As Caroline circulated through the library with the tray of appetizers, she found herself studying each of the Hargreaves in turn. She had been a drama major at Yale, and it was second nature to her to look for physical mannerisms and voice inflections in everyone. How a glass was held, a comment replied to, a look given when its owner thought no one was watching. Observing such details was basic for an aspiring actor, and noticing these characteristics was an old habit Caroline had not broken.
Now as she answered questions about tourist attractions in Newport and gave suggestions on the best shops and restaurants, she began to form impressions of the Hargreave family. They reminded her of the solar system, many planets revolving around one sun.
Ocean Drive and the rocky Atlantic Ocean coastline. The Kents' estate overlooks just such a dramatic view of sea and sky.
Caroline was almost certain that Lionel was the older of the two [Hargreave] brothers. He was tall, graying, distinguished-looking, yet he held himself in the background, preferring the perimeter of the family gathering to the center stage his sibling [Maurice] occupied.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Kent." Caroline heard a female voice behind her and turned around to see Donna [Hargreave]'s hand reaching for one of the cheese straws on her tray. Next to her, Kae Hargreave's look of disgust followed Donna’s fingers as the food was plucked up.
"My, these are good," Donna said, her mouth closing over the flaky pastry. A few buttery crumbs stayed on her pink lipstick.
"Would you care for anything, Mrs. Hargreave?" Caroline asked Kae, who pulled back and shook her head as if the mere closeness of the tray was as offending as its calorie-laden contents.
"Have one of these cheese things,"Donna counseled her. "I could eat them all."
"I’m sure," Kae said.
(Continued)