Baxter sighed. “I sympathize, old chap. It seems as if both our wives have a problem avoiding trouble.”
“Piffle.” Cecily took her husband’s arm to soften her words. “You are just jealous of our abilities, that is all. You men like to think of women as helpless little creatures who cannot make an intelligent decision without the guidance and wisdom of their husbands.”
“If that were so, my dear Cecily, you and I would have parted company a long time ago.” Patting her hand, he led her down the hallway to the dining room.
CHAPTER 16
It was the following morning before Cecily could arrange a meeting with Madeline alone. She had suggested they meet for tea and scones at Dolly’s tea shop, and her friend had readily agreed.
Waiting for her to arrive, Cecily exchanged a few words with the owner of the tea shop. Dolly, a massive woman with three chins and a sharp tongue, expressed her shock and sorrow at the news that Ian Rossiter had died.
“I still remember him working for you at the Pennyfoot,” she said, leaning one hand on Cecily’s table to rest her back. “Bright young lad, he was. Bit of a joker but he had a good heart. I remember his wedding to Gertie, poor luv. She was so heartbroken when it turned out he was already married.”
“Yes, she was.” Cecily kept her voice low, aware of other customers in the cramped restaurant. “It’s all very sad the way things turned out.”
“I don’t suppose they know who did it.” Dolly pulled a face. “Not that our brilliant constabulary could find a pick-pocket in a prison yard. Still, there can’t be that many people around here who would want to kill someone like Ian. He might have made his mistakes, like we all do, but he wasn’t a bad person.”
Cecily wasn’t so sure about that. She couldn’t help remembering what his wife had to say about Ian’s companions. Then again, Gloria didn’t seem to have much good to say about her late husband.
“Don’t you think, dearie?”
Cecily looked up with a start, aware she’d completely missed what Dolly had been saying. “I do beg your pardon, Dolly. I wasn’t-”
“There you are.” Madeline’s voice from behind her cut off Cecily’s next words. “Sorry I’m late. I had to wait for Kevin to leave.” She plopped down on the empty chair, her long dark hair flying all over her shoulders. Seemingly oblivious to the nervous glances sent her way from three women seated nearby, she waved a hand at Dolly. “Bring on the scones, Dolly dear. I’m utterly starving.”
“They’re on their way.” Dolly beamed at her. “You’re looking very sprightly this morning, Mrs. Prestwick.”
Madeline shuddered. “I still can’t get used to being called that.” She gave Dolly an accusing stare. “You used to call me Madeline.”
Dolly nodded, sending her chins wobbling. “That I did, but that was before you were married.”
“Whatever difference does that make?”
Dolly answered by rolling her eyes, then squeezed her way through the tables in the direction of the kitchen.
Cecily shook her head. “Madeline, you are utterly incorrigible.”
“I fail to see why I should be treated any differently as a married woman.” Madeline flipped her hair away from her face with a careless hand. “I’m still the same person.”
Cecily studied her friend. “Are you?”
Madeline gave her a rueful smile. “Well, no, I’m not. I’m not as free to do what I like when I like. I have someone else to think about now, and in several more months, there’ll be a third someone else to worry about.” She laid a gentle hand on her stomach.
It took Cecily a moment or two to realize what she meant.
“Madeline! Are you…?”
“With child, as they say.” Madeline’s tinkling laugh rang out. “Don’t look so stunned, Cecily. Even witches can bear babies, you know.”
Shocked gasps from across the room greeted this statement, confirming that Dolly’s customers had been avidly following the conversation. Not that it had been all that difficult for them, since Madeline had deliberately raised her voice in order to titillate her audience.
Cecily was far too delighted at her friend’s news to scold her, however. “Madeline… how utterly delightful. Kevin must be over the moon.”
“Kevin doesn’t know yet, though no doubt he will by tonight.” Madeline sent a sly glance over to the other table. “I suppose I’d better tell him before then.”
“How long have you known?” Speaking in a near whisper, Cecily leaned forward. “How could Kevin not know? He’s a doctor, for heaven’s sake.”
“Kevin doesn’t know everything, even if he thinks he does.” Madeline shrugged. “Besides, I only realized it myself a few days ago. I wanted to be sure before I told you.”
“Well, I couldn’t be happier for you.” Cecily touched her friend’s hand, knowing that wasn’t quite the truth. It worried her that Madeline had told her before she’d broken the news to her husband. She couldn’t help wondering if all was not well in the Prestwick household.
That wasn’t something she felt comfortable inquiring about, however. That was Madeline’s problem, and she couldn’t interfere. All she could do was hope and pray that she was wrong.
“Anyway, enough of that.” Madeline reached for her serviette and laid it in her lap. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“How do you know I want to talk about anything specific? Can’t two friends meet just to have a cozy chat?”
Madeline’s gaze raked her face. “I know you, Cecily. You want to know if I have any revelations about Ian’s death.”
Cecily was prevented from answering by Dolly, who arrived at their table with a loaded tray, which she began to unload with excruciating precision. After placing each cup carefully in its saucer, she laid out a china bowl filled to the brim with cubes of sugar, into which she placed tiny silver tongs. The jug of cream followed, then the teapot dressed in a bright green knitted tea cozy.
Next, she placed in the center of the table a large platter of scones, a bowl of clotted cream, and a jar of strawberry jam. Tucking the tray under her arm, Dolly surveyed the table. “I’ve just baked some Banbury cakes. They’re hot out of the oven. Would you like me to bring you some?”
Cecily could already savor the aroma of the spiced raisin cakes wafting from the kitchen. “Oh, please do.”
Madeline sighed. “I suppose, now that I have to eat for two, it wouldn’t hurt.”
Fortunately, Dolly had already moved out of earshot. Cecily frowned. “Don’t you think you should tell your husband the good news before you spread it all over town?”
Madeline raised an eyebrow. “You sound a little put out with me.”
“I am.” Cecily leaned forward again, whispering, “Kevin should have been the first to know.”
Madeline didn’t answer at first, then she murmured, “I know. You’re right, Cecily. I suppose I’m afraid of what he might say.”
“Why? I don’t understand.”
“Shall I pour?” Madeline reached for the sugar bowl and picked out two lumps with the tongs, then dropped them into Cecily’s cup. “Judging by our conversations on the subject, I suspect that Kevin is worried about me bringing another witch into the world.” She dropped two more sugar lumps in her own cup. “I can’t say I blame him.”
“You must be joking.” As far as Cecily could tell from her expression, however, Madeline was perfectly serious.
“He’s right, you know. My child could well possess talents that are completely misunderstood by most people. Having lived with that all my life, I don’t know if I want to place that burden on anyone, much less my own flesh and blood.”
She reached for the milk jug and poured a small amount in each cup. “Don’t look so distressed, Cecily dear.
