Dead In The Dining Room by Leighann Dobbs

Author:Leighann Dobbs
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-01-11T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

After sharing the lunch Stephanie had brought with the rest of the family, Araminta followed her upstairs to the room that was her usual when she was in residence at the manor to help her unpack.

This room reminded Araminta of springtime. It was done up in whites, pastel blues, and pinks and had a bit of mint green as an accent color. Since it was on the same side of the house as her own suite of rooms, it also looked down into the garden.

The heavy drapes were open, and light spilled in from outside, lighting the gilding on the antique hand-crafted furniture, but Stephanie seemed not to notice. Instead, she plopped her heavy bag alongside her handbag on the pleated mint-green coverlet spread across the full-sized four-post bed.

Sasha and Arun were so happy to see her again that they zipped into the room soon after and hopped onto the bed. Arun nudged Stephanie’s luggage as if trying to turn the bag over, while Sasha poked her head into and sniffed at Stephanie’s posh designer handbag. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Stephanie gathered Sasha for some loving.

“I still cannot believe he’s gone, Aunt Minta, and Reggie said something about evidence pointing to Harold. I can’t believe that’s true,” Stephanie said a moment later, her voice heavy with unshed tears.

Araminta found it troubling as well. It was too much like one of those old mystery novels she used to devour in her youth, in which the butler was always found to have committed the murder, no matter who else had motive. “I agree it makes no sense. I’ve tried to make sense of it all but have not as yet been able to put two and two together.”

Stephanie gave her a grateful look, but Araminta could see deep sadness in her eyes. “We all miss your father very much, Stephanie, dear, but probably none so much as poor Daisy.”

Stephanie abruptly put Sasha down on the coverlet and stood. Avoiding Araminta’s gaze entirely, she darted her eyes around the room as though she were searching for something. Her gaze landed at least once per turn on everything, yet it seemed she saw nothing.

Araminta recognized the tactic as a sign that Stephanie was upset about something… something to do with her father’s death, but she didn’t ask what. Instead, she waited for her niece to say whatever was on her mind. After this many years, she knew Stephanie well enough to know the answer would soon be forthcoming.

“If you ask me, the detective should be looking more closely at Daisy,” Stephanie said finally. “After all, Father gave her everything, but she was never satisfied. She always wanted more. She would inherit a lot of money. Who would have more motive than her?”

Araminta looked at her niece for a moment, feeling puzzled. Daisy had never struck her as the gold-digging sort. Nor had she mentioned in their brief chat on the subject anything about either of the children being aware of

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