The Poisoned Clergyman by Johnson E.L

Author:Johnson, E.L.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Historical
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2022-06-24T00:00:00+00:00

Once she had sat through tea and taken most of the day to rest, Poppy felt restored and at the sociable hour, made a slow journey across town to Mrs. Sutton’s home. She lived with her boy Geoffrey on the outskirts of town, in one of the poorer sections. It wasn’t necessarily run down, but the buildings were of a newer, cheaper quality than others in Hertford and Bengeo, near the main road. But the front garden was well kept and the small dwelling trim and tidy.

Poppy gave a quiet knock on the front door and was greeted by Mrs. Sutton herself, whose polite expression faltered at the sight of her. “Miss Morton. My word, how nice to see you. I wasn’t expecting visitors, but do come in.”

Poppy was ushered into a small cottage with a thatched roof that needed rethatching, for there was a draft. She followed Mrs. Sutton into a small poky hall that offered a cozy kitchen to her right, and a humble sitting room to her left.

Mrs. Sutton all at once fretted, for she truly hadn’t been expecting any visitors. “Shall I make some tea? I can bring it to you in the parlor if you care to sit.”

“Oh, I’d rather join you in the kitchen if that’s all right. So much warmer, I feel at home in a kitchen,” Poppy said.

“I know exactly what you mean. Never mind it being August and all, it could be March judging from the weather outside,” Mrs. Sutton said, eyeing the gray English skies and pale expanse of fields stretched out behind the cottage. “I’ll just make tea.”

Poppy began to relax as she watched Mrs. Sutton bustle about the kitchen. The space was small but warm, with a worktable on the side, covered with plates, cups, and glasses set aside in a small cupboard. The hearth for cooking dominated the space but kept the room warm, and a medium-sized window let fresh sunlight in. The walls were white and had the look of being cleaned regularly, and a round table and chairs off to the side were where the family ate. It had the appearance of being a well-used, comfortable place, and it was here that Mrs. Sutton bid Poppy sit.

As she heated a kettle over the fire and set out a cracked china teapot and cups, Mrs. Sutton said, “I expect you’re here about Geoffrey. Well, I’ll tell you now, it’s no use trying to convince us otherwise. He’s not going back. He’s already found a different church.”

“Mrs. Sutton, what are you talking about? What about Geoffrey?”

Mrs. Sutton stopped. “You mean you’re not here about…” Mrs. Sutton colored and turned away. A minute later she poured steaming hot water from the black iron kettle into the teapot and let it steep. Poppy watched as her hostess took out a strainer and removed a pinch of tea leaves from a small wooden tea caddy, pouring the hot water onto the leaves in her cup. The scent of green tea infused the air.

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