After a few moments, Helena said, "It's a lovely night, isn't it? I just adore this time of year."

"I do, too," I admitted. As we strolled through the gardens and across the landscaped terraces, I found myself sharing more with Helena than I'd ever intended. Somehow during our walk, the topic shifted to my current living conditions, and I told her that my cats and I had been evicted, and were looking for a new place to stay.

"You have cats? How delightful. I'm afraid Reggie's been allergic since he was a boy, and I had to give up my sweet Elysium. Jennifer, may I come visit you and your roommates, as you so charmingly put it?"

"Absolutely. Don't expect a warm reception, though. Oggie and Nash aren't known for their charms at first glance."

"Nor should they be," Helena said. "That's why I've always admired cats. They are honest about how they feel to the point of brutality." She paused, then said, "Jennifer, come with me. There's something I'd like to show you."

I had no idea where she was leading me, but I soon found myself in front of a charming little cabin nestled in a small grove of trees. She went in ahead of me and flipped on the main light. Warm oak pillars stood tall inside, with pastel shades covering the drywall between them.

"It's a timber frame," I said in delight. "I didn't know they made buildings like this so small. I always thought they were grand, sweeping structures."

"We had a framer and his crew come down from Vermont to build it. It's only five hundred square feet, but there's a kitchen, a modest bathroom, and a loft for sleeping. You're not afraid of heights, are you?"

"No, ma'am. I had the top bunk every time I went to summer camp."

She smiled. "Good. Elysium used to love pouncing on me from up there."

"The way the cabin is situated, no one would ever even know it's here."

"That was my plan," Helena said. "Once upon a time I wanted to be an artist more than anything in the world. I spent many joyous hours here away from the world."

"So why did you stop?" I asked. There was no sign of easel, paint or canvas anywhere.

Helena sighed. "I wish I knew. One morning I woke up, and the joy was gone from it, utterly and completely. A few years later, I had it converted into a guest cottage, though no one's ever stayed here. They all seem to prefer the main house."

"I think they're nuts," I said as I looked around. "This place is perfect."

"I was hoping you'd think so. Jennifer, if you'd like it, it's yours."

It took me a second to realize what she was saying. "Pardon me?"

Helena laughed. "I'm not deeding it to you, but I'd be delighted if you'd stay here. I have only one request."

"Name it," I said. This place was perfect for me, and I knew Oggie and Nash would love it, too. There were ledges throughout the small s.p.a.ce, and my cats I had natural inclinations to scale to the highest spot in any room-in order to look down on their loyal subjects, no doubt.

"I would like to be able to visit with you and your cats on occasion. Don't worry, I'd never come in without your permission, but it would be a delight having cats on the property again."

"Are you sure Reggie won't mind?" I was thinking of his allergies, but from Helena's reaction, she'd obviously come to a different conclusion.

"No matter what my son may think, I'm still in charge around here. Oh, I suppose I'll have to charge you a nominal amount of rent, but it will be a pittance, I a.s.sure you."

"What kind of pittance did you have in mind?" I asked, knowing how bare my budget for housing was.

"What do you think is appropriate? For example, what were you paying for your attic loft?"

I named the figure, and Helena said, "Then let's say half that, shall we? Reggie won't have any right to complain that you're taking advantage of me if I'm charging you rent."

I shook my head. "Not enough, though. Helena, I don't want to cause any bad feelings between you and your son."

She touched my shoulder lightly. "That's very thoughtful of you, Jennifer, but the tension was there long before you arrived. So what do you say? Do we have a deal?"

"We do," I said as I took her offered hand. "It's very kind of you, Helena."

"Don't be silly, I have motives of my own."

Back at the house, we entered through the kitchen, and she retrieved a set of keys from a drawer. "This one's to the cottage, and this is for the front gate if the power should ever go out. It was open tonight in your honor, but we normally keep it closed. The code is 5-12-58."

