For the Love of Lilah Read online

  Max skimmed over the treatise on the artist's style.

  Considered a gypsy in his day, due to his habit of moving from one location to another, Brad­ford often sold his work for room and board. A prolific artist, he would often complete a paint­ing in a matter of days. It is said he would work for twenty hours straight when the mood was on him. It remains a mystery why he produced noth­ing during the years between 1914 and 1916.

  Oh God, Max thought, and rubbed his damp palms on his slacks.

  Married in 1925 to Margaret Doogan, Brad­ford had one child, a son. Little more is known about his personal life, as he remained an ob­sessively private man until his death. He suffered a debilitating heart attack in the late sixties, but continued to paint. He died in Bar Harbor, Maine, where he had kept a cottage for more than a half century. He was survived by his son and a grandson.

  "I've found you," Max murmured. Turning the page, he studied the reproduction of one of Bradford's works. It was a storm, fighting its way in from the sea. Passionate, violent, frenzied. It was a view Max knew—the view from the cliffs beneath The Towers.

  An hour later, a half-dozen books under his arm, he arrived home. There was still an hour before he could pick up Lilah at the park, an hour before he could tell her they had jumped the next hurdle. Giddy with success, he greeted Fred so exuberantly that the dog raced up and down the hall, running into walls and tripping on his tail.

  "Goodness." Coco trotted down the stairs. "What a commotion."

  "Sorry."

  "No need to apologize, I wouldn't know what to do if a day went by without a commotion. Why, Max, you look positively delighted with yourself."

  "Well, as it happens, I—"

  He broke off when Alex and Jenny came bounding down, firing invisible laser pistols. "Dead meat!" Alex shouted. "Dead meat!"

  "If you must kill something," Coco said, "please do it outside. Fred needs an airing anyway."

  "Death to the invaders," Alex announced. "We'll fry them like bacon."

  In total agreement, Jenny aimed her laser at Fred and sent the dog scampering down the hall again. De­ciding he made a handy invader, they raced after him. Even with the distance, the sound of the back door slamming boomed through the house.

  "I don't know where they get those violent imag­inations," Coco commented with a relieved sigh. "Suzanna's so mild tempered, and their father..."

  Something dark came into her eyes when she trailed off. "Well, that's another story. So tell me, what has you so happy?"

  "I was just in the library, and I—"

  This time it was the phone that interrupted. Coco slipped off an earring as she picked up the receiver. "Hello. Yes. Oh, yes, he's right here." She cupped a hand over the mouthpiece. "It's your dean, dear. He'd like to speak to you."

  Max set the books on the telephone stand as Coco began to straighten pictures a few discreet feet away. "Dean Hodgins? Yes, I am, thank you. It's a beautiful spot. Well, I haven't really decided when I'm coming back...Professor Blake?"

  Coco glanced back at the alarm in his voice.

  "When? Is it serious? I'm sorry he's ill. I hope... I beg your pardon?" Letting out a long breath, Max leaned back against the banister. "I'm very flattered, but—" He lapsed into silence again, dragging a hand through his hair. "Thank you. Yes, I understand that. If I could have a day or two to consider. I appreciate it. Yes, sir. Goodbye."

  When he simply stood, staring into space. Coco cleared her throat. "I hope it wasn't bad news, dear."

  "What?" He focused on her, then shook his head. "No, well, yes. That is, the head of the history de­partment had a heart attack last week."

  "Oh." Immediately sympathetic, Coco came for­ward. "How dreadful."

  "It was mild—if you can term anything like that mild. The doctors consider it a warning. They're rec­ommending that he cut back on his work load, and he's taken them seriously, because he's decided to retire." He gave Coco a baffled look. "It seems he's recommended me to take over his position."

  "Well now." She smiled and patted his cheek, but she was watching him carefully. "That's quite an honor, isn't it?"

  "I'd have to go back next week," he said to him­self. "To take over as acting head of the department until a final decision's made."

  "Sometimes it's difficult to know what to do, which fork in the road to take. Why don't we have a nice cup of tea?" she suggested. "Then I'll read the leaves and we'll see."

  "I really don't think—" The next interruption re­lieved him, and Coco clucked her tongue as she went to answer the banging on the door.

