The Tanner Case: A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella by Xarissa Diana

Author:Xarissa, Diana
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“No Michael again today?” Janet asked over breakfast.

Joan shook her head. “Owen will be back tomorrow, but he needs one more day to recover. I’ve booked a second visit to Doveby Farm for Tuesday next week.”

“If they’re doing the food samples again, I want to come along.”

“I thought as much,” Joan laughed. “I did tell Alison that she didn’t need to do so much. I’ve asked her for samples of the two or three options we might choose and only the traditional wedding cake varieties.”

Janet hid a frown behind her coffee cup. The sponge cakes had been the best part of the delicious morning. The traditional wedding cake options had been good, too, of course. She still wanted to go along, just not as much.

The drive to Ashcroft Hall was uneventful. The sisters had driven past the place any number of times on their way into Derby. Not quite a stately home, Ashcroft Hall was larger than Doveby House. It was also older and surrounded by extensive grounds. Janet pulled into the spacious car park.

“You could probably fit two hundred cars in this car park,” she said.

Joan nodded. “According to their website, they can accommodate events with up to two hundred guests. I suspect it’s going to be too large for our purposes.”

“It is beautiful, though,” Janet said as they began to walk towards the old stone building.

There were double doors at the top of a short flight of stairs. Janet frowned when they got closer.

“’Take your business elsewhere,’” she read off the door.

“More graffiti,” Joan said. “We need to ring Robert.”

In front of them, the door suddenly swung open. A brunette who looked to be in her mid-forties looked out at them and frowned. “I didn’t realise anyone was here,” she said. “I wanted to get this cleared away before you arrived.”

“You should ring the police,” Joan said.

The woman shook her head. “It’s just a bit of spray paint. It will wash right off. There’s no need to bother the police with it.” She stepped out of the house with a bucket and sponge.

Janet waited to see what the woman would do when she tried to wash the paint away and failed. She was surprised when the soap and water began to remove the graffiti.

The brunette washed away the first few letters and then flushed. “But I’m doing this all wrong,” she said. “You must be Joan Markham. I’m Eliza Coyle. I’m Bridget’s assistant. Let me put this down and I’ll take you inside and get Bridget for you. I’m afraid this mess has rather unsettled me, you see.”

“It’s not a problem,” Joan told her. “But I really do think you should ring the police.”

“Thank you for your concern, but this truly isn’t a police matter. They’ve far more important things to worry about,” Eliza replied. “Come right this way, won’t you?”

She led them into the house and then stopped in the spacious foyer. “This is where your guests will arrive, obviously. We generally decorate it with flowers, but you’re welcome to reimagine the space in any way that suits your individual style.

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