"Only?"
"There was no one there. I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles there was someone."
I stared at him a moment.
"Well, once someone puts ideas into your head the way Rye doesyour imagination plays tricks on you," I told him. He nodded.
"That's what I think, too, ma'am. Well, then, if you're looking for the fastest way back to the house, just take this right turn here, go two left turns and then make a right. That should do it."
"Thank you. I feel a bit silly for getting confused."
"No reason to, ma'am. Have a good night now." He looked up. "It's almost too dark for me to go on working. I'm just going to finish this piece and be off myself."
"Yes," I said. "Thanks again." I followed his directions and stepped out on the grounds, a dozen yards or so from the place where I had first entered. As I walked quickly back toward the house, I looked up and saw that Jillian was still at her window.
Only now she was nodding slowly, as if my getting lost and emerging the way I had had
confirmed something in her maddened mind, as if I had given flesh to her wild imaginings. She smiled at me and then pulled back from the window, satisfied.
I hurried on to reenter the house and bask in the warm security that lights and noise and other people would provide. I was happy to see that Logan and Tony had not yet returned. I went to my suite quickly and rinsed my face in cold water, finally calming myself and removing the flush in my cheeks. Shortly afterward Logan arrived.
"Where did you two go?" I asked as he undressed to shower and change for dinner
"Oh, Tony wanted me to meet someone involved in marketing the toys abroad. Interesting man. Explained everything in great detail, and when I told him about our venture in Winnerow, he became very interested. He said Europeans have a driving curiosity about backwoods America. We're sure to prove successful. Tony became very enthusiastic about it."
"Did he?"
"Yes," Logan said, then paused as he studied my face. "Why do you look so unhappy?"
"I had gone down to see him about Jillian, right before you two left. She's in a very bad state and Tony's been ignoring it. Martha Goodman is disturbed enough about it to want to leave."
"Really? Oh, dear."
"Yes, oh, dear," I said. "I'll be downstairs in the living room. I have to speak with Tony."
"Okay. I'll be right along."
Tony was upstairs showering and dressing for dinner, too, but he appeared before Logan did, looking rather dapper in his blue velvet smoking jacket. There was a radiance and a brightness in his eyes. He looked happier than ever.
"Heaven. Would you join me in a cocktail before dinner?" he asked.
I was standing beside the piano, my right hand on the polished wood.
"No, Tony, not right now. I just want to talk to you before dinner "
"Oh?"
"Did you stop in to see Jillian and Martha Goodman?"
"No, I --"
"Why have you been avoiding it?" I demanded, stepping toward him. He stared at me a moment. Before he could reply, Curtis came to the doorway and he ordered a highball.
"Very good, sir," Curtis said and then eyed me.
"Nothing for me, Curtis," I said, "Well?" I asked as soon as Curtis left.
"I haven't been avoiding her. I've just been very busy. Why are you so disturbed about it?"