Meli's Misadventures - The Misfortune of The Maharani's Tear: A 1920's Historical Cozy Mystery by Olivia Rose

Author:Olivia Rose [Rose, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2025-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

The Exhibition crowds thinned as afternoon tea beckoned visitors toward the refreshment pavilions. Meli unwrapped the paper package, and Winston’s nose twitched at the scent of sausage, his tail swishing as he danced at her feet.

“Now Winnie, you know you have to sit first.”

Winston’s gaze followed the sausage as his tail swung back and forth. Meli raised an eyebrow, waiting. He sank back onto his haunches, his small body quivering with the effort of staying still.

“Such a good boy.” The morsel of sausage vanished from Meli’s palm, and he dropped straight back into position, paws shuffling against the floor in anticipation of more.

“Not now.” She tucked the rest into her bag and wiped her hands on a cotton handkerchief. “We have work to do.”

Meli made her way back to the Indian Pavilion, Winston’s leash looped securely around her wrist. She needed to speak with Raj, to discover what he might know about the theft, but without a police badge or any proper authority, she’d have to tread carefully. The last thing she wanted was to alert anyone to her investigation or connection to Dimitri.

She paused at the pavilion entrance. Raj stood backed against one of the wooden pillars, tension visible in every line of his body as Rutherford crowded his space. Their voices didn’t carry, but Rutherford’s agitation showed in every movement – his twitching fingers worrying his waistcoat pocket, perspiration gleaming on his forehead despite the mild day.

Raj shook his head, his shoulders drawn tight. When Rutherford jabbed a finger toward his chest, Raj flinched but didn’t retreat.

Winston pressed closer as Rutherford spun away, dabbing his face with a handkerchief as he navigated the crowd. Raj remained frozen, one hand braced against the pillar, his composure visibly shaken.

“I wonder what that was all about?” Meli kept her voice low as she watched Rutherford’s retreating back. Winston’s ears twitched, his head tilting as if considering her words.

Meli waited until Rutherford disappeared before approaching Raj. “Mr Thakur, such terrible news about the Maharani’s Tear. The whole exhibition’s talking of nothing else.”

“A devastating blow indeed for my family. My mother is beside herself.” Raj adjusted one of the ceremonial daggers on the velvet cushion, correcting an almost invisible misalignment. “The Tear has held pride of place in our temple for years.”

“I can only imagine her distress.” Meli watched his hands still on the dagger. “I’ve heard that it offers divine protection to those who possess it. And that its loss often brings great misfortune … if you believe in such things.”

“Which I do not.” Amusement flickered in Raj’s eyes as he held her gaze. “But I see you’ve been speaking with Mrs Mehta concerning ownership of the Maharani’s Tear. Her version has a rather dramatic flair, I grant you, but the truth is rather more … prosaic.”

“I can assure you Mrs Mehta spoke only of the legend itself.” Meli kept her tone light. “Nothing that would cause any … slight.”

“And I can assure you, there is nothing untoward about how the stone came into our possession.

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