Theodosia nodded as she stirred the mixture that was beginning to exude an enticing aroma. “And you really use eggs instead of cream?” She nodded again. “Egg yolks.”
“I think I’m going to
“That’s where the wine comes in,” said Theodosia. “Supposed to have a neutralizing effect. Well, at least we hope it does.”
“You mean like the French paradox,” said Drayton. He was making reference to the staple diet in France that consists of bread, rich cheeses, eggs, cream, and lots of chocolate desserts. Yet, because of their almost daily consumption of wine, the French have an extremely low incidence of heart disease.
“My God,” declared Haley as she tasted her first bite of the creamy spaghetti carbonara. “This is incredible!”
“It’s amazing how far a little cheese, butter, olive oil, pancetta, and egg yolks will go toward making mere noodles palatable,” said Drayton as he passed a loaf of crusty French bread across the table to Haley.
“That’s what’s in this?” asked Bethany. “Yikes! I’m going to be on lettuce and water for a week.”
“Two weeks,” said Theodosia.
“Isn’t it worth it?” grinned Drayton.
The four of them, their squabbles put aside and forgotten, sat around Theodosia’s dining table. They were dining on Theodosia’s good china, the Picard, with tall pink tapers glowing in the center of the table. Looking through the French doors, the diners could observe a fire crackling in be a unique thing to offer! If you can do bridal shower teas and teddy bear teas and Valentine teas, why not mystery teas?”
Theodosia had to chuckle. Right in the middle of a serious conversation, Bethany had come up with a terrific marketing idea. Themed teas. And why not? Why not mystery teas or book lovers’ teas or chamber music teas? Such catered affairs—downstairs at the tea shop, in local inns, in people’s homes—would open up whole new directions for profitability.
“I positively adore the idea, Bethany,” said Theodosia. “And I cheerfully pass the torch of marketing director along to you!”
“Oh, no! When all this is cleared up, I’m going back to the museum world. It’s a lot quieter than a tea shop.”
“A lot safer, too, I’ll warrant,” said Haley. “Now, Theodosia, fill us in on what you’ve found out about Hughes Barron. Share your suspicions concerning Timothy Neville and Tanner Joseph, too. And who’s that weird partner again?”
“Lleveret Dante,” said Drayton, carefully enunciating every syllable. “Anyone for a cup of Chinese Hao Ya?”
Everyone nodded, and Drayton scooted into the kitchen. Measuring four teaspoons of the smoky black Chinese tea into a teapot, he splashed in hot water and returned to the table.
Theodosia leaned forward and, in her quiet voice, shared her suspicions as well as the subsequent discoveries she’d made during the past few days. She spoke uninterrupted for at least thirty minutes. When she finished, the group was wide-eyed with wonderment, literally sitting on the edge of their chairs.
“Wow,” whispered Haley. “You actually went to the morgue?”
Theodosia nodded.
“And you snooped in Timothy Neville’s medicine cabinet?” asked Bethany.
“I can’t say I’m proud of that,” said Theodosia.
“How brave you were,” Bethany replied. “I would have been scared to death.”
“Lleveret Dante is really the wild card in all this, isn’t he?” said Haley.
“What do you mean?” asked Theodosia.
“He’s the one we don’t know all that much about.”
“I suppose you’re right,” said Theodosia.
“How do we go about changing that?” asked Drayton.
“Spy on him,” piped up Haley matter-of-factly. “Run a background check, ask around, follow him if need be. Try to put together a profile.”
“You go, girl,” urged Bethany.
“Haley,” said Theodosia, “are you sure you’re not taking classes in criminology?”
“What about Tanner Joseph?” said Drayton. He gazed evenly at Theodosia. “He’s still working on our tea labels.”
“Leave him to me,” said Theodosia.
It was eight o’clock when they all trooped down the stairs, a yawning Earl Grey padding after them. Everyone still felt sated from the rich dinner, talked out, yet heartened by a renewed sense of camaraderie.
“Someone’s pinned a note to the door,” remarked Dray-ton.
“I bet it’s for me,” said Haley as she slipped her sweater on. “One of the delivery services probably arrived late and found us closed.”
Drayton pulled the paper from the door, where one corner had been stuck into the wood trim that framed the small window. “Let me put on my spectacles.” He pulled wire-rim glasses from his jacket pocket, hooked the bows behind his ears, and studied the note. “Oh, no,” he said, his face crumpling in dismay.
“What is it?” asked Theodosia, instantly on the alert. She snatched the note from Drayton’s hand and scanned it quickly. When she looked up, she was white as a sheet.
“Someone’s threatened Earl Grey,” she said softly. “What!” exclaimed Haley. “Threatened ...How do you mean?”
“The note,” said Theodosia in a strangled voice, “threatened him with...” But her throat had closed up, and she wasn’t able to finish.
“With poison,” whispered Drayton.
“Oh, God!” Haley put a hand to her mouth, shocked.
Theodosia dropped to her knees and pulled Earl Grey close to her, placing her head against his own soft head. “I can’t believe it,” she murmured softly. “I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to Earl Grey.”
“Theodosia.” Above her, Drayton’s lined countenance was grave. “This threat has hit too close to home. I know what we talked about... agreed to... earlier, but now... Well, perhaps the prudent move is to bow out of the investigation entirely.”
“Drayton, we haven’t really been
“You know what I mean.” Drayton dropped his large hand to gently touch Earl Grey’s sleek head reassuringly. “We would all be heartbroken should something happen to this fine fellow.”
“Something’s already happened,” said Theodosia tightly. Her fingers kneaded at the dog’s soft fur.
“But, Theodosia—” Haley began.
“When someone threatens anyone close to me, people or pet, they’re threatening
“My God, Theodosia, you can’t be serious,” implored Drayton. “After this terrible note—”
“I’ve never been more serious, Drayton,” she said in a hoarse whisper. She stared up at him, fire smoldering in her eyes, her breath coming in short, choked gasps, her cheeks flushed with color.
Drayton gazed back at his beloved employer, knowing the depth of her emotions and the firmness of her resolve.
“All right, then,” he said finally. “Good for you. Damn good for you. You know we’re all in this with you.” All hands reached down to touch Earl Grey, a silent acknowledgment of solidarity.
Upstairs in her apartment, alone with Earl Grey, Theodosia shook with rage. She had promised everyone she would lock the door and set the alarm. And, yes, she had done exactly that. But she had another idea cooking in her head. A good idea that would insure Earl Grey’s safety and allow her to focus all her energy, once and for all.
Then, tomorrow morning, when she could think with a clear head and a lighter heart, she’d figure something out. Maybe even get in touch with Burt Tidwell. Who knows.
