“Then he had no money of his own?”
“Not a great deal. You see, my stepfather loved travel, and until he met Mother he never really settled down. He made a little by writing magazine articles, and he spent it roving about the country and exploring far corners of the world.”
“It must have been an interesting life,” Penny commented politely. “Your mother enjoyed travel too?”
“Oh, mercy no! One hardly can get her away from Riverview. She and my stepfather never traveled together after they were married.”
Penny gathered that Mr. and Mrs. Rhett were entirely different types of individuals, but she asked no additional questions, for by this time, the girls had reached the house.
Crossing a stone terrace at the rear of the dwelling, they entered a spacious living room furnished with elegant though formal furniture. Shades were partially drawn, giving the interior a gloomy atmosphere, despite the vases of brightly colored chrysanthemums which decorated the tables.
A woman with dark hair tinged with gray sat reading a book. She was immaculately groomed, every curl of an elaborate hair-do in place, but her face lacked tranquility. Her eyes were not on the page before her, Penny noted, and as the two girls came in, she visibly started.
“Oh, it’s you, Lorinda,” she murmured in relief. “I declare, I am getting jumpy! For a moment I thought it might be the police or that inquisitive reporter—”
“Mother,” interposed Lorinda hastily, “allow me to present Penny Parker, from the Riverview Star.”
Mrs. Rhett laid aside the book and stared at Penny, her face without expression. Her voice was cold as she spoke.