Page 90 of All Yours

“It’s so hard to keep this place up,” she said. “It’s too much of a burden on the younger generation and no one wants to do it on their own. My nephew has agreed to oversee the board. I’m making sure this place preserves our history and we’ll have a museum about the town, too.”

Lauren perked up. “That’s amazing.”

She smiled. “I thought you’d like that. Later, we can discuss your place on the board.”

“Me?” Lauren asked, wide-eyed.

“Of course, you’re a Hart, and I know how hard you’ve fought for preservation of the town.”

“Yeah, but you know what happened,” Lauren breathed, glancing around.

Mrs. Pennington reached out and placed a hand on Lauren’s arm. “You don’t need to keep paying for the sins of your grandfather.”

Lauren nodded and looked like she was trying her hardest to keep it together.

“Now, come into the ballroom and let me introduce you around. Then, if you like, I can take you on a tour of the house. I had Christmas trees and decorations installed in most rooms.” She pulled on Camden’s arm, and we all moved toward the room off to the right.

The ballroom exploded in the color palette of white on white from the marbled floors all the way to the elaborately carved crown moldings, columns with archways, and ceiling. Even the draperies over the windows were a heavy looking fabric in stark white. The occasional mirror in a gaudy gold frame broke the white up. A golden framed portrait of another Whitehouse ancestor hung over the fireplace at the far end, which came complete with a white mantel decorated for Christmas along with another large tree beside the fire.

A sea of people mingled about in fancy evening wear and conversing in small groups. While other people clad in black jackets and black pants circulated the room carrying trays of finger foods and glasses of champagne. It was a scene from a movie.

She pulled Camden over to a group, and she introduced us around. And Camden took the lead in talking. What was he so worried about? This was his scene. He pulled Jonah into the conversation with a mention of Barnes Construction and just like that, Lauren and I were flanking the men in silence while they rattled on about the commons project. But hobnobbing was a necessary part of the process.

Lauren stepped out of the circle and came around to me, looping her arm around mine. “Come on,” she whispered.

“What’s up?” I asked, as we meandered through the groups of others chatting amongst themselves.

“Let’s go see this fireplace,” she said.

At the far end of the ballroom, through a set of arches offset by pillars, was a seating area in front of a fireplace with another Christmas tree standing beside it. A gilded framed portrait of a bride in an early 1900s style gown hung above the mantel decorated in greenery with red and gold ball ornaments like the rest of the Christmas decorations. The seating area comprised of a white couch and four armchairs upholstered in white with golden accents.

“I guess this is what passes for cozy here,” I whispered.

Lauren and I each took an armchair, nodding to the lone woman who occupied the couch. Her eyes fell over me with recognition. With a nose ring, heavy eyeliner, and black boots paired with her dress, this didn’t seem like her preferred type of event. I held my breath as she made eye contact and leaned toward me.

“I just want to say, I’m so happy all that court stuff worked out. It has been ridiculous what all those assholes have put you through,” she whispered.

“Are you from out of town?” Lauren asked, stepping in.

She smiled. “Yeah. I’m Ellen’s great-niece, Alice Brennan.” She held out her hand.

“Nice to meet you,” I said, leaning over shaking her hand. “I’m Sloane, which you know, and this is Lauren Hart.”

Her eyes lit up as she and Lauren shook hands. “Lauren Hart. I’ve heard so much about your efforts to preserve the town’s history.”

Lauren flushed. “Yeah, I may have gone a little overboard at times.”

Alice laughed and waved it off. “Go big or go home, right?”

“Are you in town for the holidays?” I asked.

“Partially, I’m a horticulturist and Ellen called me about looking at the grounds and gardens for ways to bring native plants back to the property. She’s wanting to increase her conservation efforts.”

“That’s exciting,” I said.

“I’m so excited to working on these grounds and coming up with a vision,” she grinned. “So, I’m here to plan for spring.”

“Mrs. Pennington mentioned her plans to turn the estate into a museum after she’s gone,” Lauren said.

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