Murder Goes Mumming by Alisa Craig & Charlotte MacLeod

Author:Alisa Craig & Charlotte MacLeod [Craig, Alisa & MacLeod, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, General, Mystery & Detective, Police Procedural, Police, Detective and mystery stories, Canada, Rhys; Janet (Fictitious Character) Fiction, Police Spouses, Rhys; Madoc (Fictitious Character) Fiction, Police Canada Fiction, Rhys; Madoc (Fictitious Character), Police Spouses Canada Fiction, Rhys; Janet (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780385178877
Publisher: Doubleday
Published: 1981-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

TEA WAS A RATHER hit-or-miss affair, served more because this was part of the Graylings ritual than because people really wanted it, as far as Janet could see. Aunt Addie was the only one who paid much attention to the cake stand.

“I thought I’d make a good meal now because I may not get any dinner,” she confided to Janet, who happened to be sitting beside her on the chesterfield.

“Oh, aren’t you coming down for the mumming?” Janet asked.

“Yes, but I don’t know how long I’ll be staying. Rosa may want me, you see.”

“I understand. It must be hard for you.” Janet didn’t know what else to say.

“No, I wouldn’t call it hard. I’m expecting it, you see. Rosa and I always did stick together. Now you get on back upstairs and finish your pretty costume. I want to see you in it before I go.”

Janet excused herself and did as she was bidden, much perturbed in mind. What on earth had Miss Adelaide been talking about? Was she beginning to wander a bit? Would it be a good idea to repeat that odd scrap of conversation to Babs or Squire or somebody?

The trouble was, they were all drifting away to get dressed for the mumming and by the time she’d made up her mind she ought to, there was nobody left to tell. Even Madoc was fussing that he’d slept longer than he’d meant to and must get bathed and changed, and did Jenny think he needed a shave?

She rubbed her cheek against his and decided he’d better because they hadn’t tried out the kissing ball yet. In spite of everything, Janet couldn’t help getting caught up in the excitement of dressing for a party. This would be something else to tell Annabelle, at any rate.

Val hadn’t come down to tea. When Janet found her in the room they shared, she’d mellowed a fair amount, perhaps because she was having an attack of Yuletide spirit or perhaps because she needed to be zipped up the back. She’d arranged her blond hair in an updo with a topknot of pink silk roses and one long curl coming down over her right shoulder. Her costume was a court gown of pink brocade in the Watteau manner. Janet was able to tell her in all sincerity that she looked absolutely stunning.

“Like it? I had it made. Cost a fortune, but I knew Squire would be pleased enough with it to foot the bill. Now I’m just praying …”

A frown threatened to smudge her makeup and Val hastily smoothed out her face again. “Honestly, of all the times for Granny to die! You’d think she did it on purpose to spite us. Don’t look so shocked. You don’t know what an awful old crank she was. And now Uncle Cyril’s all stirred up. I don’t see why Squire couldn’t have told us—oh, well, you’re not interested in all this family stuff. I’d better see how Roy’s getting on. Did you know his people are in oil?”

“Like sardines?” Janet couldn’t resist saying.

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