Tartan, Treasures and Trouble: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth by Victoria Tait

Author:Victoria Tait [Tait, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kanga Press
Published: 2025-01-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Dotty drove Aunt Beanie back to Akemans. The weather had worsened, and wind and rain battered her Audi as she drove steadily along the narrow Cotswold lanes, always aware that a lone horse rider or cyclist could be around the next corner, although she didn’t know who would be crazy enough to venture out in this weather.

“I’m not sure what we report back to Marmaduke,” said Aunt Beanie. “We didn’t actually discuss The Fabulous Auction Boys’ offer to take over Cirencester Auctioneers.”

“I presume Amanda doesn’t want that, otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked for our help. I think she just needs to get back on her feet and hire more staff. The core business seems fine if she has enough entries for a two-day sale next month.”

“True, and I’m certainly willing to lend a hand, but just this once,” declared Aunt Beanie. “We have enough to deal with ourselves, and you can’t be reorganising two auction houses.”

Dotty agreed. Except, if they were going to go into business with, or take over, Cirencester Auctioneers, it would be better to include that in the restructuring of Akemans, rather than deal with it at a later date.

But for now, like Aunt Beanie, she would concentrate on helping Amanda with her February auction. At least it would give them the opportunity to see how the other company operated and provide an indication of their sales and profit margins.

“You’re quiet,” Aunt Beanie observed.

“I was just thinking over the business and practical side of the auctions next month.”

“Yes, there’ll be a lot of work to do,” agreed Aunt Beanie. “It won’t leave you much time for sleuthing. Do you think we learned anything today? What about the red wine? Could that have contained the nuts?”

“I’m not sure how. I don’t think they’d dissolve in the wine, and they’d have to have been added to the exact bottle Marcus was drinking from. But I’ll ask Sujin about it.”

Arriving at Akemans, Dotty parked her car and she and Aunt Beanie dashed to the front door of the auction house, relieved to find it open. They hadn’t bothered with the umbrella as the wind was gusting and driving the rain from all sides.

“There you are!” Zach exclaimed. “I was about to return to Meadowbank Farm.”

“Has something happened? Is Norman OK?” Aunt Beanie sounded alarmed.

“Norman’s fine. But he suggested I bring you some lunch. He made soup from yesterday’s vegetables, which he thought you might appreciate. And some cold chicken sandwiches.”

Dotty’s tummy rumbled.

“How’s your morning been?” asked Zach as he poured soup from a flask into three mugs and opened up a plastic container filled with granary bread sandwiches.

Between them, Dotty and Aunt Beanie told him about George and Marmaduke, their discussion with Gilly and Dr Peter, and their trip to Cirencester Auctioneers.

“Perhaps I can help?” Zach volunteered, turning to Aunt Beanie. They both sat in the grey tub chairs, opposite Dotty, who was once again on the sofa.

“I’m not exactly busy now that…” He pursed his lips, and Dotty wondered if he’d been about to mention his family research.

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