Murder at the Tea Rooms: A 1920s Cozy Mystery (Lady Felicity Quick Mystery Book 3) by Rosie Hunt

Author:Rosie Hunt [Hunt, Rosie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-11-29T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

Her hands flailing, the steep bank below her, Felicity did her best to right herself.

“Felicity!” Alex stretched out a hand, but he was too late.

Felicity had grabbed a length of ivy protruding from the castle’s crumbling walls. The vine was thick and tough, and she was able to find her footing and right herself, her heart pounding.

“Are you all right?” Alex’s eyes searched Felicity’s.

“I-I’m fine.” Felicity looked down at the bank. It was a long drop littered with stones that had crumbled from the castle over the years. “Gosh. How silly of me.”

“Nothing silly about it. Ruins can be dangerous. Some are better managed than others.” Alex looked around at the castle as though angry with it. “This one isn’t managed at all, I’d say.”

Pip trotted through the tower’s doorway. Did I miss anything? his pricked ears and bright eyes seemed to say. Felicity smoothed her tweed skirt, even though it hadn’t come into contact with anything. She breathed deeply, her heart calming.

“Thank you,” she said.

Alex frowned. “For what? You saved yourself.”

It was true. Considering the multiple occasions Alex had come to Felicity’s aid, a tradition had been broken. Still, it was an enormous comfort that he’d been nearby and ready to act. The thought prompted a blush to creep into Felicity’s cheeks.

Alex’s thick eyebrows drew together. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

“I believe so. Other than the surprise of nearly falling to one’s death.”

Alex laughed, though not unkindly. “You might have lost your hat and landed in a bramble patch with a couple of bruises, but you’re made of tougher stuff than you think.”

Felicity cast a gaze down the rocky bank. It looked deadly enough. Was Alex just trying to make her feel better?

His nose to the ground, Pip was approaching the same spot where Felicity had stumbled. She swept him off the ground and into her arms. “No, Pip. Not another round of heart-stopping drama, thank you very much.”

Pip wriggled in mild protest, but quickly relaxed in Felicity’s arms. The walk up to the castle had been a big ask on his little legs.

“That rain will be here soon,” said Alex, staring out across the fields and hills. “We’d best head back to the village.”

Fat raindrops splatted on the grass before they reached the stiles, and by the time they’d started down the hill, the rain was bouncing off the street. Felicity was careful not to slip on the wet ground as they hurried back into the village. The rain intensifying further, her cloche hat grew soggy — perhaps to the point of being ruined — and the shoulders of her tweed jacket became heavy and cold. She gripped Pip as tightly to her as possible.

On the deserted village high street, Felicity and Alex stopped outside Felicity’s cottage and ducked under the tiny porch, both of them panting.

Felicity laughed as the rain battered the porch roof. “Rather silly of us not to have taken coats or umbrellas.”

“I suppose so.” Alex smiled. “Will you dine with me at the inn?”

It was an extremely tempting offer.

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