Shades of Earl Grey

“Oh, no, . . .” protested Theodosia.

“Yes,” said Delaine, clutching Theodosia’s hand even more forcefully and digging in with her nails. “We need to get to the bottom of this, figure out what really happened. Like you, I simply don’t want to believe this was all just a horrible accident.” Delaine’s pleading eyes bore into Theodosia. “Oh please, you’re so terribly good at this kind of thing. You helped figure out who killed poor Oliver Dixon last summer when that horrible pistol exploded at the picnic.”

“She did do a fine job with that, didn’t she,” said Dray-ton, admiration apparent in his voice.

Theodosia frowned at Drayton. “That was a very different set of circumstances,” she protested. “I was standing right there and had just witnessed a rather strange argument between . . .” She hesitated, decided she’d better shift her line of conversation back to the here and now. “Delaine, I really wouldn’t have a clue as to where to begin. If my theory does hold water, it really was a motiveless murder.”

Delaine lifted her head and gazed at Theodosia mournfully. “But that’s just it. It was murder!”

“No,” said Theodosia, trying to back-pedal as best she could. “I stand corrected then. It was an accident. The kind of accident the police need to investigate. Let them determine if there were any suspicious people lurking about in the lobby last night. Any cars seen speeding away from the Lady Goodwood Inn. Any clues left on the rooftop. That sort of thing.”

“But we’ve got to get that ring back!” shrilled Delaine. “Camille is my niece. I’m responsible.”

“I’m sure Captain Buchanan’s family won’t hold you personally responsible,” said Drayton.

“Of course they won’t,” added Theodosia. “Because there really is nothing to go on,” said Theodosia. “No way to get a bead on this mysterious intruder.”

“If there even was one in the first place,” Drayton added.

Delaine sat there toying with her own ring, a giant moonstone that glimmered enticingly. “But there is a way,” she said slowly. “At least, there might be.”

Theodosia and Drayton exchanged startled glances.

“What do you mean, honey?” asked Drayton.

“You said the burglar was probably after the ring. Maybe even had his eye on the antique silver,” began Delaine.

“Probably being the operative word,” said Drayton.

“Well, what if this person really is a practiced thief,” said Delaine. “Then this wouldn’t be the end of it, would it? This person, this thief who prowls about in the night, wouldn’t just stop cold turkey, would he? This, whatever- he-is, cat burglar, would keep stealing, wouldn’t he?”

“I suppose so,” said Theodosia slowly.

Drayton set his teacup down with a loud clink. There was a distinctly funny look on his face. “Where are you going with this, Delaine?”

“I was thinking about tomorrow night,” she said. Now a sly look lit her face. “You know, the preview party at the Heritage Society. For the Treasures Show. There’s going to be that whole cache of European jewelry on display.”

“I was hoping you wouldn’t go there, Delaine,” said Drayton. He pursed his lips and his lined face assumed a pained expression. “Really hoping you wouldn’t go there.”

Delaine continued to toy with her ring. “Well, Drayton, honey, I just did. So there. And you two know exactly what I’m talking about.” She looked up in triumph, then glanced back and forth, from Theodosia’s face to Drayton’s. “Don’t tell me the same thought hasn’t crossed your minds. You know darn well that any thief who was attempting to steal an heirloom ring might also have his eye on that European Jewel Collection!”

With that, Delaine put her handkerchief to her face and began emitting little sobs.

Theodosia sat back in her chair and studied Delaine. Are these crocodile tears or genuine tears of sorrow and frustration? Probably a little of both, she decided. Delaine was genuinely upset over the death of her niece’s fiancé as well as the apparent loss of the antique wedding ring.

On the other hand, if Delaine thought she could goad her and Drayton into helping, then she would. She’d use every trick in the book.

Theodosia sighed. Problem was, Delaine’s remark about the Treasures Show at the Heritage Society was a point well taken. Would a cat burglar stop with just one item? No, probably not. Would the European Jewel Collection at the Treasures Show be enough of a lure to bring him out again? Hmm... that was the sixty- four-thousand-dollar question, wasn’t it?

“Drayton, what are you doing?” shrieked Haley in alarm.

Standing behind the counter, Drayton was dumping teaspoon after heaping teaspoon of Lapsang Souchong into a Victorian-style teapot.

“Hmm?” he asked. It was early afternoon and the luncheon crowd had just departed. Haley had whipped together chicken salad with pecans and served it mounded on lettuce cups with a wedge of banana bread spread with softened cream cheese. Every plate had sold out.

“You’ve dumped almost a dozen spoonfuls into that pot!” she told him. “Your tea is going to be so strong it’ll take the finish off!”

Drayton gazed down in horror. “Good lord! I completely lost track there, didn’t I?”

“Here,” Haley said as she elbowed Drayton out of the way, ready to take charge. “Let me do this. You get out the step stool and pull a couple jars of DuBose Bees Honey down from the shelf. You see that lady over there in the yellow sweater?”

Drayton scanned the tea room then nodded obediently, still lost in thought.

“Well, she adored the DuBose honey so much on her scone that she wants to take a couple jars home.”

“Okay,” he agreed.

“Really,” huffed Haley, “it seems like everyone’s lost their mind today.”

“Who’s lost their mind?” asked Theodosia as she emerged from the back carrying a fresh plate of scones.

“Drayton has,” said Haley. “He was about to make a superstrong pot of tea. As if that stuff isn’t strong enough to begin with,” she sniffed.

“Look at our little Haley,” said Drayton. “Two years ago she didn’t know a Darjeeling from a Yunnan. Now she’s an expert.”

“That’s enough sarcasm, Drayton,” Haley snapped. “I wasn’t the one who was about to send one of our guests into anaphylactic shock with a gigantic overdose of caffeine.”

The bell over the door tinkled as a group of tourists pushed their way into the shop. Haley, sensing that Dray-ton still wasn’t himself, immediately hustled over to seat them.

“Still feeling discombobulated?” Theodosia asked Drayton.

He nodded. “I keep thinking about what Delaine said regarding the members-only party tomorrow night at the Heritage Society. Granted, the installation of the entire Treasures Show won’t be completed until next weekend when the public opening occurs. But the traveling European Jewel Collection will be there tomorrow night. For all to see.”

“Including our so-called cat burglar.”

“Right,” said Drayton. “And if this thief had his eye on Camille’s ring, he might also be honed in on the European Jewel Collection. It certainly has received enough publicity.”

Indeed, there had been a splashy write-up in the Arts Section of the Charleston Post & Courier and Drayton had even been interviewed on the Good Morning, Charleston radio show.

“If it makes you feel any better, Drayton, those same concerns have been bouncing around in my head, too,” Theodosia told him.

“Unfortunately, there really isn’t much we can do,” said Drayton. He assumed a glum expression. “Something like this, you have to wait and see what happens.” He paused, reached behind him for a cup of tea he had brewed earlier for himself, took a sip.

“Chamomile?” asked Theodosia. Chamomile was a tried-and-true remedy for nerves.