A Death in Venice: A gripping and unputdownable Golden Age cozy mystery (A Lady Eleanor Swift Mystery Book 17) by Verity Bright

Author:Verity Bright [Bright, Verity]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-03-28T00:00:00+00:00

23

Daybreak in Venice was undeniably mesmerising. And they had the city to themselves, as Angelo had promised when he’d insisted on such a horribly early start. Lilac, lavender and wisteria bands of cloud streaked the sky, the crisp cool air smelling like freshly salted dew and somehow tinged with the optimism of a new day. Full of life-imbuing coffee, Eleanor sat listening to two lithe and muscular young Venetian men deep in what, to their minds, was probably a whispered discussion with Angelo on the quayside. To her it sounded like a fierce argument. Her decorous English butler obviously felt their navy swimsuits were insufficient, being a form-fitting sleeveless vest sewn to the waistband of a pair of skimpy and equally body-hugging shorts.

‘Seeing a man’s knees is not going to compromise my virtue, for heaven’s sake, Clifford!’

She took the sunglasses he was holding out and shoved them pointedly into her cardigan pocket. ‘And I can’t sit here in Angelo’s gondola being a prim princess who won’t lift a finger to help. Those chaps are only up and dressed at this unspeakably early hour at my request.’

His lips pursed. ‘If that is “dressed”, I shudder to think what constitutes undressed!’

Cuddled in her lap, Gladstone let out a contented woof. Still wrapped in his cosy dog bed comforter he had refused to give up, he looked hilariously incongruous with the sporty pair now slapping their taut thighs awake. Her ginger tomcat stretched leisurely in his open kitty kit bag, twitching his tail cheekily up her butler’s nose.

‘And that is helpful how, Master Tomkins?’ Clifford gently tweaked the cat’s ears while calling softly to Angelo. ‘Since it appears the tone of this endeavour has reached rock bottom, perhaps the two gentlemen might be ready to follow suit by starting their dive?’

Eleanor dangled her hand over the side, hoping the water wouldn’t be too cold for them.

‘Gracious, it’s positively freezing. How deep is it, Angelo?’

‘Maybe a foot or so taller than my friends,’ he said nonchalantly. ‘But don’t worry. This is not the first time for them. It is quite common for people to drop things in the canal. You would be amazed what they have been asked to pull out before! And it is near low tide.’

At her surprised look, Clifford nodded.

‘The majority of the Venetian canals are tidal to one degree or another, my lady.’

‘Well, maybe that will help, then. And we are sure this is the spot where Benetto threw whatever it was from Gaspo’s gondola?’

Angelo shrugged. ‘It is the correct side canal. We know this because we all saw Gaspo turn out onto the Grand Canal from here. And a good point to start, I think, because of the loudness of the men’s argument when they reached us. Signor Clifford thinks so too.’

‘Fingers crossed then.’ Despite being a competent swimmer herself, she still blanched as the two men jumped in. She nodded a moment later as they hung their water-beaded arms over the side of the gondola. ‘Thank you, gentlemen. I’m very grateful for your assistance.

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