Beating About the Bush by M. C. Beaton

Author:M. C. Beaton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

Chapter Six

Roy Silver arrived in Lilac Lane early that evening, erupting out of his small car in a blur of dusky-pink corduroy and breathless excitement. He began talking as soon as Agatha opened the front door and did not miss a beat while dumping a suitcase, rather too large even for several nights away from home, in the hall.

“I have been on the phone literally all afternoon, sweetheart. So much to tell you and something absolutely adorable to show you,” he gushed. “What do you think of this look?” He struck a pose near the door. The pink corduroy trousers were matched with a flat cap, a dark brown waxed jacket, and two-tone pink-and-brown shoes. “I’m going for relaxed country fun with a hint of city sophistication,” he chattered on without waiting for a response. “I’m wearing it for the press call tomorrow morning. We need to appeal across the board for the launch of the Wizz-Wazz Is Innocent campaign—from elderly animal-lovers to young children. The kids will draw in their parents. You know what kids are like once they start making a noise about something as sensitive as a poor little donkey being put to death, and…”

That, thought Agatha, as Roy continued to talk, wasn’t such a bad idea at all, and Roy dressing himself like a caricature of a children’s TV presenter would be just right.

“… so it’s mainly regional press and agencies with a few stringers from the nationals for the campaign announcement on Monday morning,” he continued. “We’ll use that to generate interest and draw in the big boys on national TV for the campaign and product launch the following morning. You said there was a US angle as well? We need to capitalise on that to bring in international media and—”

“Product launch?” Agatha interrupted. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, just a little idea I had, darling.” Roy smiled. “I will tell you all about it over dinner. I am totally famished. Can we go to your lovely little local pub? It’s so quaint and villagey.”

Roy carried on talking all the way along the lane and out into Carsely High Street. He paused outside the Red Lion and pronounced it “adorably rural.” It was, Agatha thought, walking into the bar area, really a very lovely old pub. The ceilings were low, but unlike the hideous Jolly Farmer that she had visited with Toni, the beams in the Red Lion were authentic and the atmosphere comfortably cosy. Vases of fresh flowers dotted here and there on tables brightened the large bar area. There had been a chill in the air on their walk to the pub, and she was pleased to see a log fire burning gently in the grate below the thick oak beam that served as a mantelpiece.

A few men drinking at the bar smiled and nodded, and the landlord’s daughter gave them a cheery welcome as they settled at a table near the fire. She had a notepad at the ready to take their order.

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