29The mood at La Baraque had been understandably strange ever since Pyke’s murder. By turns giddy, frightened, and bored, that Thursday night the guests made one last effort to enjoy themselves and return to the happy few days of socializing they had experienced on first arriving. The Valentine’s Day party was back on—days past February 14th, but nonetheless anticipated eagerly, at least by Ira whose idea it was.
Not wanting to bother Molly, Ira had asked Constance and Ben for help with food. Constance, knowing her limitations, had brought a few dishes from the traiteur: a Périgord walnut tart that would remind Ashley of the Southern staple, pecan pie, and a small bag of prunes stuffed with foie gras. Ben had set up a grill behind the house and was cooking duck breasts, rare, slicing them
