No Clue at the Inn (Pennyfoot Hotel Mystery Book 13) by Kate Kingsbury

Author:Kate Kingsbury [Kingsbury, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kate Kingsbury
Published: 2014-10-06T00:00:00+00:00

The very next morning Doris called a rehearsal for the pantomime. Having appeared in a production of Aladdin the year before, she was well acquainted with the music and the general story line. Since most of the speaking parts were ad-libbed anyway, it was just a matter of prompting and prodding the actors.

Motor cars had been sent out to the vicarage so that Phoebe could round up her dance troupe, and various members of the staff had been invited to join in the fun. Raymond, who had been following Doris around all morning, was given the part of the genie, and Cecily agreed to juggle his duties among the footmen in order to allow him to take part. Doris herself was to play Aladdin.

Phoebe was beside herself with excitement, especially when told that her dance troupe could perform their tableaux as part of the backdrop, and even the colonel was recruited to act as a palace guard.

Despite Doris's pleas, both Cecily and Baxter declined to take part, citing their duties as being too numerous for them to spare the time. Gertie and Mrs. Chubb volunteered, however, and would be adding comic relief to the presentation. Though, as Baxter remarked in an aside to Cecily, just the appearance of Phoebe's dance troupe would provide plenty of amusement.

In all, the pantomime promised to be a spectacular addition to the Christmas events, and Cecily was well pleased with her decision. After leaving the excited cast to rehearse, she made her way to the kitchen. It had been some time since she had spoken to Michel, and she needed to go over the Christmas menu with him.

She was crossing the foyer when she spotted Percy Chatsworth entering through the front doors. He doffed his homburg at the sight of her, greeting her with a cheery "Good morning, Mrs. Baxter!"

She answered his greeting, and was about to pass him by, when she remembered something Lucille had said. I do not understand why he needs all this extra work and demands . . . I wish the others would leave him alone.

At the time, Cecily had wondered who "the others" might be, and what kind of business they were engaged in that Lucille found so distressing. It occurred to her now that Lucille might have been talking about the other Benchers.

True, it was none of her business, but curiosity had always been her downfall, and she really wanted to know what Lucille had meant by those words. Perhaps then she could finally banish that annoying little feeling that she had forgotten something that still taunted her mind.

Percy Chatsworth was a good deal older than his counterparts, and probably nearing retirement. It seemed a good place to start. "I trust you are enjoying your respite, Mr. Chatsworth?" She beamed at him. "Your work must bring such pressure to bear. It can't be easy to argue whether or not a man is guilty of a crime. It's a great responsibility."

"Indeed it is, Mrs. Baxter. Indeed it is." Chatsworth nodded his head emphatically in agreement.

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