Chapter 1<br > Autumn was the most beaut~ul time of the year at Beau-<br >mont. In late October the leaves had not finished falling， and<br >the massive beech trees around the house were still in full<br >color. When Isabel Cunningham came to work as Charles<br >Schriber s secretary three years earlier， it had been in the<br >middle of a blazing Kentucky summer. By the time Septem-<br >ber came， she was his wife. It was four o clock and she had<br >been out walking with her husband s favorite terrier; they<br >had gone through the wood at the north side of the grounds.<br >The little dog had scampered through the leaves， barking<br >and bustling around， looking for rabbit holes， Isabel follow-<br >ing slowly after him. The wood was dim and peaceful， with<br >lovely paths that in April were full of spring flowers. The<br >sunlight filtered through the trees， making bright patterns at<br >her feet. Charles loved to walk there with her and to go on<br >and inspect the paddocks where the mares and foals were<br >out at grass. It was too late to see them that afternoon; they<br >would have been brought in for the night. She called the dog<br >and came out into the sunlight， taking the way around<br >through the large formal gardens at the rear of the house.<br >Her husband hadn t been interested in the gardens; he was<br ><br >