The Mystery of the Emeralds (22 page)

“You thought of Neil!” Trixie cried. “Didn’t you, Mr. Lynch?”

“You’re always one step ahead of me.” Mr. Lynch laughed. “Yes, I thought we’d give Neil these next few weeks to prove himself at Rosewood, and if he shows that he’s reliable, we’ll offer him the chance to stay with Mr. Carver and help him through his convalescence.”

“You don’t think Mr. Carver might like someone in the house to do the cooking and housework, do you?” Trixie ventured the question a little hesitantly.

“What are you getting at?” Mr. Lynch asked, smiling over the top of his glasses. “I suspect there’s someone else you’re thinking of helping. Am I right?”

“Daddy, I’m beginning to believe you’re a mind reader.” Di laughed. “Yes, it’s Lizzie James she’s thinking of. Isn’t it, Trixie?”

“Lizzie James? Who is that?” Mr. Lynch asked.

Trixie told him about the old lady, and her
admiration for Mr. Carver, and about her courage in the face of Jenkins’s threats. Mr. Lynch listened with interest and, when Trixie had finished, said that if Mr. Carver felt Lizzie might be helpful, he would stop by and see her the next day.

“Oh, wonderful!” Trixie cried. “Now, let’s hope she can cook!”

Everyone slept late the next morning, including Trixie, for no one had fully realized how the events of the last few days had tired them. Rain had fallen during the night, clearing the hot muggy atmosphere. The weather was perfect, and since Mrs. Lynch had insisted that she didn’t need their help in arranging for the party, they had the whole day to relax by the swimming pool. It was a completely lazy day, a rare experience for the Bob-Whites.

Around three o’clock, when Trixie suggested it was time they get ready for the party, Mart looked at her, mischief in his eyes.

“Trix!” he exclaimed. “You’ve got two hours before we’re due at Mr. Carver’s. I’ve never known you to take more than five minutes to get dressed. What’s up?”

“Well, there’s Honey and Di, you know,” Trixie answered, coloring slightly at her brother’s having
caught her thinking about her appearance. “They always take longer than I do.”

“Oh, you
femmes!
” Mart teased, pretending to powder his nose. “Go ahead. We’ll be waiting to admire the results of your cosmetology, never fear!”

When the girls finally were ready, the boys, even Mart, admitted they looked “real neat” which, of course, was the highest compliment they could have paid them. Trixie had on a sleeveless white piqué dress which enhanced her suntan. Di was in pale lavender, a color she loved because she knew it made her eyes look even more deeply purple, and Honey was wearing a flowered print. Their hair was shining, and their discreetly applied light lipstick made them look unusually pretty. It was a gay group that headed for Green Trees.

They decided to stop and see Lizzie on the way, hoping to find out if Mr. Lynch had offered her the job. As they drove up, they saw the old lady sitting on the store steps in the sun. As soon as she saw them, she got up and hurried toward the station wagon.

“I was waiting for you to drive past,” she said, a smile lighting up her wrinkled old face. “Mr. Lynch told me you’d be going out to Green Trees about this time, so I figured I’d wait for you. I guess you know why he was here?”

“Yes, he said he planned to talk to you,” Trixie said, “and from the way you look I’ll bet I can guess what was decided.”

The Bob-Whites were amazed at the transformation in Lizzie. She was wearing a fresh housedress, and her hair was neatly combed back in a tight bun. The bright expression on her face made her seem years younger.

“Bless you, Trixie,” she said. “This was your doin’s, I’ll be bound. I’m going to Green Trees, and take care of the place while Edgar is away, and then when he comes back I’m going to stay for as long as he needs me.” Then, somewhat hesitantly, she added, “I guess I was wrong about you Northerners. Mr. Lynch is certainly a fine gentleman!”

She was jubilant, and the Bob-Whites shared her happiness. They finally bade her good-by, saying they were sorry they couldn’t stay longer. As they drove away, Trixie, looking back, saw her standing in the middle of the road still waving to them.

As they approached Mr. Carver’s gate, they found Neil waiting for them in the driveway. His face was shining, his hair slicked down, and he was wearing what looked to be new chinos and a madras jacket. Trixie suspected Mr. Lynch had had something to do with this
transformation, but she, like the others, didn’t mention his appearance lest they embarrass him. They chatted about the horses and the plans to rebuild Rosewood as they walked toward the house. Mr. Carver was at the door waiting to greet them, and right behind him stood Miss Bates, looking absolutely resplendent in a bright red brocade gown. Her gray hair, piled high on her head, was secured by two Chinese chopsticks, stuck in at a rakish angle. The sensible walking shoes she usually wore had been replaced by high-heeled satin pumps which caused her to teeter slightly when she walked.

