Gavels, Tinsel and Murder: A British Cozy Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery Book 4) by Victoria Tait

Author:Victoria Tait [Tait, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781915413123
Publisher: Kanga Press
Published: 2022-11-03T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Dotty enjoyed the lecture on Cubism, and she was really starting to understand the movement and the meaning behind Pablo Picasso’s paintings.

Dominic Drury left the stage and made steady progress towards Dotty and Gilmore, who had moved to the centre of the theatre, away from the rows of seats. People chatted excitedly around them and it was clear they’d also found the lecture interesting.

Finn approached and said brightly, “Maybe see you next week, Dotty.” In a more serious tone, he addressed Gilmore, “And I promise not to be late on Tuesday morning.”

Gilmore remained stony-faced as Finn joined a group of young people leaving the Sheldonian.

When Dominic finished answering questions and reached them, Gilmore asked, “Still joining us for supper?”

“I’m afraid I can’t. I have to jump on the next train back to London.”

“Excuse me, Mr Drury. Can I ask you about …” said a formidable-looking steel-grey-haired lady.

“Come on,” whispered Gilmore to Dotty. “Let’s get out of here.”

On the street outside the Sheldonian Theatre, Gilmore looked around and hailed an approaching black taxi, the same style as Dotty had used a couple of times on visits to London.

“Cherwell Boathouse, please.”

The taxi took them up the Banbury Road, past the Randolph Hotel where they’d had a drink on Dotty’s last visit, and St Anne’s College, and turned right before arriving at a single-storey stone building beside the River Cherwell.

“There is a wonderful party atmosphere here in summer,” Gilmore explained. “Boats are lined up on the river and people hire them and go punting. I’ll bring you here one sunny weekend. But in the winter, this divine little restaurant provides a wonderful escape from the city.”

They’d walked round to the front of the restaurant, which faced the river but reminded Dotty of a rural train station with a steel-framed canopy above a concrete platform.

The building’s three tall triangular roof gables were lit up with star decorations, and fairy lights twinkled in the restaurant’s windows.

Inside, they were led to a corner table for two beneath a low white ceiling. Exposed timber columns and struts, and a gilt mirror hanging on the wall behind Gilmore, were decorated with gold tinsel.

“Let’s start with a bottle of house champagne,” Gilmore suggested.

“I can’t, I’m driving,” apologised Dotty.

Gilmore’s face fell. “A glass of champagne and an elderflower pressé,” he told the waiter, as he placed the leather-bound wine menu on the table. Picking up a second menu, he remarked, “The tasting menu looks interesting, don’t you think?”

As Dotty opened her own menu, a single cream sheet fell out. She picked it up and read, ‘Tasting Menu’. It started with smoked haddock and octopus terrine followed by partridge scotch egg, monkfish wellington and either guinea fowl breast or black angus beef steak.

As if those courses weren’t enough, they were followed by a selection of British cheeses and a dessert with praline creme patisserie and white chocolate crumble. That sounded delicious.

“There’s rather a lot,” she replied lamely.

Gilmore leaned forward and placed a hand on her arm. “Don’t worry, their portion sizes aren’t overwhelming.

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