What had he really wanted to see ?sx A copy of Hilary's will ?sx That wasn't impossible , though unpleasant to contemplate .sx A young man of his ideas might feel he was entitled to know what provision had been made for Hilary's daughter , in the event of Hilary's death .sx Now that Rose was dead , the picture had changed substantially .sx There would be no one to share the vast fortune with Lisabelle .sx She would be the sole beneficiary , in the normal course of events , which would make her a very rich young woman indeed .sx " Sorry I was so long , " Peter's voice made Mary jump guiltily .sx " I tried my hand at that cheese concoction I remembered you liked .sx And heated up some soup .sx You deserve better than a cold snack .sx " He placed an appetizingly set tray on the cleared end of the long table .sx He had not only taken a great deal of trouble on her behalf , but had foreseen exactly the kind of food that would appeal to her .sx Beyond this there was such charming friendliness in his manner , he was such an attractive looking fair-haired young man , his eyes so blue in his tanned face , it was difficult to steel herself against him .sx But charm and good looks and attentiveness in small ways were qualities essential to the fortune hunter .sx They bore no relation to trustworthiness or character .sx Nor did Peter's gift for companionable silence , grateful though she was not to be forced to make conversation .sx She heard the door open , heard the rustle of silk just as Peter picked up the tray with the empty dishes .sx He stood quite still .sx When he spoke it was with an eloquent , far-from-Old-World , " Wow !sx " Lisabelle's cheeks were almost the colour of the watermelon pink silk as she presented herself for Mary's inspection .sx The dress itself , the unusual care she'd taken to arrange her smooth black hair , the lipstick and powder she'd put on with surprising skill had transformed her .sx She had become a beauty .sx She knew it , and the knowledge transformed her .sx " I didn't dream clothes could make so much difference , " she said .sx " You'll have to buy all my clothes for me !sx Although , " she added ruefully , " I don't know where I'd wear them .sx Where I'll even wear this .sx " " In New York , when you're staying with me .sx " The opportunity was Heaven-sent .sx " Look , Lisabelle , you're to go back with me next week , I'll guarantee you'll have a good time .sx " " I'd adore to go .sx " Lisabelle's eyes shone like stars .sx " Then we're all set .sx The job here ought to be finished in a matter of days .sx We'll ring up the airport in the morning and get our reservations .sx Luckily I have a guest room in my apartment- a tiny one , but you won't mind .sx " " 'Mind' ?sx It would be bliss .sx " Then the sparkle in her green eyes vanished .sx The excitement ebbed .sx She said with the quiet of despair , " But I can't leave Dad .sx " Peter moved resolutely off with the tray .sx Mary picked up a cigarette and lighted it , without speaking .sx Lisabelle glanced appealing down at her .sx " You do understand , don't you ?sx " " Of course I understand , lambie , " Mary said .sx She raised her arms , and for the first time Lisabelle leaned down and gave her a real kiss .sx Chapter 29 .sx SUNDAY was another golden day of sunshine .sx A day when every instinct rebelled against staying indoors .sx The chances were , she wouldn't get the telephone call until tomorrow , at the earliest , Mary thought .sx But there was a dynamic quality about James Danford that made anything possible .sx At 10 o'clock Mary reluctantly rose from the canvas chair outside her door , where she'd been basking in the sun , and went across the court garden to the living-room .sx She found that the last person in the world with whom she would willingly have shared this tense period of waiting was ensconced there .sx Dora May was settled in a comfortable upholstered chair , Sunday newspapers strewn all around her on the floor .sx Her feet , in high-heeled pink linen sandals , were resting on an upholstered stool .sx She was dressed entirely in pink .sx The black of mourning for Rose had been quickly discarded , but not the air of importance that had been imparted by the legacy Rose had left her .sx " I'm waiting to see Cousin Hilary , " she said .sx " I brought out the mail while I was about it .sx There are four letters for you .sx They don't look very exciting , though .sx " Mary sat down in the desk chair , her back turned to Dora May's gaze , while she opened the letters .sx They were not , as she'd judged , very exciting .sx Mary was reading the one from her assistant a second time , when Dora May's flat nasal voice broke in .sx " A little bird told me you had a real long visit with Manuel night before last .sx " Mary put all her letters into her purse , rose without haste and moved towards the fireplace .sx Despite the warmth outside it was cool in here and the fire was welcome .sx She tossed the envelopes onto the blaze , stood watching them a moment .sx Somehow she must manage to cope with this wretched creature with the tight blonde curls , whose every word and gesture irritated her almost beyond endurance .sx There was no hope of dislodging her ; she was rooted here .sx Nor could any power on earth stop her from talking .sx Mary realized that the part of wisdom was to accept the situation without further protest , and , if possible , extract some benefit from it .sx After all , Dora May had been a member of this household for a good many years .sx She must possess information that would be of value .sx Even the least observant person would have learned a vast amount ; and she possessed abnormal curiosity .sx The difficulty was not in getting her to talk , Heaven knew , but in diverting her talk into channels of potential usefulness .sx " There's no knowing when Hilary will be back , " Mary said .sx " There is nothing for me to do but loaf and wait for a long distance call about some materials I need .sx " It seemed sensible