  "Oh, my" was all she said. With her hand pressed to her breast, she said it again. "Oh, my!"

  "Don't just stand there with your mouth hanging open, Cordelia," a crisp, authoritative voice de­manded. "Have someone deal with my bags."

  "Aunt Colleen." Coco's hand fluttered to her side. "What a...lovely surprise."

  "Ha! You'd as soon see Satan himself on the door­step." Leaning on a glossy, gold-tipped cane, she marched across the threshold.

  Max saw a tall, rail-thin woman with a mass of luxurious white hair. She wore an elegant white suit and gleaming pearls. Her skin, generously lined, was as pale as linen. She might have been a ghost but for the deep blue eyes that scanned him.

  "Who the hell is this?"

  "Urn. Urn."

  "Speak up, girl. Don't stutter." Colleen tapped the cane impatiently. "You never kept a lick of the sense God gave you."

  Coco began to wring her hands. "Aunt Colleen, this is Dr. Quartermain. Max, Colleen Calhoun."

  "Doctor," Colleen barked. "Who's sick? Damned if I'm going to stay in a contagious house."

  "That's a Ph.D., Miss Calhoun." Max offered a cautious smile. "It's nice to meet you."

  "Ha." She sniffed and glanced around the hall. "Still letting the place fall down around your ears. Best if it was struck by lightning. Burned to the ground. See to those bags, Cordelia, and have some­one bring me some tea. I've had a long trip." So saying, she clumped off toward the parlor.

  "Yes, ma'am." Hands still fluttering, Coco sent Max a helpless look. "I hate to ask..."

  "Don't worry about it. Where should I take her luggage?"

  "Oh, God." Coco pressed her hands to her cheeks. "The first room on the right on the second floor. We'll have to stall her so that I can prepare it. Oh, and she won't have paid the driver. Tightfisted old... I'll call Amanda. She can warn the others. Max—" she clutched his hands "—if you believe in prayer, use it now and pray that this is a very short visit."

  "Where's the damn tea?" Colleen demanded in a bellow and thumped her cane.

  "Just coming." Coco turned and raced down the hall.

  Pulling all her rabbits out of her hat, Coco plied her aunt with tea and petits fours, dragged Trent and Sloan away from their work and begged Max to fall in. Arrangements were made for Amanda to pick up Lilah and for Suzanna to close early and pitch in to prepare the guest room.

  It was like preparing for an invasion, Max thought as he joined the group in the parlor. Colleen sat, erect as a general, while she measured her opponents with the same steely eye.

  "So, you're the one who married Catherine. Ho­tels, isn't it?"

  "Yes, ma'am," Trent answered politely while Coco fluttered around the room.

  "Never stay in 'em," Colleen said dismissively. "Got married quick, wouldn't you say?"

  "I didn't want to give her a chance to change her mind."

  She almost smiled, then sniffed and aimed at Sloan. "And you're the one who's after Amanda."

  "That's right."

  "What's that accent?" she demanded, eyes sharp­ening. "Where are you from?"

  "Oklahoma."

  "O'Riley," she mused for a moment, then pointed a long white ringer. "Oil."

  "There you go."

  "Humph." She lifted her tea to sip. "So you've got some harebrained notion about turning the west wing into a hotel. Better off burning it down and claiming the insurance."

  "Aunt Co
lleen." Scandalized, Coco gaped at her. "You don't mean that."

  "I say what I mean. Hated this place most of my life." She shifted to brood up at the portrait of her father. "He'd have hated seeing paying guests in The Towers. It would have mortified him."

  "I'm sorry, Aunt Colleen," Coco began. "But we have to make the best of things."

  "Did I ask for an apology?" Colleen snapped. "Where the hell are my grand-nieces? Don't they have the courtesy to pay their respects?"

  "They'll be along soon." Desperate, Coco poured more tea. "This was so unexpected, and we've—"

  "A home should always be prepared for guests," Colleen retaliated with relish, then frowned at the doorway when Suzanna came in. "Which one is this?"

  "I'm Suzanna." Dutifully she came forward to kiss her great-aunt's cheek.

  "You favor your mother," Colleen decided with a grudging nod. "I was fond of Deliah." She shot a look at Max. "You after her?"

