Murder at the Cooking School: Book 7 of the Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series by Dianne Harman

and saw that Caesar had
decided to follow her and was walking right next to her.
    I guess he took my offer
literally . He probably misses his owner. I can’t take her place but maybe we can be
friends while I’m here. She reached down and petted him. He looked up at
her with big brown eyes as if to say, “Thank you and yes, let’s be friends.”

CHAPTER 11
     
    Kelly was walking over to
where Mike and Domenico, the wine steward, were standing when one of the staff
motioned to the wine steward. He excused himself and followed the young man
into the wine cellar.
    “Well, I see
it didn’t take you long to find a new friend,” Mike said, kneeling down and
petting Caesar.
    “I think he’s
lonesome, and we’re kind of bonding. Anyway, I miss Rebel and Lady, so I don’t
mind having him around. I imagine he won’t be welcome in the kitchen, so you
might have to watch him when I’m attending class.”
    “What I’m
wondering is who’s in charge of him now. I understand from the chief that Signor Nardo is in mourning and refuses to see anyone or take any calls.
The chief told him he wanted to see him tomorrow, but he’d respect his need for
privacy today.”
    “Mike, I
overheard two women who work here talking about the Signora’s death.
They didn’t know I could hear what they were saying. I think you and the chief
might be very interested in what they had to say.”
    “I imagine
they were speaking Italian, and I suppose you just happen to know Italian, and
you’ve never told me about it. Right?”
    “Actually
you’re right, but it will have to wait until after lunch,” she said as he
looked at her with a raised eyebrow, clearly doubtful. At that moment the
students from the cooking class walked out onto the porch and everyone began
taking seats at the long table that had been set up on the porch. The view was
incredible. It was a warm sunny day with a bright blue sky overhead and rolling
hills below. Kelly felt as if she had entered a Tuscany painting.
    The long
narrow table easily accommodated the ten cooking class attendees. It had been
set with white linens, silverware, crystal glasses, and flowers in small vases.
Three glasses were at each place setting. There was a stemmed glass with a
round bowl for red wine, a stemmed glass with a cylindrical bowl for white
wine, and a regular glass for water. When everyone was seated the wine steward
stood at the head of the table and began to speak.
    “I know you
were welcomed last night by Signor and Signora Nardo, but as the
wine steward for the cooking classes, let me welcome you as well. My name is
Domenico. At the top of your place settings there are three glasses. At each
lunch and dinner I will be pouring premier wines from the local area, both red
and white. The wines will be different at each meal. I will put the bottles on
the table, and after I pour your wine, feel free to help yourselves to more. If
you like the wine, you may wish to write down the name on the label so you can
purchase it after your stay at Castello di Nardo . You are welcome to try
both of the wines or just one. If you prefer not to have wine with your meal,
please turn your glass upside down. Enjoy,” he said as he began to pour white
wine into the glasses, soon followed by the red wine. Three large water
pitchers had also been placed on the table.
    Mike turned to
Kelly and said, “This is delicious. Did you make any of it?”
    “No. I made
the beginnings of risotto which I’ll finish preparing just before tonight’s
dinner.”
    After the
students had passed the generous antipasto platter and the focaccia bread
around the table they were served a plate of salad consisting of lettuce,
pears, parmesan cheese shavings, pine nuts, and hazelnuts.
    “Mike, the
dressing on this salad is delicious. I never would have thought of this
combination.”
    The woman to
the left of Kelly said, “I’m glad you like it. I made it, and it was really
easy. Just a little olive oil, lemon juice, and