“Hmmm,” Victoria said as she broke off a tiny piece of doughnut and delicately nibbled at it. “We women aren’t good at hints. We like solid declarations of love and forever.”
Jared put his cup to his mouth.
“And we like rings,” Victoria said. “Anything but an emerald, and size five.”
“Victoria,” Jared said, “I think I’m old enough to make decisions about certain aspects of my own life.”
“Of course you are, darling, it’s just that I love you and Alix so much. You know that, don’t you?”
“Yes, I do,” Jared said. “I’ll take care of Alix, I promise.”
“Isn’t she wonderful?” Victoria said. “I don’t know how Ken and I were able to produce a child who is the best of both of us. Are you impressed with her talent as an architect?”
“Very much so.”
“Ken said he’s building a chapel that Alix designed. Here, let me fill your cup, and have another doughnut. You do look tired and now that I’m here I’m going to help you with whatever you need.”
Between the rum and the sugar Jared was beginning to relax. “Victoria, I don’t know where Aunt Addy’s journals are.”
Victoria took in a breath, her hand to her remarkable bosom with its six inches of cleavage showing. “Is that why you think I came here? Jared, my dearest boy, I thought you knew me better than that. You’re looking at me as though you’re afraid that I might … Well, that I might tear apart the house searching for them. Pry up the floorboards or something dreadful like that.” There were tears gathering in her eyes, which made the emerald green of them shine even brighter. “Did you thin
k I could spend years in this beautiful old house and not love it nearly as much as you do?”
“Well, I did think—” He broke off because Victoria was looking hurt. “I knew that you’d want to see them.”
“And of course I do,” she said, blinking away the tears. “I’m sure they’ll turn up. Kenneth said he’d met some little …” She waved her hand. “A researcher or some such, and he’s going to hire her to go through the attic. I just hope he can afford it. Of course Kenneth never was any good when it came to money, but who am I to complain? Are you really allowing this strange woman to stay here in your house?”
Jared picked up his fourth doughnut and filled his mouth. He was not going to give Victoria any information about Jilly. “So did you come over on the fast ferry?” he asked, his mouth full.
She smiled sweetly. “No, this time I brought a car. I thought Alix might need it. She can’t very well drive that awful old truck of yours, now can she? And by the way, where is she?”
“At Dilys’s house. I gave her some plans to work on.”
“How odd that you’d go out there to work when your office is right here. I wonder what made you do that?” She waited for Jared to reply but he didn’t. “Are the plans for anyone I know?”
Jared had an idea that Victoria knew of Jilly’s connection to the Taggerts and the Montgomerys, probably knew the net worth of each of them, but right now he didn’t want to get into that. Telling her of looking for Parthenia would lead to Caleb. “I doubt it. Look,” he said as he stood up. “I need to take Alix some paper so I better go. I’m sure you have invitations for dinner.”
“Several of them.” She walked to the other side of the coffee table and put her arms out to him.
He couldn’t help hugging her.
“Jared, my dearest, dearest boy,” she said softly, “you can’t imagine how pleased I am about you and Alix. I’ve always thought you two were meant for each other. Kenneth fought me on it, but I persevered. Both of you are truly fine people and I love you both very much.” She pulled away, her hands on his arms. “I couldn’t have created a better man for my daughter than you are. Do you know how much I admire you?”
Jared softened at her words. “And I owe you so much. I wouldn’t be where I am today if it hadn’t been for your help.”
“I just supplied financial aid and encouragement now and then. Not so much.”
“It was everything to me,” Jared said.
“And now I’m giving you my most precious possession, my beautiful, brilliant daughter.”
“She’s both of those things,” Jared said, smiling warmly at the memory of Alix. They’d been apart only hours but he was missing her.
“I’m glad you think so,” Victoria said as she leaned forward and put her warm, soft cheek next to his. “So now you can give me Valentina’s journal,” she whispered.
It took Jared a moment to react and he stepped away from her, his eyes wide. “We just found it yesterday! Who told you about it?”
“Twig’s wife, Jude, sent me an email. We’ve been such good friends for years. I adore her chickens and—”