to slip this in .sx " So , if I could be of any help ?sx " " I don't see how .sx What I want is for Cousin Hilary to advance me the money Rose left me in her will .sx " " No , I could hardly do that .sx Twenty-five thousand dollars is a large sum .sx Although to Hilary , of course , it's peanuts .sx " " That's what you think .sx " The glint in Dora May's cold blue eyes was a signpost the least discerning could follow .sx " I'm positive , " Mary said firmly , " that twenty-five thousand dollars doesn't mean any more to Hilary than twenty-five cents would to me .sx " " Then why has he mortgaged this ranch ?sx " Dora May's voice was shrill with triumph .sx " Borrowed every penny he could get against the land , and the cattle and equipment , too ?sx Just tell me that , if you know so much about his affairs .sx " " I don't need to know much about Hilary's affairs to know he's one of the richest men in the state , " Mary said .sx " You must have been misinformed about his borrowing money .sx " She sat down on the sofa as if dismissing the whole subject , picked up one of the papers from the floor and pretended interest in its headlines .sx Dora May rose to the bait .sx " Hilary's lawyer's secretary is a close personal friend of mine .sx I guess she's not misinformed about documents she drew up herself !sx And came out here with the notary and signed as witness , the very afternoon of Rose's funeral .sx " " More trouble in Africa .sx " Mary kept her eyes on the newspaper .sx " Oh , sorry , Dora May .sx . you said something about documents ?sx " She looked up , thinking , with wicked amusement , I couldn't blame her if she slapped me !sx then shrank within herself for a moment , as the wrath in Dora May's voice made that outcome not impossible .sx " You needn't high-hat me !sx I'm trying to tell you something for your own good- if you ever want to get paid for what you're doing here !sx And I'll tell you something else .sx You can put it in your pipe and smoke it .sx So long as Rose was alive Hilary couldn't have mortgaged everything he owned without her consent .sx And she wouldn't have given it .sx . Maybe she'd be alive today if she'd been willing to .sx " " That's crazy !sx " Mary declared , but she couldn't hide her sense of shock .sx Dora May was gratified .sx " You know as well as I do Rose didn't kill herself .sx Why did you go to Dr. Summersby's office and ask him about those pain-killers of Hilary's if you didn't suspicion something ?sx " On guard now , Mary resorted to counter-attack .sx " Oh , I remember .sx You said once that Dr. Summersby's nurse is a friend of yours , too , " " We went to school together .sx " " And the good doctor tells her everything ?sx " " Well , no .sx Not exactly .sx He has one of those dictaphone things so she can keep a record of what his patients say .sx I guess he forgot to turn it off when you were there .sx " Mary's mind flashed back to her interview with Dr. Summersby .sx Just what had she said in the so-called privacy of his office ?sx She'd asked for the English valet's address , asked if she could go to the hospital to see Manuel .sx Spoken of Hilary's plans for a festive wedding for Manuel and Sarita .sx What else that Dora May's bird-brain could fasten on ?sx Or , was it such a bird-brain ?sx Was she inventing this fantasy of Hilary's desperate need for money ?sx The details had sounded disturbingly convincing .sx Hilary was no niggardly gambler .sx It could easily be all or nothing with him .sx It was possible that the notary might have come out the afternoon of the funeral .sx Lisabelle and Peter and she had been riding and away from the house for hours .sx " I certainly couldn't have given Dr. Summersby the impression that I thought Hilary had anything to do with Rose's death , " Mary said .sx " The question that bothered me was why she should have taken her own life , if she did take it deliberately , when she had so much to look forward to .sx I know all about the man in Dallas .sx I think she would have been very happy if eventually she'd married him .sx As she deserved to be happy .sx " Dora May looked up .sx Again she astonished Mary .sx There were tears in her eyes .sx They were , however , tears of self-pity , " She was the only friend I had at the ranch .sx She knew what it was to be an outsider .sx . " I'm sure Rose knew that Hilary was going bankrupt , " she said , with another startling shift of mood .sx " I think that's why she left her jewellery to Lisabelle .sx Not that I mean to complain .sx Not little old me .sx I just don't understand it , that's all .sx " She swung her pink sandals off the footrest , got to her feet ; elaborately smoothing the pink linen over her rounded hips , patting her tight blonde curls .sx " If Rose had made that will after we had words , I wouldn't have blamed her .sx But she didn't .sx She made it while everything was fine between us .sx " So Dora May had quarrelled with Rose !sx This was a new angle to be explored .sx Had Dora May tried to blackmail her ?sx Mary took a chance .sx " She probably didn't think you'd really tell Hilary about the man in Dallas .sx " Dora May pressed her lips , making a small red pucker in her over-powdered face .sx Her eyes were wary .sx Obviously she was wondering whether denial would do any good , since she had no way of knowing whether or not Hilary had confided in Mary .sx Never had Mary thought the day would come when Dora May's silence would be unwelcome .sx Now , as she remained silent , Mary could have shaken her .sx " Is it your considered opinion , " she said at last , " that Hilary was responsible for Rose's death ?sx " " Goodness gracious no !sx And don't you dare put words into my mouth .sx " " I don't know how else to interpret what you said , " Mary kept her voice calmly reasonable .sx " You claim Rose would never have consented to Hilary's borrowing the money he needed .sx You said that if Rose would have consented , she might be alive today .sx What other construction can I put on it ?sx "