Murder Checks Inn: A Maiden Harlow Mystery - Book 1 (Maiden Harlow Mysteries) by Sharp Camille

Author:Sharp, Camille
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Camille Sharp Books
Published: 2024-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

That evening Maiden was back downstairs helping in the dining room. The inn was full and everyone had booked in for dinner that night. Her role was to keep everything running smoothly and efficiently.

The room was filled with loud conversations and the clatter of dishes and cutlery. Almost every table was occupied by the time Vera Randall walked in.

She wore a skin-tight black cocktail dress dripping with sequins and a pair of blood red high heels. Her hair was curled and quaffed and thoroughly sprayed, and her makeup was heavy but immaculate.

Maiden noticed her stroll in with a pleased smile on her face and then head towards one of the few vacant tables, number 5, in the center of the crowded room. That clearly suited Vera perfectly.

She strutted in cradling a bottle of wine in the crook of her arm as though it were a trophy. When the woman glanced around and turned her brazenly triumphant smirk on the Varneys, Maiden wondered if that was exactly what it was.

Emily gave Vera a look of barely contained disgust and even Reg looked irritated with her. Vera obviously enjoyed their ill temper and laughed merrily as she sat down and crossed her long legs. Maiden edged closer to Vonny as she walked past carrying a coffee pot.

“Is that what you’d call a ‘vamp’?” Maiden whispered to her.

Von followed her gaze and looked Vera over with a highly unimpressed expression.

“I’d call that a cheerleader that’s been made into jerky,” she replied dryly.

Maiden spluttered in an attempt to hide her amusement. She sobered instantly, however, when she heard fingers snapping behind her. She stiffened and glanced back with an arched brow to see Vera beckoning her over.

“You!” she said loudly and rudely. “Bring me a corkscrew and a glass.”

Maiden set her teeth and waged an internal struggle to be polite. Vera’s smug look wasn’t helping, but then she heard a voice whisper near her ear.

“I’m surprised she didn’t just ask for a straw. Save the time and trouble of pouring it all out.” Robert met her eyes with an impish grin when she glanced at him. “I do hope she doesn’t get drunk; she’s determined enough to claim my chastity as it is.”

Maiden pressed her lips together and bowed her head to keep from laughing. He winked at her and gave her a bolstering nudge with his elbow before walking over to a table for one near the back of the room. Maiden was quietly grateful for the much-needed levity; she made herself go to the kitchen for the demanded items.

The theme for the evening, much to Alfie’s annoyance, was Mexican food and margaritas. It was popular with the guests and therefore regularly scheduled. The preference for the featured cocktails did mean that Maiden had to dig around for a corkscrew, however.

They had a bar of sorts, a cabinet in the kitchen, but Maiden had never had much to do with it. She pawed through a few drawers until she finally found a corkscrew.

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