  He blinked as Sloan struggled to turn a laugh into a cough. "Ah, no. No, ma'am."

  "Why not? Something wrong with your eyes?"

  "No." He shifted in his chair as Suzanna grinned and settled on a hassock.

  "Max is visiting for a few weeks," said Coco, coming to the rescue. "He's helping us out with a little—historical research."

  MThe emeralds." Eyes gleaming, Colleen sat back. "Don't take me for a fool, Cordelia. We get news­papers aboard ship. Cruise ships," she said to Trent. "Much more civilized than hotels. Now, tell me what the hell is going on around here."

  "Nothing, really." Coco cleared her throat again. "You know how the press blows things out of pro­portion."

  "Was there a thief in this house, shooting off a gun?"

  "Well, yes. It was disturbing, but—"

  "You." Colleen hefted her cane and poked it at Max. "You with the Ph.D. I assume you can articu­late clearly. Explain the situation, briefly."

  At the pleading glance from Coco, Max set his un­wanted tea aside. ' "The family decided, after a series of events, to investigate the veracity of the legend of the Calhoun emeralds. Unfortunately, news of the necklace leaked, causing interest and speculation among various people, some of them unsavory. The first step was to catalogue old family papers, to verify the existence of the emeralds."

  "Of course they existed," Colleen said impa­tiently. "Haven't I seen them with my own eyes?"

  "You were difficult to reach," Coco began, and was silenced with a look.

  "In any case," Max continued. "The house was broken into, and a number of the papers stolen." Max skimmed over his involvement to bring her up to date.

  "Hmm." Colleen frowned at him. "What do you do, write?"

  Max's brow lifted in surprise. "I teach. History. At, ah, Cornell University."

  Colleen sniffed again. "Well, you've made a mess of it. The lot of you. Bringing thieves under the roof, splashing our name all over the press, nearly getting yourselves killed. For all we know the old man sold the emeralds."

  "He'd have kept a record," Max put in, and had Colleen studying him again.

  "You're right there, Mr. Ph.D. He kept account of every penny he made, and every penny he spent." She closed her eyes a moment. "Nanny always told us she hid them away. For us." Fierce, her eyes opened again. "Fairy tales."

  "I love fairy tales," Lilah said from the doorway. She stood, flanked by C.C. and Amanda.

  "Come in here where I can see you."

  "You first," Lilah muttered to C.C.

  "Why me?"

  "You're the youngest." She gave her sister a gen­tle shove.

  "Throwing a pregnant woman to the wolves," Amanda muttered.

  "You're next."

  "What's that on your face?" Colleen demanded of C.C.

  C.C. wiped a hand over her cheek. "Motor oil, I guess."

  "What's the world coming to? You've got good bones," she decided. "You'll age well. You pregnant yet?"

  Dipping her hands in her pockets, C.C. grinned. "As a matter of fact, yes. Trent and I are expecting in February."

  "Good." Colleen waved her away. Steeling her­self, Amanda stepped forward.

  "Hello, Aunt Colleen. I'm glad you decided to come for the wedding."

  "Might, might not." Lips pursed, she studied Amanda. "You know how to write a proper letter, in any case. It reached me last week, with the invita­tion." She was a lovely thing, Colleen thought, like her sisters. She felt a sense of pride in that, but would have bitten off her tongue before admitting it. "Any reason you couldn't marry a man from a nice Eastern family?"

  "Yes. None of them annoyed me as much as Sloan."

  With what might have been a laugh. Colleen waved her away.

  When she focused on Lilah, her eyes burned and she had to press her lips tight to keep them from quivering. It was like looking at her mother, with all the years, and all the hurt wiped away.

  "So, you're Lilah." When her voice cracked, she lowered her brows, looking so formidable that Coco trembled.

  "Yes." Lilah kissed both her cheeks. "The last time I saw you I was eight, I think. And you scolded me for going barefoot."

  "And just what are you doing with your life?"

  "Oh, as little as possible," Lilah said blithely. "How about you?"

  Colleen's lips twitched, but she rounded on Coco. -"Haven't you taught these girls manners?"

  "Don't blame her." Lilah sat on the floor at Max's feet. "We're incorrigible." She glanced over her shoulder, smiled at Max, then set a companionable hand on his knee.

