Murder at the Wedding Chapel: A 1920s cozy mystery (A Tommy & Evelyn Christie Mystery Book 5) by Catherine Coles

Author:Catherine Coles [Coles, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inspired Press Limited
Published: 2021-08-26T16:00:00+00:00

Evelyn found Sir Richard Carlisle in the dining room and immediately felt sorry for him. By arranging a buffet style luncheon, she had inadvertently left him to eat alone.

“Sir Richard, forgive me,” she said as she entered the room.

“Whatever for, Lady Northmoor?”

“You don’t really know anyone, and my arrangements for luncheon have caused you to dine by yourself.”

“My dear lady,” Sir Richard said, his mouth twitching with amusement. His enormous moustache quivered as though it too was joining in the joke. “Unless I am at one of my clubs in London, I dine alone every day. Please do not upset yourself on my account.”

“I’m afraid the death of the Marquess has ruined my carefully laid plans.” Evelyn’s hands flew to her cheeks, which burned in embarrassment. “Though, of course, any preparations I’ve made for the weekend are secondary to tragic events.”

“Sit down.” Sir Richard motioned to the seat next to his. “Please stop fretting. My understanding is that the Marquess was a thoroughly awful fellow and shall not be missed.”

That was true, but Evelyn still felt guilty. She wanted people to enjoy their stay at Hessleham Hall, though she supposed no one was going to talk about her hospitality skills after this weekend. The conversation would all be about the murder.

“You’re right.” Evelyn took the seat he had indicated. “I worry too much. I think I’m just worried about letting Tommy down.”

“The man adores you. Nothing you could possibly do, or say, would lead him to have a lesser opinion of you.”

To her horror, tears stung her eyes. What on earth was wrong with her? Why was she allowing herself to get so overwrought? “You’re very kind.”

“Now,” he said in a kindly voice. “I expect you want to find out what I know about the murder? Am I a suspect?”

Evelyn opened her mouth to automatically deny it, but Sir Richard raised an eyebrow and winked at her. “My understanding is that you hadn’t met the Marquess, or his family, before this weekend. I’m not sure how you could be a suspect. What motive would you have?”

“Perhaps I have skeletons in my closet.”

Sir Richard waggled his eyebrows and his moustache danced above his top lip. Evelyn couldn’t help the giggle that escaped. “I can’t imagine what secrets you would have that would cause you to murder a man you had never met.”

“A man like me can’t have secrets,” he said. “I’m quite well known in London, you see. As you are aware, that town is full of frightful gossips. One only has to be seen leaving home wearing a new tie, and word has got around before you reach your destination.”

“Tommy tells me you fought in the Boer War?”

“I did.” Sir Richard teased the edge of his moustache. “A fellow sees the most terrible things during a war. Changes a man forever.”

“Tell me about the Marquess,” Evelyn said, changing the subject. Tommy didn’t like to talk about his time serving in the Army, and it seemed that Sir Richard didn’t either.

“All I knew about him was what I’d been told, by friends and by Helen.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.