“Strayed?”
“Oh, you know. People who aren’t part of the family anymore.” He shoveled in another mouthful before nodding toward the head of the table. “Like Lex’s mother, Estelle. She divorced Lex’s dad years ago, but I know Aunt Alice still keeps in touch with her. That’s why I thought she’d be here, since it’s such a special occasion.”
Jacinta’s fork slid from her fingers. She was too shocked to speak. Lex’s mother was still alive? She’d always assumed she wasn’t because Lex had never mentioned her. But then again, she herself had never talked about her mother. He knew about her issues with her mother, but what were his? Why didn’t Lex talk about her?
“Do you know if she’s coming to the garden party tomorrow?” Matthew asked.
She picked up her fork and focused on her plate. “No, she isn’t.” Otherwise, she was convinced Lex would have mentioned it to her. Wouldn’t he?
The elaborate dinner stretched on, and when it was finally over everyone rose from the table and dispersed into the library, the billiard room, or the terrace. Jacinta hung back from the bustle, hoping to catch Lex, but it was Nana Alice who came up and linked arms with her.
“At last I have you to myself.” She beamed up at Jacinta. “Come and have coffee with me.”
They went into the library where Nana Alice ushered Jacinta to a couch in the far corner away from the others. The housekeeper brought them coffee and left them with a smile.
“Did you enjoy dinner?” Nana Alice gently squeezed Jacinta’s arm. “You look nice and healthy, but an extra pound or two wouldn’t go astray.”
“Dinner was delicious.”
“And what a pretty dress you’re wearing. Silk crêpe de chine, isn’t it? Lovely.”
“Thank you.”
The elderly lady leaned toward Jacinta, her tone conspiratorial. “Did Lex buy it for you?”
“Um, yes, he did.” No point in lying.
“Lex is a good boy.” Nana Alice lifted her gaze and sighed. “Do you think he takes after his father?”
Following her gaze, Jacinta saw a portrait hanging on the wall nearby. The man in the painting was about sixty. His head was thrown up, his chin jutting out, his eyes piercing beneath thick eyebrows. One glance told her he could only be Lex’s father. They had the same facial bone structure, the same stature, the same coloring.
“They look similar.” She tilted her head to one side. “But only physically. In other ways, they’re very different.”
“Oh? What other ways?”
“Well, he”—she nodded toward the portrait—“looks autocratic, and I know Lex can be high-handed, too, but his father, that curl to the lips, he looks far more...domineering, ruthless.” Then, realizing who she was talking to, she pressed her fingers to her mouth. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that—”
“It’s quite all right. I’m glad you’re so frank.”
“No, that was rude of me. Your own son...” She took a sip of coffee, wishing she were anywhere but here. She was making a fool of herself. Why hadn’t she just said something bland and complimentary?
“There’s no need to apologize. Philip was my son, yes, but that doesn’t mean I’m blind to his faults.” She breathed out a sigh. “He was domineering and ruthless. I tried my best, but he was always his father’s son. Lex didn’t have an easy time growing up. He’s always been talented, but no matter what his achievements it was never enough for Philip. Since Lex took his place at the company’s helm, I’ve been afraid he’d still be affected by his father’s treatment.”
She turned to Jacinta, her eyes warming. “But what you’ve just said reassures me so much. You obviously know Lex well. You can see he’s not going to turn out like his father. You know all the gentleness and kindness beneath his cool exterior.”
She did? All she’d said was that Lex wasn’t the bully his father appeared to be. Nothing about him being gentle or kind.
“I saw him winking at you at dinner like he was ten again.” Nana Alice smiled indulgently. “I haven’t seen him do that in years. Yes, you’ve changed him, Jacinta, for the better.”
“I have?”
“Oh, sure. For starters, he’s brought you here to Mariposa. He’s never brought any of his girlfriends to meet me before.” Her blue eyes grew even brighter. “But more importantly he reconciled with you after you two broke up.”
Jacinta blinked in confusion. “Why is that so special?”
