In the Still of the Night

an avid reader herself, Lily argued some of his points and agreed with others. For several months before graduation, they managed to meet to exchange books and commentary on them.
    There was no romance to it, just two good young minds having a meeting. At least, that was Lily’s view. And when, on graduation night, Raymond proposed that they give up college and run away and get married immediately, she was appalled. And being too young and inexperienced to cover her reaction or think of a good answer, she simply said, “No, Raymond. I don’t want to marry anybody for a good long time. You’re a good friend, but...”
    He’d turned and walked away. And she’d never seen him since. But she felt a lingering desire to get in an apology for her youth and stupidity and thought the lure of one of his favorite authors might bring him to Grace and Favor.
    “Lily? Come back,“ Robert said as Lily stared out the window of the big library. “You’ve got Addie Jonson, this critic bloke, and maybe the Camerons. That’s only four people. Don’t we need at least five or six to astound and amaze Mr. Prinney with the plan?“
    “I’ll think of two more to invite and another two to put on hold in case the Camerons won’t come. Trust me, Robert.“
    “Don’t you wonder at all why West agreed to come here?“ Robert asked. “Recluses seldom accept invitations to meet with a bunch of strangers.”
    “I do wonder. I suppose we’ll find out in good time.”

    Addie Jonson and Cecil Hoornart immediately and enthusiastically accepted the invitation to visit and to pay a fee for the pleasure. To Lily’s surprise, Raymond and Rachel Cameron also sent acceptance and a check as well. Lily dithered a bit. What would she say to Raymond? Apologize for her rejection or just pretend it had never happened and that they were merely old acquaintances?
    She would have dithered a great deal more about it if she’d had time. But time was at a premium. There was too much planning and work to be done on Grace and Favor. The maid, Mimi Smith, had “assigned“ Robert to the master suite when they first arrived the previous August to take up residence. It had been Great-uncle Horatio’s rooms and before that Horatio’s Aunt Flora’s rooms and before that... who knew?
    Robert hated the bedroom, which was huge and dark, with big pieces of furniture that lurked like ponderous animals at night. He tried to claim that the gigantic sofa had red eyes in the dark that watched him sleep. Nobody believed him, but he stuck to the story.
    There was an adjoining dressing room, long and narrow and equipped with a bed, wardrobe and sink for a personal servant. There was also a huge bathroom with a tub one could easily house a family of five in.
    Robert suggested they try to lighten up the room and let him take another so that the honored guest, and perhaps his valet or secretary, could have the room. Surely such a famous person would have a servant of some kind he’d bring along.
    The walls were paneled in a dreary greenish oak. Or maybe it only looked green because of the heavy vegetation outside the small windows. Had they the skills, they might have removed the paneling to sell, but instead they reluctantly painted it a slightly yellowish-white and had a tree cut down that obscured the view of the Hudson River beyond the lawns behind the mansion. It was a huge improvement. The Oriental rugs scattered about the room suddenly came to life in brilliant greens and whites, and the furniture, which had looked like hulking brown bears and buffalos, was revealed as being a lovely tan shade.
    “Now I’m sorry to have given up the big room,“ Robert said, studying the bedroom at the other end of the hall that he’d chosen.
    “Too late to go back,“ Lily said.
    She was doing the arithmetic in the journal she’d bought to keep track of expenses. With the four guests, they could afford to feed Julian West and anybody he might choose to bring along. They needed only one more guest to make a profit. Two would be better.
    Robert was full of suggestions. Bad ones. Most of his friends were the polo and nightclub circuit set. Mental lightweights, in Lily’s view, though she was careful to express it more tactfully.
    “Idiots, you mean?“ Robert asked cheerfully. “Sometimes an amusing idiot is a lot more fun to be around than brainy folks.“
    “If this works out, I promise you idiots next time,“ Lily said.

Chapter 3

    The next guest Lily acquired