Murder in the Mansion Read Online Free Page B

cool breeze. Some guests sat barefoot with
their feet in the water, lost in idle conversation. Others lounged on patio
furniture or stood in small groups along the stone patio and lawn.
    Cued
by the lamplight, caterers and servers switched platters for desserts.
Champagne was returned to the kitchen and hot beverages were passed around.
Guests sat nibbling on strawberries, cheesecake, and apple pie. The toasts
which had continued throughout the evening began to wind down. Everyone but
Vivien had praised, reminisced, and advised him on what was to come next in his
life.
    She
stood now on the back terrace, with the house lit up behind her, the windows
appearing to glow in the darkness. The house stood in an elegant disarray, a
back-split sprawling this way and that, as if it wasn't sure what it was trying
to be. William had loved it from the moment he'd set eyes on it. Looking at
Vivien he knew he felt the same way about her.
    “If
I could have your attention for a moment,” her voice rang out over the
monotonous chatter. “You've all had your chance to tell William how wonderful
he is this evening. How much he's done for you as an employer, how rewarding it
has been to do business with him, or how it was never solely about business,
but friendship,” she looked out at the crowd, met Sam's eyes for one moment.
“Sam spoke earlier about friendship being at the core of one of the most
successful law firms in Toronto. If we look around this evening it is obvious that
William has made a lot of friends in his sixty years.”
    She
sipped from her champagne and lingered over it. William watched and waited,
unsure if she meant to clear her mind or wanted the dramatic effect.
    “William
has also managed,” she continued, “through distance, through building a
business and making a family, to hold on to his roots. Marius has come a long
way this evening to celebrate with us and I know he would have traveled
further.” She raised her glass in his direction. “Thank you for always being
just a phone call away.”
    She
took another sip and waited for the clapping to dissipate before speaking. “Of
course I extend the same thank you to my own family. William and I have been
married for thirty four years and when we took those vows our families merged.
Our friends also merged. His career, his interests, his ambitions, have also in
some shape or form affected the life we have together. My sister Pamela has
kept me grounded for all of these years. The support we have been given by all
of you at one time or another in our lives has strengthened us individually. It
has also enabled us to have a fulfilling marriage and life together. I am
grateful to all of you for that and thank all of you for being here tonight to
celebrate this momentous occasion.
    “Thirty
four years ago I made a decision that affected the entire course of my life.
Had I not married William my life would have been remarkably different. I think
about it sometimes, as I'm sure we all do, and consider what could have been.
We have had our ups and downs. I've made mistakes. I've done things that if I
had the choice I would go back and change,” her voice grew louder, clearer, as
she stared defiantly into the crowd.
    “But
if I had to do it over again I would still marry William exactly the way I did
thirty four years ago. I would still have six beautiful children with him, even
if they can't all be with us tonight. And Dani,” her voice wavered for just an
instant, “Dani, I believe in my heart, would be here with us right now if she
could. I married a successful and truly wonderful man who makes me feel
intelligent and beautiful to this day. Wouldn't it be nice if all women could
say that after thirty four years? So if you would all raise your glasses, or
coffee, whichever you have on you. Here's to William as he embarks on a new era
in his life. May we have another sixty years with you!”
    The
crowd clapped and cheered.
    “Another
sixty years,” William raised