that?” asked Jessie. She couldn’t believe Althea could be thrown out of her own house.
“Yes, they can,” said Grandfather. “Althea, did Grayson leave you his estate when he died?”
She dabbed a tissue at her eyes. “Yes, he left me the house and what was in our bank account. We never had much money. Peacock Hall is expensive to run. Something is always breaking, like the furnace or the plumbing. Grayson told me he never wanted Peacock Hall to leave the Randolph family. The Randolphs built this house and kept it even during difficult times.”
Grandfather frowned. “You and Grayson didn’t have children. Are there any other Randolphs who might buy it?”
“Grayson had some distant cousins,” Althea replied. “But they’re scattered all over the country. They don’t want to be burdened with a white elephant in Virginia.”
Benny leaned forward. “White elephant? Where?” He loved elephants. When he grew up, he planned to own one.
Althea laughed. “It’s an expression, Benny, dear. A white elephant is a big place nobody wants.”
Jessie rubbed her hand over the worn chair cushion. She could see why Peacock Hall might be hard to sell. People today wanted new houses.
Footsteps rang across the foyer. Henry who was sitting closest to the doorway saw a red-faced young man rush into the room.
“Aunt Althea!” the man thundered. “If you’re going behind my back and selling to a real estate agent —”
“Roscoe Janney!” Althea chided. “Where are your manners? This gentleman is my cousin Celia’s husband, James Alden. And these are his grandchildren. They’ve come to visit me.”
“Oh.” Roscoe looked embarrassed. “Aunt Althea, have you considered my offer — will you sell Peacock Hall? You could get a cozy little apartment in Charlottesville.”
Althea drew herself up. “First of all, Roscoe, your paltry offer is an insult. Peacock Hall is worth twice that price. And second, let me remind you that although you are my great-nephew, you are not a Randolph.”
Roscoe’s beady eyes narrowed. “By Friday you’re going to wish you had snapped up my offer. Only by then it’ll be too late!” He turned on his heel and left, slamming the front door behind him.
“I apologize for my great-nephew’s behavior,” Althea said to Grandfather. “He’s right about one thing, though. By Friday I’ll have to leave.”
“Have you had any other offers?” Grandfather asked.
“One. A woman named Marlene Sanders came by a month ago. She offered me a fair price, but the development firm she represents wants to tear the house down and put up a golf course!” Althea seemed ready to cry. “If I sell, what will happen to old Tate? I hate to go against my husband’s wish. I promised him I’d only sell this house to a member of the Randolph family.”
Grandfather patted Althea’s hand. “It’ll be all right. But we can’t fix your problem tonight. Tomorrow is Monday. I’ll go downtown and check the county records.”
The older woman looked relieved. “The taxes are due Friday at five o’clock. I’d be so grateful if you stayed until then.”
Grandfather pushed himself to his feet. “My grandchildren are very helpful as well. They’ve solved a number of mystery cases.”
“You don’t say!” Althea smiled. “Maybe you children will find the secret of Peacock Hall.”
Benny who was nodding off, became alert. “Mystery? There’s a mystery here? Tell us about it!”
Grandfather laughed. “Not tonight. We’ve had a long day and it’s bedtime.”
“I’ll show you to your rooms,” Althea led them up a wide flight of stairs and down a hallway. “I’m afraid I don’t use these rooms anymore, so you’ll have to make up your own beds. Linens are in this closet.”
Benny and Henry chose a blue-painted room overlooking the empty fish pond. The girls picked a room across the hall with rose-patterned wallpaper.
Violet sneezed when she opened the linen closet. “Whew!
“Yes, they can,” said Grandfather. “Althea, did Grayson leave you his estate when he died?”
She dabbed a tissue at her eyes. “Yes, he left me the house and what was in our bank account. We never had much money. Peacock Hall is expensive to run. Something is always breaking, like the furnace or the plumbing. Grayson told me he never wanted Peacock Hall to leave the Randolph family. The Randolphs built this house and kept it even during difficult times.”
Grandfather frowned. “You and Grayson didn’t have children. Are there any other Randolphs who might buy it?”
“Grayson had some distant cousins,” Althea replied. “But they’re scattered all over the country. They don’t want to be burdened with a white elephant in Virginia.”
Benny leaned forward. “White elephant? Where?” He loved elephants. When he grew up, he planned to own one.
Althea laughed. “It’s an expression, Benny, dear. A white elephant is a big place nobody wants.”
Jessie rubbed her hand over the worn chair cushion. She could see why Peacock Hall might be hard to sell. People today wanted new houses.
Footsteps rang across the foyer. Henry who was sitting closest to the doorway saw a red-faced young man rush into the room.
“Aunt Althea!” the man thundered. “If you’re going behind my back and selling to a real estate agent —”
“Roscoe Janney!” Althea chided. “Where are your manners? This gentleman is my cousin Celia’s husband, James Alden. And these are his grandchildren. They’ve come to visit me.”
“Oh.” Roscoe looked embarrassed. “Aunt Althea, have you considered my offer — will you sell Peacock Hall? You could get a cozy little apartment in Charlottesville.”
Althea drew herself up. “First of all, Roscoe, your paltry offer is an insult. Peacock Hall is worth twice that price. And second, let me remind you that although you are my great-nephew, you are not a Randolph.”
Roscoe’s beady eyes narrowed. “By Friday you’re going to wish you had snapped up my offer. Only by then it’ll be too late!” He turned on his heel and left, slamming the front door behind him.
“I apologize for my great-nephew’s behavior,” Althea said to Grandfather. “He’s right about one thing, though. By Friday I’ll have to leave.”
“Have you had any other offers?” Grandfather asked.
“One. A woman named Marlene Sanders came by a month ago. She offered me a fair price, but the development firm she represents wants to tear the house down and put up a golf course!” Althea seemed ready to cry. “If I sell, what will happen to old Tate? I hate to go against my husband’s wish. I promised him I’d only sell this house to a member of the Randolph family.”
Grandfather patted Althea’s hand. “It’ll be all right. But we can’t fix your problem tonight. Tomorrow is Monday. I’ll go downtown and check the county records.”
The older woman looked relieved. “The taxes are due Friday at five o’clock. I’d be so grateful if you stayed until then.”
Grandfather pushed himself to his feet. “My grandchildren are very helpful as well. They’ve solved a number of mystery cases.”
“You don’t say!” Althea smiled. “Maybe you children will find the secret of Peacock Hall.”
Benny who was nodding off, became alert. “Mystery? There’s a mystery here? Tell us about it!”
Grandfather laughed. “Not tonight. We’ve had a long day and it’s bedtime.”
“I’ll show you to your rooms,” Althea led them up a wide flight of stairs and down a hallway. “I’m afraid I don’t use these rooms anymore, so you’ll have to make up your own beds. Linens are in this closet.”
Benny and Henry chose a blue-painted room overlooking the empty fish pond. The girls picked a room across the hall with rose-patterned wallpaper.
Violet sneezed when she opened the linen closet. “Whew!
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