The Christie Caper - Carolyn Hart [101]
They all looked at the old lady in surprise as she pronounced the final name.
“Mrs. Honeycutt?” Annie said faintly.
Lady Gwendolyn looked especially cherubic as she gently chided them. “As Miss Marple always stressed, never assume that surface appearances are correa. We must by all means include Honeycutt. Now, Henny, what do you have on Hillman?”
Of course, given the opportunity, Henny was incapable of not taking center stage, and her exquisitely modulated voice now milked every nuance from her material. “Nathan Hillman born 1940 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Father, Elway, a high-school principal; mother, Martha, piano teacher. Only child. Excellent student. Editor high-school newspaper, outstanding student. Majored English at Princeton, BA in 1961. One of earliest Peace Corps members, two years Nigeria. MA in English, Columbia University, 1966. Joined small publishing firm, Loman Brothers, in 1966. Moved up through editorial ranks, executive editor 1978. Firm prospered. Upon death of founder, Joseph Loman, in 1986, employees bought company from heirs, elected Hillman president and CEO. Beneath surface, bitter battle between Hillman and another senior editor, Francis Morissey. Morissey was ousted in bruising stock battle.” Henny paused, then said, almost reluctantly, “Hillman is quite likable—but this gives us another view of him. He’s ruthless in business. Does that carry over into his personal life? It’s something to think about. Now, under Hillman’s leadership, the company’s percentage share of the market increased three-fold, accomplished primarily by expansion of its paperback arm. Hillman is well liked by most of his employees. Always genial, personable, pleasant. However, he expects total loyalty to the company, long hours, and books that make money. An editor with more than three money-losing books is encouraged to look for another job. Despite heavy managerial responsibilities, Hillman still edits a number of the house’s major authors. In personal life, he has had several serious relationships but only one seemed headed for marriage, that with Pamela Gerrard Davis. But Davis, unexpectedly to those at the firm who knew her, instead married critic Neil Bledsoe. Since the abrupt end of that relationship, Hillman has been periodically involved in casual affairs. At work, Hillman is presently especially interested in the career of Natalie Marlow and—in-house—with the progress of Gerrard-Davis’s son, Derek.”
Lady Gwendolyn’s coronet braids held firm as she nodded to herself and made a notation on a pad. “Well done, Henny.”
Henny’s eyes slitted again, although Lady Gwendolyn’s tone wasn’t the least bit patronizing.
The old author checked her notes. “Ah yes, Laurel, what do you have on Margo Wright?”
“Such an interesting young woman. Such a strong personality.” Laurel beamed at her audience. “So marvelous the way women now can participate openly in every arena in the world. Although certainly it is a grave mistake on the part of today’s youth to assume women were subjugated in the past. Women have always had the faculty of exercising control in their lives but through subtle, adroit, social means. And truly,” her husky voice took on a confidential tone, “I think the millennia of experience gained by women in such skills as negotiation, diplomacy, and—”
“That is certainly an interesting thesis. There is much to it. But for the moment, perhaps we should confine ourselves to our subject.” Such was Lady Gwendolyn’s charm that the reproof actually sounded like a compliment.
“Of course,” Laurel replied happily, not in the least quashed.
Annie wondered how it would be to go through life not only gorgeous, rich, and ebullient, but armored with impenetrable aplomb.
Not, of course, that she had any desire at all to emulate her mother-in-law. The very idea made her dizzy.
“Margo Wright,” Laurel continued obediently. “Margo was born in 1956,