“You know Lex. So intractable. Everything is black or white. I can just imagine how he reacted when the two of you separated. He would have vowed never to speak to you again, and his pride would have made him stick to that promise. But in the end he didn’t. He came back to you, and that tells me all I need to know. He cares for you. He cares so much he set aside his pride, and for him that’s no small thing. Yes, I can see you and Lex have a wonderful future together.”
Jacinta felt herself grow redder and redder. Nana Alice was in a fantasy world because of the deception she and Lex were pulling off. How could she continue to delude this gentle old woman who so obviously only wanted the best for her grandson?
“Well, actually...” The coffee sloshed in her cup as her hands shook.
“What is it, dear?”
I’m a fraud. Lex and I are both deceiving you. The words burned on the tip of her tongue. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to tell Lex’s grandmother the truth? After all, it wasn’t as if Lex suspected her of industrial espionage.
“Um, as a matter of fact, there’s something I need to tell you about Lex and me.”
But the next second, her throat closed up. What an idiot she was. Of course she couldn’t tell Nana Alice the truth because then she’d know that Lex didn’t trust his uncle or cousins, the family members closest to him, the ones he ought to be able to rely on. Nana Alice would be hurt, bewildered, upset. She couldn’t do that to her. A light sweat broke out across her shoulders as she grappled for a way to backtrack while Nana Alice looked on expectantly.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that.” She set down her cup carefully, her hands still unsteady.
“Oh dear. This looks serious.” Nana Alice gave her a sweet smile. “I know we’ve only met today but I have a feeling you and I are going to be great friends. Whatever you have on your mind, please, you can tell me.”
“Uh, actually I promised Lex I wouldn’t tell anyone. Not yet anyway.”
“Ah...it’s a big secret between you and Lex.”
Jacinta hesitated, then nodded.
“And you can’t say anything now because it’s my party, is that it?”
Jacinta shifted about. “Something like that.”
“I think I know what it is.” Nana Alice chuckled as she tapped the side of her nose and winked theatrically. “Don’t worry,” she said in a loud stage whisper. “Your secret’s safe with me. I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone. Promise.”
Oh, nuts. What exactly did Nana Alice think the secret was? Jacinta leaned forward, but before she could frame the question, they were interrupted by a couple of guests.
“Michael, Sarah!” Nana Alice waved them to take a seat. “Have I introduced you to Jacinta yet?”
Jacinta sighed silently as her opportunity to quiz Nana Alice slipped away. She forced herself to smile at the relatives and make small talk, all the while stewing over her odd conversation with Nana Alice. After she’d spent an appropriate amount of time chatting, she made her excuses and escaped.
An irrational urge to see Lex nagged at her, but he wasn’t in any of the rooms she searched, and eventually she went onto the terrace. A few people were out there, but not Lex, and she’d had her fill of polite conversation.
She slipped into the shadows and followed a path that meandered around the corner of the house. Here it was dark and quiet. Nearby the bushes rustled as something scampered away. A raccoon, she told herself. Nothing to be nervous about. She walked on. The bushes became thicker. A tall shadow detached itself from the darkness and moved toward her, and a small squeak rose to her lips.
“Who...?”
“It’s me, Lex.” He stepped out of the shadows and into a dim pool of light from the waning moon.
Her heart leaped again. She put a hand to her throat, felt her pulse skittering.
“Sorry,” he said. “Did I scare you?”
“A little. What are you doing out here?”
The outline of his shoulders lifted. “Same thing you’re doing, I’d guess. Looking for peace and quiet.”
Peace and quiet? She was pretty sure she wouldn’t get any of that with Lex around to raise her heartbeat. “Do you want me to leave, then...?”
“No.” His hand curled around her wrist. “Let’s sit on that bench over there.”
He led her to a wooden bench beneath a darkened window. On this side of the house only a few lights were on. The shrubbery around them grew in a profuse screen, enclosing them in a pocket of fragrant night air. For a while they sat in the dark without talking. It should have been relaxing, but Jacinta’s mind was churning.