Chapter 2 - THE GLASS THAT NEVER REACHED HER LIPS
Hannah kept her fingers against Eleanor Moretti’s wrist for another ten seconds.
Then she looked at the untouched water.
“Did you feel dizzy before dinner?”
Eleanor tilted her head.
“Are you asking as my housekeeper or my doctor?”
“As someone who would prefer not to find you unconscious on the floor.”
“That sounds suspiciously like a doctor.”
Hannah withdrew her hand.
“Then I’m a very underpaid one.”
Eleanor smiled, but it faded when Hannah stood.
“You knew there was something wrong with the wine.”
Hannah stopped.
Outside the conservatory, wind rattled against the glass.
“I knew you shouldn’t drink it.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Hannah looked toward the hallway.
“Mrs. Moretti, you should get some rest.”
Eleanor reached into her cardigan and removed a small silver locket.
It was oval, tarnished around the edges, and scratched across the back.
Hannah went completely still.
Eleanor opened it.
Inside was a faded photograph of a young woman in blue hospital scrubs.
“Do you recognize her?”
Hannah’s throat tightened.
“My mother.”
Eleanor nodded slowly.
“Margaret Reed.”
For twelve days, Hannah had avoided speaking her mother’s name inside the Moretti estate.
Now she heard it from the mouth of the woman she had come to protect.
“How long have you known?”
“Since you arrived.”
“Then why hire me?”
“Because I knew your mother.”
Hannah looked at the photograph again.
“She died nine years ago.”
“I know.”
“No, Mrs. Moretti. You know when she died. That isn’t the same as knowing what happened to her.”
Eleanor’s expression changed.
For a moment, she looked less like the matriarch of a powerful family and more like an elderly woman who had been carrying something heavy for too long.
Before she could answer, footsteps sounded outside.
Dominic appeared in the doorway.
“Mother?”
Eleanor closed the locket.
“Your timing has always been unfortunate.”
Dominic glanced at Hannah, then at the water glass.
“I was told you were still awake.”
“Apparently I require supervision.”
“You’ve been dizzy twice this week.”
“Three times,” Hannah said.
Dominic looked at her.
Eleanor sighed.
“She counts everything.”
Dominic crossed the room.
“Why three?”
Hannah hesitated.
“The first episode happened Tuesday morning. The second was Thursday after lunch. Tonight was the third.”
“Why wasn’t I told?”
Eleanor answered before Hannah could.
“Because I am seventy-two, Dominic. Not seven.”
He ignored the remark.
“Dr. Keller examined you Thursday.”
“Yes,” Eleanor said. “And declared me a perfectly healthy inconvenience.”
Hannah looked away.
Dominic noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing, sir.”
“Miss Reed.”
She turned back.
“I think your mother needs a second medical opinion.”
“Why?”
“Because recurring dizziness deserves an explanation.”
Eleanor watched her carefully.
Dominic considered that.
Then he took out his phone.
“I’ll arrange it tomorrow.”
Hannah felt a flicker of relief.
It disappeared when Eleanor spoke.
“Not Keller.”
Dominic lowered the phone.
“Mother?”
“I don't want him.”
“Why?”
Eleanor looked toward Hannah.
“Because apparently I’m becoming difficult.”
Dominic recognized the evasion.
But before he could challenge it, Walter entered carrying a folded piece of paper.
“Mr. Moretti. The security supervisor asked me to give you this.”
Dominic unfolded it.
His expression hardened.
“What is it?” Eleanor asked.
“The camera covering the west corridor stopped recording at eight forty-six.”
Hannah felt her stomach drop.
Dominic looked at Walter.
“When did Vanessa confront Miss Reed?”
“Approximately eight fifty.”
“Convenient.”
Walter nodded.
“The supervisor says it was a technical fault.”
Dominic folded the paper.
“Tell him to preserve the equipment.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And nobody touches the recordings from tonight.”
Walter left.
Dominic turned back to Hannah.
“You knew the camera was out?”
“No.”
“Did Vanessa?”
“I don’t know.”
He studied her.
“Did you see anyone near the security room?”
Hannah remembered a man in a gray suit passing through the service corridor before the party.
She had seen him twice during her twelve days in the house.
Both times, he had been speaking privately with Vanessa.
But she had no proof he had touched the camera.
“No one I can identify,” she said.
Dominic did not look satisfied.
“Go get some sleep.”
Hannah nodded.
She reached the doorway before he spoke again.
“Miss Reed.”
She stopped.
“You protected my mother tonight.”
Hannah's shoulders tightened.
“I did what anyone should have done.”
“No,” Dominic said quietly. “You did what a room full of people refused to do.”
She left without answering.
Upstairs, Vanessa Whitmore was waiting in Dominic’s bedroom.
She had changed into a white silk robe.
Her engagement ring glittered beneath the bedside lamp.
“Are you finished playing hero?”
Dominic closed the door.
“Take off the ring.”
Vanessa blinked.
“What?”
“The ring.”
Her expression became incredulous.
“You’re ending our engagement over a maid?”
“I’m ending it because you struck someone who couldn’t defend herself without losing her job.”
“She assaulted me first.”
“She took a glass.”
“She humiliated me.”
“You humiliated yourself.”
Vanessa stood.
“You have no idea who that girl is.”
Dominic went still.
“Then tell me.”
Vanessa realized her mistake.
“She’s a liar.”
“About what?”
“Everything.”
“Be specific.”
Vanessa looked away.
Dominic stepped closer.
“Who told you about her?”
“Nobody.”
“Vanessa.”
She snatched a small evening bag from the dresser.
“You’re making a terrible mistake.”
He opened the door.
“Then I’ll live with it.”
She passed him without another word.
But downstairs, instead of going to the guest wing, Vanessa entered the dark library.
She closed the door and dialed a number.
A man answered immediately.
“Is it done?”
“No,” she whispered. “Dominic came home early.”
Silence.
Then the man asked, “Did the old woman drink?”
“Not enough.”
“And the maid?”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“She took the glass.”
The man's voice became dangerously calm.
“Then Margaret Reed’s daughter knows exactly what we’re doing.”
Vanessa gripped the phone.
“What do you want me to do?”
“Find out what her mother left her.”
“And if she won't tell me?”
May you like
The answer came without hesitation.
“Then we stop pretending this is about a wedding.”
