David