Castle Deadly, Castle Deep by Veronica Bond

Author:Veronica Bond [Bond, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2022-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

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BARBARA’S STORE WAS called Skein Street, and the moment we opened the door, I found myself lusting after yarn. I, who had never knitted or crocheted in my life, wanted everything I saw. The shelves were filled with large white bushel baskets bursting with yarns in rich rainbows of color that she had divided into warm and cool. One area was shades of blue, then green, yellow, orange, and red. The other wall contained lavender, pink, white, silver, brown, and black. The effect was lovely, but what made the room amazing was that she had crocheted loose nets of silver and mermaid blue and hung them across the ceiling; into these were tucked twinkling Italian lights. Several easy chairs were grouped in corners so that knitters could work with their new yarn. Some women sat in the back, knitting quietly and drinking tea. The center of the room held spinning racks with needles of all sorts, books with patterns and ideas, knitting magazines, and various notions like buttons, ribbons, and lace. Finally, two mannequins wore crocheted clothing that looked surprisingly fashionable. Both were dressed for fall; one wore a knitted black jumper with a plum-colored turtleneck and tights beneath it, along with a long silver chain that held a lovely stone pendant, bright with swirls of blue, purple, and black.

“I would wear that outfit,” I said.

“The jumper? I like this one,” Connie said, pointing at the other mannequin, which wore a knitted orange sweater with a black leather miniskirt and black leggings dotted with pumpkins.

Barbara appeared through a little curtained doorway and said, “Nora, Connie—hi. Are you out shopping?”

“I am,” Connie said. “I’m working on that sweater for Derek, but I might get some yarn for other projects.”

“Do you sell these knitted clothes?” I asked, pointing at the jumper.

“You would have to commission them,” she said. “And then I’d give you a time estimate. I would make it or one of the artisans I work with.”

“You’re amazing,” I said. “Not just the knitting, but the decor. This shop is kind of magical.”

Barbara smiled, and for the first time, she really drew my interest. Before, she had kept to the fringes and seemed to be a natural introvert, but now I had seen her talent and her obvious passion, and her eyes had grown bright with my compliment.

“Thanks. I’ve knitted since I was a kid. Crocheted, too, and macramé, embroidery . . . basically anything with a needle. I dreamed up the idea of this shop in college when I majored in business.”

“Wow—I admire people with a plan,” Connie said, fingering some soft, fuzzy white yarn. “My gosh, this looks like it came right off the most darling sheep.”

Barbara laughed. “Would you like some tea while you shop?”

We thanked her and said yes. She disappeared again, and I flipped through a book called Knitting Made Easy.

“Do you think I could do it, Connie? It seems very complicated. I’ve never had much patience for—sitting-down things.”

Connie laughed. “Nor have I, but you should see Derek’s sweater.

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