Murder at Longbourn by Tracy Kiely Page B

need, she also liked to be recognized for it. I wondered if it was difficult for Jackie to live with constant reminders of her benefactor’s kindness.
    Taking their coats, I led them into the dining room, wherePeter and Aunt Winnie stood talking with Joan and Henry. Henry preened proudly in his tux, mentioning often that he’d purchased it at one of Mrs. Dubois’s favorite stores. Joan’s bright red dress was very festive, but instead of adding color to her complexion, it had the opposite effect. She looked deathly pale. While Aunt Winnie made the introductions, I went to the kitchen to get the tray of hors d’oeuvres. I had just returned with it when Daniel arrived, looking like he’d stepped off the cover of GQ magazine. I deduced that the people with him were the Ramseys.
    Gerald was a tall man who appeared to be in his early sixties. His thick mane of silver hair was meticulously brushed back from his face and his eyes were a cold, almost translucent shade of blue. I don’t know if it was his solid build or direct, unblinking gaze, but he had a definite presence. And it wasn’t a pleasant one. There was a ruthlessness in his expression reminiscent of creatures in the animal kingdom that eat their young. In fact, if it weren’t for the young woman standing just behind him, who I could only assume was his daughter, Polly, I wouldn’t have been surprised to find out that he had.
    She was probably in her early twenties, but her plain gown with the Peter Pan collar made her seem younger. Her shoulder-length jet-black hair was pulled back in a tortoiseshell headband, further emphasizing her youthful appearance. The only discordant note was her eyes. Large and green, they slanted up like a cat’s. Framed by delicately winged eyebrows, they hinted at an exotic and mature nature underneath the otherwise unremarkable and childlike façade.
    Next to her stood a woman who, by virtue of the fact that she was both blond and tan, I took to be Gerald’s wife, Lauren. With her heart-shaped face, large blue eyes, and faintly vacant expression,she reminded me of my first Barbie doll. Her pink silk dress was stunning in its simplicity—always an indication of expense. In fact, I suspected I could live off its cost for months. I felt a pang of jealousy. Here was the woman who purportedly held Daniel’s interest. Any hope I had of her being nothing more than a nasty little freckled thing with money vanished.
    Beside me, Linnet sniffed contemptuously. “What a pretty dress Lauren has on tonight, although I’ve always thought of pink as a young woman’s color.” A rather catty remark, considering Lauren couldn’t be more than forty-five, but one I secretly enjoyed nevertheless.
    Aunt Winnie rushed over to greet the newcomers. “Well, hello, Gerald, Happy New Year! Lauren, you look lovely! That’s a gorgeous dress! And Polly, I’m so glad to see you, my dear.”
    “Winifred,” said Gerald with a curt nod. Lauren and Polly each smiled a bit shyly and shifted uncomfortably.
    Peter appeared with a tray of glasses filled with champagne. Following his cue, I picked up my tray of assorted hors d’oeuvres and followed.
    “Who are you?” demanded Gerald of me as he reached for a crab cake.
    “Gerald,” said Aunt Winnie, “this is my grandniece, Elizabeth Parker. She’s staying with me for the weekend.”
    “How do you do?” I inquired.
    He ignored me and regarded the room with an appraising eye. “I see you’ve made some changes to the place since I was here last, Winifred.”
    “Yes,” replied Aunt Winnie, turning to admire the room’s blue-and-white motif. “Do you like it?”
    “No.”
    Beside him, Lauren gasped slightly. “Gerry!” she said in a resigned tone. It was clear that she didn’t expect her admonishment to have any effect on her husband’s manners; instead she merely seemed to be letting us know that she didn’t condone his behavior. There was a moment of awkward silence. Only Daniel watched the