"Got it. Is that somebody's birthday?" She shook her head. "No, nothing that mundane. Actually, it's the day I met my husband. His father was transferred here near the end of the academic it year, and I was asked to show him around school. I was lost to him forever after that." She roused from her reminiscence, and said, "Let's go get that dessert in now, shall we?"

I agreed, and was putting the new keys on my ring, when we walked back into the dining room. Gail and Reggie were there, obviously expecting us to come in the other way.

"You were gone quite a while," Reggie said. "We le, were worried about you."

"You shouldn't have been," Helena said. "I have wonderful news. Jennifer's agreed to stay in the cottage. Isn't that delightful? She's bringing her cats with her, too."

"You know I'm allergic to them," Reggie said.

"Why on earth did you agree to this?"

"Because I'm still the one who runs this family. I expect you to be courteous to our guest."

Reggie looked like he'd rather eat gravel, but he nodded glumly. "We waited on dessert. Shall I have Matilda serve?"

Helena nodded, and Reggie pushed a b.u.t.ton on the wall summoning the next course. After we ate, Helena said, "If you'll excuse me, I've got a telephone call to make." She took my hands in hers and said, "Jennifer, I can't wait to have you here with us."

"Thanks again, Helena."

"You're most welcome." She turned to Gail and said, "Good night. Thank you for bringing such a delightful guest with you."

"Mother, may I have a word with you?" Reggie asked her.

"Of course. I always have time for you."

I let myself out, and was getting into the Gremlin when Gail flagged me down. I rolled down my window and asked, "What's up? Am I being summoned back inside?"

"No, but I've been pretty effectively dismissed. Reggie asked me to get a ride back to my place with you. Do you mind?"

"Well, I was going out clubbing, but I guess I could drop you off on my way," I said, laughing. I hadn't had much interest going to bars when I'd been in my twenties, and I certainly wasn't about to pick the habit up in my thirties.

"Nightclubbing or card-clubbing?" she said as she got in the pa.s.senger side.

"Neither one," I said. "Actually, I need to go home and start packing. I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble in there. If you'd rather I didn't move into the cottage, I'll call Helena in the morning and tell her I've changed my mind."

"You still need a new place to live, don't you?"

"Yes, but not enough to jeopardize our friendship," I replied. "It's easier to find a new address than it is to come up with a new best friend."

She thought about it for a few seconds, then said, "Jennifer, I couldn't live with myself if you turned that place down on my account. Helena certainly took a shine to you, didn't she? I wish she'd smile at me like that just once."

I laughed. "She likes me because I'm not dating her son. You've got two strikes against you from the start. How did you two meet?"

"Thanks for not saying it, but I know what you're thinking. We're an odd match."

"I wouldn't go that far," I said as I swung back out onto the highway. I was going to have a longer commute to work every day, but with that cottage waiting for me, it was going to be worth it.

"It's okay, I'm not sure I understand it myself. There's just something about him that makes my stomach flutter."

"Then that's all the reason you need," I said.

"I am really sorry about tonight," Gail said. "I can't believe Reggie's friend bailed on you at the last second."

"Are you kidding me? He did me a huge favor. If he'd shown up on schedule, there's no way I would have gotten that grand tour, let alone a new place to stay."

"Actually, it was Martin's comment that led to it all." Gail's voice softened as she added, "Jennifer, I didn't have a chance to call you today, but I'm sorry about the rumors going on around town about Sara Lynn."

"You didn't start any of them, did you?" I asked.

"What? Of course not."

I grinned at her. "Then don't apologize for it. That's just one of the things you have to accept when you live in a small town. People talk, and when there's something as high profile as this, they tend to talk a lot. Don't worry. Lillian and I are trying to find alternate suspects for my brother."

"And what does Bradford say about that?"

I shrugged. "He doesn't know yet, and I'm not planning on telling him until we've got our suspect picked out."

