Page 28 of In Dangerous Water

Estella’s eyes narrowed. “Thought you lived in the lower level of that big old house on the hill?”

“I do,” I said. “But I’m thinking that it might be a good idea for me to get out of Alton and put some space between myself and the rest of my family for a few months.”

“To make yourself harder to find and your family less of a possible target,” Estella said.

“Exactly.”

“I don’t blame you.” She drummed her fingers on the bar top. “I’d do the same if I were in your shoes.”

“Do you know if the carriage house is available to rent?” I asked her. “Arianna told me she used to live there, and I wondered if it was open.” Catching movement out of the corner of my eye, I turned to see Chauncey Marquette, Estella’s husband, walk into the bar.

“Hello, Cordelia.” Chauncey had a startled expression on his face.

“Something wrong?” I asked.

“Isabella actually fell asleep on your shoulder.” He chuckled in amazement. “Lately she won’t let anyone hold her except us, or Gabriella and Philippe.”

“I told you,” Estella said. “It’s a phase.”

Chauncey rolled his eyes. “Tell that to your Gran, or the rest of your sisters and cousins.”

Estella scoffed. “It’ll pass. Anyway, I think I’ve found a renter for the carriage house apartment.”

“Have you?” he asked. “Who?”

Estella pointed at me. “Cordelia.”

“I was asking Estella if it was available,” I said.

Estella tipped her head to one side. “It’d work though. There’s security cameraseverywhereon the grounds and also covering the carriage house; it’s private but only a stone’s throw away if you needed help.”

“I like the sound of that,” I said, keeping my voice low as to not wake Isabella.

“We also have ‘round the clock security at the hotel,” she pointed out. “Seriously, there’s always someone here. They monitor and patrol the gardens and grounds. Day and night.”

I looked from Estella to Chauncey. “Do you think Philippe and Gabriella would be okay with me living—”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Estella interrupted me impatiently.

“Well, I wouldn’t want to cause any safety issues or concerns for Philippe and Gabrielle,” I told her. “Or their kids—”

Estella cut me off again. “They live in a completely separate building...as in the mansion. How would you causethemany problems?”

“Okay.” I nodded. “I’ll go speak with them right now.”

“Hang on,” Chauncey said. “You don’t need their permission. The carriage house technically belongs to me.”

I was surprised at the news. “It does?”

“Yes,” Estella said. “And if you lived here, you could take advantage of the new indoor swimming pool the hotel put in this past summer...I mean it’s not huge but it’s still plenty big enough for you to swim laps in.”

That news made me smile. “That’s great. I didn’t realize the hotel had added a pool.”

“Yes, we did.” Chauncey nodded. “We built it where a solarium once stood, off the lower west wing. It’s become very popular with our guests.”

It felt like fate had started to turn in my favor. The carriage house was someplace private and not too far—maybe a twenty-minute drive from where I worked at the aquatic center. Security was already in place,andI would have access to a pool.

“Chauncey, Estella,” I said. “I’d like to rent the carriage house for a few months.”

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