Reluctant Deception - Cambria Smyth Page 0,43

a long time now, Chris. Something we need to discuss," Libby began.

"A confession, perhaps?" Chris replied cryptically, arching an eyebrow.

"Of a sort. But I'd prefer not to discuss it here. Could we go to the entrance hall?"

"Certainly." The entrance hall? What was she up to, he wondered?

They walked in silence to the great hallway, which was radiantly illuminated by the many colors of afternoon light streaming through the stained glass window at the stair landing. The ornately-carved oak staircase wound upwards, its heavily varnished surface dulled and dirty from years of neglect. An assortment of mismatched chairs, grimy with age, were placed against the walls, while a huge oak console table with heavily carved legs dominated the wall closest to the staircase.

"What do you see when you look around?" Libby asked evenly.

"Are you kidding?" Chris replied, glancing with disdain towards the staircase. "I see walls with crumbling plaster, a ceiling dangerously close to caving in from water damage by leaky pipes overhead, an ancient marble floor with tiles missing or coming loose, a staircase that's a safety hazard, and paint peeling in sheets off the baseboards. In short, what I really see is a huge, filthy, run-down room in a huge, filthy, run-down mansion."

"That's a fair assessment," Libby replied, noting the look of surprise on his face at her concurrence with his description.

"Now, let me tell you what I see. A year from now, I see a grand reception area here. The hallway and stairs have been fixed, cleaned, and repainted. That large console table over there has been meticulously refinished. It's pulled away from the wall and sits prominently in the hallway right about here." Libby gestured to a spot near the staircase.

She continued. "A huge vase filled with fresh flowers, roses from the garden when in season, sits on its polished top, while a receptionist is stationed behind it, directing conference attendees to the proper room or telling them to enjoy coffee, snacks, and informal conversation in the Rose Room."

Libby stopped, noting Chris's skeptical look.

"Yes, the Rose Room. That's what the main parlor is called on those drawings you gave me. It's perhaps the only first floor room in Harte's Desire that retains all of its original furnishings. That's because it will continue to serve in its intended capacity as a place where people can read, talk with others, or have just a quiet place to contemplate. The Rose Room will be one of the most important rooms in your conference center because of its eccentric, yet alluring originality."

My conference center? Chris tried to decide if he heard her correctly. She was talking about using Harte's Desire as the conference center! It was almost laughable. Rather than stop her from carrying it any further, he decided to let her continue, thinking it would be nothing, if not amusing, to hear her grand scheme.

"A year from now the dining room, library, study, and other parlors have been converted into meeting rooms of various sizes," Libby continued. "Bedrooms on the second and third floors will be restored, keeping their original furnishings when possible. Almost like bed-and-breakfast lodgings, but with all of the modern amenities. The ballroom will serve as the new dining room for conference attendees. Because of its grand size, it can also be used for weddings or other social functions on the weekends, filling the gap that often occurs after the businessmen and women have gone home at week's end. Once restored, the gazebo and gardens alone will be reason enough to lure prospective brides and grooms here for three out of four seasons."

Libby paused, wondering at Chris's silence. Although he appeared to be listening to her, she couldn't tell whether it was from politeness or genuine interest. His face was a mask of neutrality, neither condemning nor applauding. At least she had his attention, she thought.

"The kitchen is certainly large enough to handle the great volume of food preparation and, once modernized, can accommodate the projected number of guests who will use this facility daily. I’ve seen your estimates. New mechanical systems--air conditioning especially--will be installed in the attic and basement conveniently out of sight. There are ways to hide the ducts in the floors and ceilings without creating an unsightly mess in these beautifully detailed rooms."

"I've also seen the final floor plans your architect drew up for the new conference center and although Harte's Desire is smaller, you could move many of the administrative functions to the carriage house, or even build an addition that blends