"Just be careful," Gail said as I pulled up in front of her condo. "I'd hate to lose you."

"I'm watching every step I take," I said. "Thanks again for tonight. I know it didn't turn out how we'd planned, but 1 had a lovely time."

"I'll do better at matchmaking the next time," Gail said. "I promise."

"The only promise I want from you is one that says there won't be a next time. I've officially withdrawn my name from the blind-dating pool."

"You can't give up," Gail said. "I know there's somebody out there for you."

"Well, unless he walks into my card shop, he's going to have a hard time finding me. Good night, Gail."

"Night," she said. I waited until she was safely inside before I drove back to my attic apartment I'd miss the charming s.p.a.ce, but in several ways I was trading up. At Helena's, I'd have lots more room, und the cats would have plenty of vantage points from which to peer down at me. Having to see Reggie occasionally would be a negative, but the fact that he was allergic to cats meant that he wouldn't be popping ill on me unexpectedly. As for Helena's promised visits, I just hoped Oggie and Nash would be on their best behavior, or I'd be looking for another place to live soon enough.

Chapter 6.

"Okay, guys, we're moving," I told Oggie and Nash when I walked into my apartment.

Oggie yowled at me, and I said, "Hey, I don't want to go, either, but we're being evicted." Just then, the door to the bathroom slammed, though none of the windows were open to create a breeze. "Sorry, Frances, it's not my fault." I didn't know if that would mollify the forgetful poltergeist or not, but if she wanted to haunt someone to protest the move, she was going to have to track down Hester Taylor. After all, it was her fault I was leaving.

Unfortunately, I'd become pretty adept at packing in the past few years, so I had a good idea about how to approach it. After I changed into sweats and an old T-shirt, I made a note to get more boxes at the grocery store. As I started jettisoning unwanted items into a trash bag, there was a knock on my door.

I grabbed my aluminum softball bat before I went to the peephole to see who was visiting me. Though Bradford had arranged for a stainless steel door to be installed, I still never answered without some kind of protection, and the bat had served me well in the past.

It was Lillian. I unbolted the door and stepped aside so she could come in.

She looked at me critically, then said, "Jennifer, if you greet all of your callers that way, I can see how you might have trouble attracting a young man."

"This is the best repellent I know for the bad ones," I said as I locked the door behind her. "You're out awfully late."

"And unfortunately you're not. What happened to your mystery man?"

"He's going to remain one," I said. "He stood me up."

Lillian frowned. "So now they're rejecting you before you even meet? That certainly cuts down on the stress level, doesn't it?"

"It's not all bad," I said. "I found a new place to live."

"I can't imagine how that came about."

I told her about my new arrangement, but she wasn't as happy for me as I'd hoped. "You should be thrilled, Lillian. My problems are over."

"Or are they? Jennifer, you haven't had much contact with people like the Blooms in your life, have you?"

"Just because they have money doesn't mean they're different," I said.

"Nor does it mean they're better," she replied. "Remember that."

"I didn't care for Reggie Bloom, but I found his mother delightful. She's a cat lover, too."

Lillian shook her head. "And that's all you need to vouch for someone else's character, isn't it?"

"I'll admit it goes a long way," I say. "You should see this place, Lillian. It's a beautiful cottage near the main garden, and it's completely separate from the house. Oggie and Nash are going to love it."

"So you haven't taken a room in their home?" Lillian said, acting a little surprised.

"Are you crazy? No, it's all by itself. There's no way I'd be a roomer somewhere, no matter how nice it was. Have you ever been inside the house? It's incredible."

"No, but I dated Peter Bloom at one time, though his name was Bradbury then."

"What are you talking about, Lillian?"

Lillian frowned. "So you don't know everything about your hosts. Their family tradition is that the head of the household is a Bloom, regardless if it's a man or woman. When he married Helena, one of the things Peter had to agree to was to abandon the name Bradbury forever and take his wife's name."