Shakespeares Champion Page 0,49

when she chose.

"You came by on days you weren't supposed to work at Marie's."

I looked off. That was no one's concern.

"She appreciated it more than you will realize until you get old yourself, Lily."

"I liked her." I looked at an oil painting of the three Winthrop grandchildren. Somehow it felt even odder seeing Bobo's young face in these unfamiliar surroundings. Amber Jean looked more like her mother in the picture than she did in the flesh. Howell Three looked gangly and charming.

"Of course, Marie was always conscious that she didn't have much, and Chuck was helping her live in a tolerable way."

"As he damn well ought to," I said flatly.

Our eyes met. "We certainly agree on that," Arnita said, her voice dry. I almost found myself liking her. "The point is, Marie couldn't leave you money to thank you for your kindness to her, so she told me she wanted you to have this little ring. No strings. You can sell it or wear it, whatever."

Arnita Winthrop held out a shabby brown velvet ring box.

I took it, opened it. Inside was a ring so pretty and feminine that I smiled involuntarily. It was designed to look like a flower, the petals formed of pinkish opals, the center a pearl circled by tiny diamond chips. There were two leaves, suggested by two dark green stones, which of course were not real emeralds.

"It's a pretty little thing, isn't it?" my hostess said gently.

"Oh, yes," I said. But even as I spoke, it was occurring to me that I didn't remember seeing the worn velvet box among Marie's things, and I'd been familiar with her belongings for years. I could tell my smile was fading. Marie could have concealed it somewhere clever, I supposed, but still...

"What's the matter?" Arnita leaned forward to look at my face, her own deeply concerned.

"Nothing," I said, quite automatically hiding my worry. "I'm glad to have it to remember her by, if you're sure that's what she wanted." I hesitated. "I can't recollect ever seeing Marie wear this ring."

"She didn't, for years, thought it looked too young for an old wrinkled woman like the ones we'd turned into," said Arnita, with a comic grimace.

"Thanks," I said, there being nothing else to do that I could think of. I stood and pulled my car keys out of my pocket.

Arnita looked a bit startled.

"Well, good night," I said, seeing I'd been too abrupt.

"Good night, Lily." The older woman rose, pushing a little on the arms of her chair. "Let me see you out and get your coat."

I protested, but she was adamant about fulfilling the forms of courtesy. She opened the beautiful doors to the family room so I was obliged to say good-bye to Howells Sr. and Jr. I hadn't brought a purse so the ring box was in my hand. Howell Jr.'s eyes registered it, and suddenly he turned white.

Then his eyes met mine, and he looked as though he were going to be sick. I was bewildered, and I am sure I looked it.

What was wrong with these people?

I said the minimum courtesy demanded, and I left the room, taking my coat from Arnita at the door. She saw me to the porch and stood there while I climbed into my car. She waved, called out admonitions to drive carefully on the wet streets, thanked me for coming, hoped she would see me again soon. At last she closed her doors behind her.

I shook my head as I turned my keys in the ignition, switched on my headlights. Then my head jerked, following a movement I'd caught out of the corner of my eye. I was out of the car as quickly as I could manage, staring through the dark shapes of the bushes lining the drive, trying to figure out what I'd just seen. I wasn't about to run from the lamplight illuminating the drive into that outer darkness, and I wasn't really sure that I'd seen an actual living thing. Maybe it had been shadows shifting as I turned on my lights. Maybe it had been a dog or cat. As I began to ease down the drive, I scanned the shrubbery for movement, but I saw nothing, nothing at all.

My summons and visit to the Winthrop mansion had been peculiar and strangely off-kilter, and I was tempted to think over the problems this family obviously had. But getting involved in the internecine squabbles of the most powerful family in the county was no way