Murder in the Study (A Word Travels Mobile Bookshop Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Penny Brooke

Author:Penny Brooke [Brooke, Penny]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINE

Breakfast in the main house was an elaborate affair even though Arthur was no longer around. At eight in the morning on the dot, Tammy rang the breakfast bell. We were treated to a massive selection of breakfast foods including croissants, omelets, and fruit. Jasper loved it. I made sure to give him small amounts of turkey bacon or ham along with his normal nutritious wet food.

By the third morning, he was ready and waiting at our door by eight a.m. He waited eagerly by the door, his tail swishing back and forth. When I let him out, he ran ahead then waited for us to catch up. If he felt we took too long, he would meow insistently.

“You spoil him way too much,” Aunt Daisy Mae commented good-naturedly.

I shrugged. Jasper was a good cat, and he deserved to be a little spoiled. Besides, as my mother frequently pointed out, I was nearing my sell-by-date, and Jasper would likely be the only child I ever had. I scoffed at the thought. While speaking to my mother was like pulling teeth, I tried to give her a call at least once a week. Honestly, I only got around to it every two weeks which meant she was especially annoyed with me by the time I called. I had given her a call that morning which had put me in a particularly foul mood.

“Don’t mind what your mother said,” Aunt Daisy Mae said, eyeing me carefully. “She just shows her worry in...unique ways.”

Jasper noticed that we were lagging slightly and trotted back to us with a worried expression. I quickened my pace to assure him that I was taking his breakfast needs seriously. While Aunt Daisy Mae was trying her best to cheer me up, I chose not to answer. Aunt Daisy Mae and my mother had a completely different relationship. There was a massive difference between being sisters and being mother and daughter.

We were the only people at breakfast that morning. Venus practiced intermittent fasting, so she only ate in the afternoon. Arya was an active person who only ate oatmeal before the sun rose then went on a ten-mile run. We didn’t have much in common. Ruben hardly ever made an appearance. As we walked into the dining room, he stalked out clutching a single croissant.

“Parasites,” he muttered under his breath as he passed us.

“Speak louder, dear,” Aunt Daisy Mae called after him, “you wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a coward!”

“Aunt Daisy Mae,” I chided gently, “he’s grieving. We should cut him some slack.”

“I have a feeling that he was a jerk before his uncle died,” Aunt Daisy Mae said unapologetically as she loaded her plate up with everything on offer.

I opted for some toast and eggs. Jasper sat next to me, watching me with keen eyes. He had a soft spot for fish and since there had been some smoked tuna on offer, I shredded a small amount into a bowl then added some plain yogurt into another bowl and put it down before him.

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