  Colleen didn't miss a trick. "So, you've got your eye on this one."

  Tossing back her hair, Lilah smiled. "I certainly do. Cute, isn't he?"

  "Lilah," Max muttered. "Give me a break."

  "You didn't kiss me hello," she said quite clearly.

  "Leave the boy alone." More amused than she would have admitted, Colleen thumped her cane. "At least he has manners." She waved a hand at the tea things. "Take this business away, Cordelia, and bring me a brandy."

  "I'll get it." Lilah unfolded herself and strolled over to the liquor cabinet. She winked at Suzanna as her sister wheeled over the tea cart. "How long do you think she plans to make our lives a living hell?"

  "I heard that."

  Undaunted, Lilah turned with the brandy snifter. "Of course you did, Auntie. Papa always told us you had ears like a cat."

  "Don't call me 'Auntie.'" She snatched the brandy. Colleen was used to deference—her person­ality and her money had always demanded it. Or to fear—the kind she easily instilled in Coco. But she enjoyed, tremendously, irreverence. "The trouble is your father never lifted a hand to any of you."

  "No," Lilah murmured. "He didn't have to."

  "No one loved him more than I," Colleen said briskly. "Now, it's time to decide what to do about this mess you've gotten yourselves into. The sooner mended, the sooner I can rejoin my cruise."

  "You don't mean—" Coco caught herself and hastily rephrased. "Do you plan to stay with us until the emeralds are found?"

  "I plan to stay until I'm ready to leave." Colleen aimed a look, daring disagreement.

  "How lovely," Coco said between unsteady lips. "I believe I'll go in and see about dinner."

  "I dine at seven-thirty. Precisely."

  "Of course." Even as Coco rose, the familiar chaos could be heard racing down the hall. "Oh, dear."

  Suzanna sprang to her feet. "I'll head them off." But she was a bit late as both children came barreling into the room.

  "Cheat, cheat, cheat," Jenny accused, eyes brim­ming.

  "Crybaby." But Alex was near tears himself as he gave her a brotherly shove.

  "Who are these hooligans?" Colleen asked, inter­est perking.

  "These hooligans are my children." Suzanna stud­ied them both and saw that though she had tidied them herself less than twenty minutes before, they were both grimy and grim faced. Obviously her idea that they spend a quiet hour playing a board game had been a disaster.

  Colleen swirled her brandy. "Bring them here.
I'll have a look at them."

  "Alex, Jenny." The warning tone worked very well. "Come meet Aunt Colleen."

  "She isn't going to kiss us, is she?" Alex muttered as he dragged his feet across the room.

  "I certainly will not. I don't kiss grubby little boys." She had to swallow. He looked so like her baby brother, Sean. Formally she offered a hand. "How do you do?"

  "Okay." Flushing a bit, he touched the thin-boned hand.

  "You're awfully old," Jenny observed.

  "Quite right," Colleen agreed before Suzanna could speak. "If you're lucky, the same problem will be yours one day." She would have liked to have stroked the girl's shiny blond hair, but it would have shattered her image. "I'll expect you to refrain from shouting and clattering about while I'm in the house. Furthermore..." She trailed off when something brushed her leg. Glancing down, she saw Fred sniff­ing the carpet for crumbs. "What is that?"

  "That's our dog." Seized with inspiration, Alex reached down to heft the fat puppy in his arms. "If you're mean to us, he'll bite you."

  "He'll do no such thing." Suzanna put a hand on Alex's shoulder.

  "He might." Alex pouted. "He doesn't like bad people. Do you, Fred?"

  Colleen's skin went even whiter. "What is his name?"

  "His name is Fred," Jenny said gaily. "Trent found him on the cliffs and Ijrought him home for us." She struggled the dog away from her brother to hold him out. "And he doesn't bite. He's a good dog."

  "Jenny, put him down before he—"

  "No." Colleen waved Suzanna's warning aside. "Let me see him." Fred wriggled, smearing dirt on Colleen's pristine white suit as she sat him in her lap. Her hands shook as they stroked his fur. "I had a dog named Fred once." A single tear spilled over and down her pale cheek. "I only had him for a little while, but I loved him very much."

  Saying nothing, Lilah groped for Max's hand and held tight.