The Ellsworth Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 5) by Diana Xarissa

Author:Diana Xarissa [Xarissa, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-06-16T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Joan made a fairly light evening meal and both sisters enjoyed a generous serving of Victoria sponge.

“Are you going to see Michael tonight?” Janet asked as she finished the washing up.

“He has a meeting in Derby,” Joan replied. “He’s actually staying the night there, as it won’t finish until late.”

“So shall we pop some popcorn and watch some telly?” Janet suggested.

“I’m not sure we should have popcorn after all that cake,” Joan protested.

“Popcorn is mostly air,” Janet retorted.

A knock on the front door interrupted the discussion.

“Robert? This is a nice surprise,” Janet said as she let the young policeman into the house. “I do hope none of the notes we gave Susan were counterfeit.”

“No, no, not at all,” Robert replied. “They all checked out just fine and Susan was delighted to have made a sale, as well.”

“That’s good to hear,” Janet told home. “To what do we owe this pleasure, then?”

“I was just in the neighbourhood and I thought I would check in with you,” Robert replied.

“And I just baked a cake,” Joan said from the doorway. “Do come and have a piece before Janet and I eat the whole thing ourselves.”

Janet nearly laughed out loud when she saw how happy the young man looked at Joan’s words. He cleared his throat. “Oh, I don’t want to impose,” he began.

“It’s no imposition,” Janet assured him. “We can’t eat an entire cake between us, but Joan can’t help but bake. You’ll be doing us a favour if you eat a very large slice.”

Robert protested a bit more, but Janet could tell his heart wasn’t in it. She knew the poor man lived alone and that his family was all in Yorkshire. He probably didn’t get homemade goodies very often, except when he visited Doveby House, of course.

In the kitchen, Joan put the kettle on for tea and then served a large slice of cake to the man. She and Janet sat down with their tea and joined him while he dug into his treat.

“This is really delicious,” he said after a few bites. “My mother isn’t very good at baking. She likes to cook and her roast dinners are very good, but she doesn’t eat cakes or puddings herself, so I guess she isn’t really interested in making them.”

“Next week Joan will be starting the Christmas baking,” Janet told their visitor. “She makes her own mincemeat for the pies and she’s had the Christmas puddings started for ages.”

Robert grinned. “I’ll have to find an excuse to drop in closer to Christmas, then,” he said.

“Oh, you’re more than welcome any time,” Janet assured him.

“And you aren’t having any guests over Christmas, right?” Robert asked.

“No, at least we aren’t planning on having any,” Joan answered him. “We have two couples here at the moment, but the next booking I’ve taken is for the second week of January. Janet and I will both appreciate the break, I think.”

Janet nodded. “Having guests is interesting, but I don’t really fancy spending my Christmas with a bunch of strangers.

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