Sweat Tea Revenge by Laura Childs Page B

Theodosia. “Her fiancé.”
    Leigh clapped a hand to her chest. “No!”
    “It was awful,” said Theodosia.
    “And you were some kind of witness?” asked Leigh, curious now.
    “I was the one who discovered the victim.”
    “Poor Delaine,” said Leigh. “She must be beside herself. And on her wedding day like that.” Leigh’s face crumpled and she shook her head sadly. “How could something like that happen?” she asked. “If you’re not safe at your own
wedding
, then where are you safe?”
    *   *   *
    Just when Theodosia
was delivering a plate of black currant scones and a pot of vanilla spice tea, the ghost hunters came charging into her shop. They spotted her, gave an enthusiastic wave, then trooped over to the same table they’d occupied yesterday.
    A few minutes later, her customers all taken care of and Drayton’s watchful eyes surveying the shop, Theodosia went over and joined them.
    “Okay,” she said, as she slid into a chair. “I’m in.”
    “That’s terrific,” Jed enthused. “We were hoping you’d say yes.”
    “Wonderful,” said Tim, grinning. “And we’ve obtained the full consent of the Rattlings. In the form of a written release, I might add.”
    Theodosia held up a hand. “Just a second. My yes comes with a rather large codicil. I had to run your request past Delaine Dish, of course.”
    “Mr. Granville’s ex-bride,” said Jed.
    “Uh . . .” Theodosia hesitated. Was that the correct term? Ex-bride? Or was Delaine Granville’s former bride? How
would
you describe Delaine’s current status? Bride in mourning? Goodness, that sounded awful!
    “You were saying?” said Tim.
    “Yes,” said Theodosia, plugging back into the conversation. “I ran your ghost-hunting expedition past Delaine and she basically approved. In fact, she expressed a strong desire to come along.”
    “She can come,” said Jed. “In fact, her presence might be very helpful. If Mr. Granville’s spirit is lingering, she’s the one person who might be able to draw him out.”
    Or Delaine might freak out,
thought Theodosia.
    “So we’re on for tonight,” said Jed.
    “When?” asked Theodosia. She felt tingly inside, like her adrenaline had started to pump. And there was a note of apprehension, too, as if she’d just agreed to participate in a bank heist. “What time?”
    “After dark,” said Tim. “Let’s say we all meet at Ravencrest Inn at nine o’clock.”

9
    “I can’t believe
you’re really going to indulge this ghost-hunting fantasy,” said Drayton. He’d been courteous to the two brothers but visibly relieved once they’d finally left.
    “Hard to believe,” said Theodosia, “but Delaine’s all for it.”
    “She likes it in theory,” said Drayton. “Your little rendezvous sounds quite spiritual and soothing to her, a last-chance opportunity to say good-bye to her dearly departed. But when you get Delaine back in that dingy little room and something goes bump in the night, she might just have herself a heart attack.”
    “Thanks for your upbeat take on things,” said Theodosia.
    Drayton smiled. “Always happy to oblige.”
    Theodosia skipped into the kitchen and grabbed a couple of Haley’s ploughman’s platters that had been special-ordered. She’d put together a tasty assortment of Gouda, Cheddar, and Stilton cheeses; rare roast beef; chopped pickled pears; dried apricots; and salted pecans. After delivering the platters and receiving oohs and aahs from the recipients, she dashed back into the kitchen. “What else is on the docket for today? Lunchwise, I mean.”
    “Some pretty good stuff,” said Haley, as she sculpted a radish into a perfect rose. “We’ve got lobster salad in mini brioche rolls, triangles of Black Forest ham and Swiss cheese on rye, and chilled strawberry soup with cinnamon raisin biscuits.”
    “Superb,” said Theodosia. “And what else besides our scone offerings?” She knew Haley had been baking like a fiend. Then again, she