MURDER WITH CLOTTED CREAM
When she reached the butler’s pantry, the paneled door was closed.
Was Margaret inside on the phone?
Daisy put her ear to the heavy wood door but could hear nothing.
She rapped but there was no answer.
Daisy slowly turned the knob and the door creaked open.
She froze.
Cold chills raced up and down her spine.
Margaret Vaughn lay on the floor.
Daisy’s gaze shifted to the brushed nickel knife holder on the counter. The middle knife—which Daisy suspected was the largest in the set—was missing. . .
Books by Karen Rose Smith
Caprice DeLuca Mysteries
STAGED TO DEATH
DEADLY DÉCOR
GILT BY ASSOCIATION
DRAPE EXPECTATIONS
SILENCE OF THE LAMPS
SHADES OF WRATH
SLAY BELLS RING
CUT TO THE CHAISE
Daisy’s Tea Garden Mysteries
MURDER WITH LEMON TEA CAKES
MURDER WITH CINNAMON SCONES
MURDER WITH CUCUMBER SANDWICHES
MURDER WITH CHERRY TARTS
MURDER WITH CLOTTED CREAM
Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation
Murder with Clotted Cream
KAREN ROSE SMITH
KENSINGTON BOOKS
www.kensingtonbooks.com
All copyrighted material within is Attributor Protected.
Table of Contents
MURDER WITH CLOTTED CREAM
Also by
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Epilogue
ORIGINAL RECIPES
KENSINGTON BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2020 by Karen Rose Smith
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Kensington and the K logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-1-4967-2394-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-4967-2395-6 (ebook)
ISBN-10: 1-4967-2395-3 (ebook)
For moms who try their hardest to do their best
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Officer Greg Berry. I take his advice and use the law enforcement info he gives me to maintain accuracy. He’s a valuable asset and I always appreciate his input.
Chapter One
“But what if Margaret doesn’t like the apple gingerbread with clotted cream?” Aunt Iris asked Daisy as they stood at the sales counter of Daisy’s Tea Garden.
Daisy Swanson was co-owner of Daisy’s Tea Garden with her aunt Iris. Willow Creek, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, experienced a thriving tourist trade even into November and December if the weather held. However, business was sporadic in November and Daisy was glad to accept catering events in order to keep up their revenue around the holidays. She knew her aunt Iris was worried about one such catering event coming up in a few days. They were concerned about all of their events being as perfect as they could make them, but the woman who had hired them to present afternoon tea in her historic farmhouse had a reputation. Margaret Vaughn, former New York City actress, was particular.
There were only a few customers in the tea garden at nine a.m. on a Monday morning. Still, Iris lowered her voice. “Since Margaret’s husband built her that theater, and she made herself director of their productions, she’s even more persnickety. What if she doesn’t like what we serve? We worked on that clotted cream for three days!” Iris’s ash-blond short curls bounced with vehemence.
Daisy’s friend Vanna Huffnagle, Willow Creek Community Church’s secretary, had recommended Daisy to her sister, Margaret.
Margaret had insisted on genuine clotted cream for the catered tea. Daisy had assured her that they would oblige. Her aunt Iris was correct. The clotted cream was a lot of work to make. To buy it would be terrifically expensive. Daisy had wanted to give Margaret a competitive quote so she wouldn’t choose someone else to cater her event. She didn’t intend to disappoint either Vanna or the very exacting Margaret.
Daisy took the elastic tie from her shoulder-length blond hair and refastened it into a low ponytail. “Vanna told me that she and Margaret don’t always get along. I know too well sisters can be like oil mixing with water. I got the impression that they hadn’t had much contact at all during Margaret’s acting years in New York. It’s only since Margaret married Rowan Vaughn and they moved to Willow Creek that she and Vanna see each other frequently.”
Iris swept around the counter and counted the scones that were inside the case. Then her hazel eyes met Daisy’s blue ones. “Even though Vanna left her Mennonite faith behind when she married her husband, she adhered to its values. Margaret didn’t.”
“Just because she wanted an acting career didn’t mean she left her values behind,” Daisy offered, slipping her hands into the pockets of her yellow apron with its large daisy logo.
“Maybe not,” Iris agreed. “But Vanna believes big-city life changed Margaret.” Iris thought about their conversation for a few moments. “Since Vanna’s husband died, I think she’s been lonely. She was glad when Margaret moved back here. But I also know she believes Rowan building his wife that Little Theater and setting up an endowment for future expenses was really over the top of anything a husband should do.”
Most residents of Willow Creek knew Rowan Vaughn, a land developer in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was worth millions. At least that’s what the Willow Creek gossip mill indicated. Vanna had shared with Daisy that Margaret had run away to New York City when she was fifteen. An actress was all she’d ever wanted to be. To escape the life and faith restrictions she didn’t want?
Emerging from the kitchen, Daisy’s kitchen manager, Tessa Miller, came over to where she was standing. Tessa was a colorful addition to the tea garden with her flowing orange and green smock and her braided caramel-toned hair interspersed with orange ribbons.
