Free Always in My Dreams by Jo Goodman Page B

Marshalls?"
    "That's correct. Do you know them?" It was not the sort of thing one asked of a prospective employer. Skye knew it. She hoped her bald question would make her seem too aggressive and too pointedly interested in the affairs of others to be suited for the position.
    "I know of them, of course. There has been some interest in doing a piece on my work. Marshall's wife was an actress, I believe."
    Skye nodded. The arrival of the tea prevented her from inappropriately adding a bit of salacious gossip.
    Halfway across the room Walker paused, noting with a small scowl that his chair was occupied. He elbowed aside some papers and photographs to make room for the tray, then turned to look at Skye, his eyebrows raised.
    "I'd be happy to pour," she said. Half expecting him to take her chair when she came to her feet, Skye supposed she should be grateful that he merely hovered over her while she completed the task. She exhibited none of the usual grace she could muster for the serving and managed to splash both of them with hot tea. "Here," she said, handing him a cup and saucer. "Take that." And when his hooded gaze narrowed slightly she knew he had caught the insolent nuance in her voice. She turned quickly and passed another cup to Jonathan Parnell. "Cream, sir? Or sugar?"
    "Neither," he said. The smile that edged the corner of his lips upward opened fully as he glanced at Walker.
    "But I believe Mr. Caide is a little put out that you didn't ask him."
    Skye pretended she hadn't meant the oversight. "Forgive me, Mr. Caide," she said apologetically. "Cream or sugar for you?"
    "Neither," he said tersely. "But thank you for asking."
    She couldn't miss that his voice was too cold to be in any way sincere. Ignoring him, Skye returned to her chair and let Walker Caide fend for himself. She wondered at his purpose in the interview, why he was permitted to stay at all. He hadn't the deference of a good butler but seemed less a friend to Parnell than an employee.
    Walker sat not in the wing chair, but on the arm of it. Out of the corner of her eye Skye noticed that his long legs were stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. The delicate proportions of the china cup and saucer did not seem at all incongruous in his large hands. The lean fingers were turned lightly, almost gracefully, around the fluted edges of the saucer. He was studying her closely and making no effort to pretend he was doing anything else. "Insolent" was one word that came to Skye's mind. "Insufferable" was another.
    Parnell watched Skye's attention drift away, then come back to him. When he had it fully, he spoke to Walker. "Miss Dennehy was telling me that the Marshalls she worked for are indeed associated with the Chronicle. You know Logan Marshall, don't you?"
    In three weeks of preparation Skye hadn't once considered the possibility of being caught in her lies so quickly.
    "I worked for him on one occasion," he said.
    "You're a reporter?" Skye asked. She sipped her tea to cover her hard swallow. Her sister Michael had worked for Logan Marshall at the Chronicle. Had they known each other?
    "No," he said. "Not as a reporter. I did..." He paused, searching for the right phrase, "investigating for Mr. Marshall."
    Skye managed to replace her cup in the saucer without telltale clatter. "I see." She turned to Parnell. "I supervised a staff of ten with the Marshalls. My initial position with the family was very much like the one I had with the Turners, then their housekeeper took ill and I took over."
    Parnell glanced at Skye's letter and noted the dates she had supplied. "You didn't stay with them long."
    "No. She recovered nicely and there really wasn't a good place for me there once she had. I enjoyed the children, of course, but I was prepared for more responsibility."
    "There aren't any children here at all," Walker pointed out.
    "I suspected as much, Mr. Caide, when I entered the house. Children lend something special to a home. This house hasn't had