good sense of humor in that job just to deal with all the donors and docents.
“How are you holding up?” asked Max.
“Doing okay.” Theodosia and Max had talked at length over the weekend about the wedding debacle and Granville’s strange death. They’d turned it over and over, offering up a few suppositions, but had come to no firm conclusion. Now, Max was going to stop by for dinner tonight. “You’re still coming tonight, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” said Max. He’d been one of the wedding guests in the downstairs parlor who’d been kept in the dark, both literally and figuratively.
“Come around seven,” Theodosia urged. “That’ll give me time to take Earl Grey for a good run and fix us something wonderful to eat.”
“I wouldn’t mind one of your designer pizzas. Hint, hint.”
“Any one in particular?” Theodosia loved to create interesting pizza combinations such as gorgonzola, figs, and caramelized onions. Or chanterelles with Burrata cheese.
“Why don’t you surprise me?” said Max.
* * *
When the clock
struck three and just a few tea room guests lingered, Theodosia ran into her office and trundled out two boxes of T-Bath products. This was her own proprietary line of tea-infused lotions and potions that were soothing, cruelty-free, and blended to her exact specifications. Much to her delight, the T-Bath products also sold like hotcakes in her shop, online, and at a few Charleston boutiques. Green Tea Lotion was her biggest seller, but White Tea Bath Oil and Green Tea Feet Treat were holding their own. And her two newest T-bath offerings, Ginger and Chamomile Facial Mist and Lemon Verbena Hand Lotion, were finding a following, too.
Just when Theodosia was sprawled cross-legged on the floor, with jars and bottles spilled out all around her, just as she was composing a new arrangement on her display shelves, Detective Tidwell came lumbering in.
She saw his heavy-duty cop shoes trudge toward her, saw his billowing trouser legs. Then Tidwell came to a halt and his booming voice called out, “Is that you down there?”
“It’s me,” said Theodosia. Her head popped up between two tables like a manic gopher. “You caught me restocking shelves.”
“And a fine job you’re doing,” said Tidwell.
Theodosia pulled herself to her feet, dusted herself off, and gazed at Tidwell. “Tea?” He’d been coming in regularly for a couple of years now and she’d finally turned him into a tea drinker. Not quite a tea connoisseur yet, but Tidwell showed promise and she was infinitely patient.
“Please,” said Tidwell, who had already deposited his bulk in a creaking captain’s chair. “And a sweet treat if you have it.”
“I’m sure we can scrape up a few crumbs,” Theodosia told him. She nodded to Drayton, who was already fixing a pot for Tidwell, then flew into the kitchen and grabbed a ginger scone and a mint bar.
When Theodosia set his tea and dessert in front of him, she said, “That’s a tippy Yunnan tea.”
“Interesting,” said Tidwell. He lifted the lid of the teapot, gave a sniff. “Mmm, slightly spicy. Must it steep for another minute?”
“I think it’s probably ready right now.”
“Excellent,” said Tidwell, as he lifted the teapot and poured a stream of golden liquor into his teacup. Then he glanced up and said, “Well, have you begun your investigation yet?”
“I wouldn’t do that,” said Theodosia. She tried to project what she thought was an air of sincerity.
Tidwell wasn’t fooled. He let loose a belly laugh that caused his entire body to jiggle like a mound of shrimp in aspic. “Of course, you would,” he growled. “And probably have. I’m positive the irascible Delaine Dish has already pleaded her case, playing the wounded victim and venting her deepest, darkest suspicions. She’s probably come to you on bended knee, begging you to investigate whomever she sees as her suspect du jour.” Tidwell took a sip of tea,
“How are you holding up?” asked Max.
“Doing okay.” Theodosia and Max had talked at length over the weekend about the wedding debacle and Granville’s strange death. They’d turned it over and over, offering up a few suppositions, but had come to no firm conclusion. Now, Max was going to stop by for dinner tonight. “You’re still coming tonight, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” said Max. He’d been one of the wedding guests in the downstairs parlor who’d been kept in the dark, both literally and figuratively.
“Come around seven,” Theodosia urged. “That’ll give me time to take Earl Grey for a good run and fix us something wonderful to eat.”
“I wouldn’t mind one of your designer pizzas. Hint, hint.”
“Any one in particular?” Theodosia loved to create interesting pizza combinations such as gorgonzola, figs, and caramelized onions. Or chanterelles with Burrata cheese.
“Why don’t you surprise me?” said Max.
* * *
When the clock
struck three and just a few tea room guests lingered, Theodosia ran into her office and trundled out two boxes of T-Bath products. This was her own proprietary line of tea-infused lotions and potions that were soothing, cruelty-free, and blended to her exact specifications. Much to her delight, the T-Bath products also sold like hotcakes in her shop, online, and at a few Charleston boutiques. Green Tea Lotion was her biggest seller, but White Tea Bath Oil and Green Tea Feet Treat were holding their own. And her two newest T-bath offerings, Ginger and Chamomile Facial Mist and Lemon Verbena Hand Lotion, were finding a following, too.
Just when Theodosia was sprawled cross-legged on the floor, with jars and bottles spilled out all around her, just as she was composing a new arrangement on her display shelves, Detective Tidwell came lumbering in.
She saw his heavy-duty cop shoes trudge toward her, saw his billowing trouser legs. Then Tidwell came to a halt and his booming voice called out, “Is that you down there?”
“It’s me,” said Theodosia. Her head popped up between two tables like a manic gopher. “You caught me restocking shelves.”
“And a fine job you’re doing,” said Tidwell.
Theodosia pulled herself to her feet, dusted herself off, and gazed at Tidwell. “Tea?” He’d been coming in regularly for a couple of years now and she’d finally turned him into a tea drinker. Not quite a tea connoisseur yet, but Tidwell showed promise and she was infinitely patient.
“Please,” said Tidwell, who had already deposited his bulk in a creaking captain’s chair. “And a sweet treat if you have it.”
“I’m sure we can scrape up a few crumbs,” Theodosia told him. She nodded to Drayton, who was already fixing a pot for Tidwell, then flew into the kitchen and grabbed a ginger scone and a mint bar.
When Theodosia set his tea and dessert in front of him, she said, “That’s a tippy Yunnan tea.”
“Interesting,” said Tidwell. He lifted the lid of the teapot, gave a sniff. “Mmm, slightly spicy. Must it steep for another minute?”
“I think it’s probably ready right now.”
“Excellent,” said Tidwell, as he lifted the teapot and poured a stream of golden liquor into his teacup. Then he glanced up and said, “Well, have you begun your investigation yet?”
“I wouldn’t do that,” said Theodosia. She tried to project what she thought was an air of sincerity.
Tidwell wasn’t fooled. He let loose a belly laugh that caused his entire body to jiggle like a mound of shrimp in aspic. “Of course, you would,” he growled. “And probably have. I’m positive the irascible Delaine Dish has already pleaded her case, playing the wounded victim and venting her deepest, darkest suspicions. She’s probably come to you on bended knee, begging you to investigate whomever she sees as her suspect du jour.” Tidwell took a sip of tea,
Similar Books