As they went together into the dining-room where the Lynches and Dr. Brandon had already gathered, the Bob-Whites gave cries of admiration. The room glowed in the light of many candles in the wall sconces and in several large candelabras. A vase of Talisman roses dominated the sideboard, and another low arrangement of flowers was in the center of the dining table. Place cards in silver holders directed the guests to their seats. Trixie found she was on one side of Mr. Carver at the head of the table, and Mrs. Lynch was on his right. Miss Bates sat opposite him with Mr. Lynch and Jim on either side of her.

When they were all seated, Mr. Carver rang a little crystal bell, and a maid, dressed in black with a crisp
white apron and cap, appeared. The first course was icy cold punch served in delicate stemmed glasses. When everyone had been served, Mr. Carver held up his hand to quiet the lively conversation around him.

“I should like,” he said, raising his glass, “to propose a toast to someone whom, though I have known her only a few days, I consider one of the best friends I’ve ever had. To Trixie!”

Everyone drank and cheered while Trixie tried to hold back the tears of happiness she felt welling up in her eyes. Then Mr. Carver reached in his pocket and drew something out.

“And,” he continued, “as a remembrance of your trip to Rosewood Hall, I want you to have this.” He handed her the gold locket. As Trixie slowly opened the little heart and looked once again at the picture of Ruth and her husband, Mr. Carver said, “I’m sure you’ll have a picture to put in the space where the secret message was.”

Before she thought what she was doing, Trixie raised her head and looked down the table to Jim. No one had to guess whose picture she would choose.

Soup was followed by roast beef, cooked to just the right point of pinkness, fluffy mashed potatoes, and peas. Mart, who was obviously enjoying every mouthful,
finally couldn’t control his curiosity any longer. Looking first at Miss Bates and then at Mrs. Lynch, he said, “Excuse me if I ask a personal question, but I can’t figure out how you two managed all this on such short notice?”

“I’ll let you in on the secret,” Mrs. Lynch laughed. “At Miss Bates’s suggestion, I phoned a caterer in Washington and arranged to have everything brought down to Mr. Carver’s by truck.”

“Will wonders never cease!” Mart cried, attacking the roast beef again. “Three cheers for Mrs. Lynch and Miss Bates!”

“And three cheers for Mr. Carver for inviting us in the first place!” Trixie added.

As everyone was clapping, Trixie noticed Jim, who was sitting next to Neil, giving her a covert signal. Guessing at once that Neil might want to say something but was too reticent to take the initiative, Trixie said, “Neil, how about you? Have you got a special cheer, too?”

The boy pushed back his chair and stood up.

“Well, I’ve been thinking,” he began, scratching his head self-consciously. “I’m not too good with fancy words, but I think Dr. Brandon, here, ought to get a hand. He’s going to fix it so Mr. Carver gets to walk again. So here’s to Dr. Brandon!”

“Thank you, Neil,” Alex Brandon said warmly when the room had become quiet again. “And you know I’m counting heavily on
you
to help us.”

By the time they had finished the ovations, the table had been cleared for dessert. A hush fell over the room as the door to the kitchen opened wide. The maid came in, carrying a huge silver tray, which she put down in front of Diana and Miss Bates. On it was a birthday cake, unlike any the Bob-Whites or the other guests had ever seen! It looked just like Miss Bates’s rose-trimmed hat, the very one she had sworn to eat if Trixie found the secret passage.

“Happy birthday to you!” they all sang as Di took a deep breath and blew out the candles which surrounded the crown of the hat. Then, poking an inquiring finger into the masterpiece, she burst out laughing.

“It’s cake, all right, and all these roses are frosting! Oh, Mummy, Daddy!” she cried. “Thanks for a wonderful surprise!”

“You have Miss Bates to thank for the cake, my dear,” Mrs. Lynch said. “It was
her
idea.”

“Goodness, I had to do
something
to avoid having to eat that old straw hat!” Miss Bates laughed heartily. “Now cut it, Di, and you can all help me eat it!”

As the party finally drew to a close and good-bys
were being said, Trixie went over to Mr. Carver.

“You know,” she said, “I’d be really sad to have this trip come to an end except that we have so much to look forward to, your coming to New York, a visit with Miss Julie to tell her all we’ve discovered, and maybe—” She hesitated.

“And maybe another mystery?” He finished the sentence for her.

“Who knows?” Trixie laughed. “It does seem Honey was right when she said I attract them like a magnet attracts nails!”