Dead as a Scone by Ron Benrey & Janet Benrey

Author:Ron Benrey & Janet Benrey [Benrey, Ron & Benrey, Janet]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, tea, Tunbridge Wells, cozy mystery, Suspense, English mystery
ISBN: 159722197X
Goodreads: 1444738
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Published: 2004-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Flick pressed the button marked 1 with her elbow. The door slid shut, and the three plates she clutched in her hands and arms infused the small elevator with delectable aromas. She looked down with satisfaction at two fully baked scones, two lemon curd tarts, two iced fairy cakes, and a miniature chocolate pound cake.

I helped every step of the way.

Cha-Cha sat obediently at her feet, sniffing the air, occasionally yipping for a treat.

“Maybe later,” she said, “if anything is left when the grown-ups are finished.”

Flick felt astonished by what she had just seen. Nigel had described himself as a journeyman; in fact, he was a better baker than Alain Rousseau. His scones seemed lighter than Alain’s, with a better texture. His cakes looked too pretty to eat. He had thrown dough around with seemingly wild abandon, had stamped out scones like a punch press, and had stuck “wings” on fairy cakes in dizzying succession. In only four hours, they had made forty-eight lemon curd tarts, two sheets of chocolate pound cake, forty-eight fairy cakes, and ninety-six prebaked scones—half plain, half cinnamon raisin.

“I’m slowing down in my old age,” he had said. “You should have seen me at age twenty. A veritable baking machine. It’s ironic, but I’m not especially fond of scones.”

Most of Nigel’s apparent pomposity had vanished as they worked together and she got to know him better. He also had shown himself to have a good sense of humor and had even responded cheerfully to her “I know more than you do” answer to his question about scones. And then the biggest surprise of all: Nigel had done an utterly unexpected thing when they began to clean up the kitchen.

“Let’s sample our handiwork when we are finished,” Nigel had said. “I’ve made us our own private assortment of goodies.”

“In that case, I suggest we adjourn to the Tea Tasting Room on the first floor. I’ll brew a pot of tea for me and perk a pot of coffee for you. It seems silly to fire up the big kettle and the big coffeemaker for just the two of us.”

“Upstairs. Yes. That’s a fine idea.” Nigel seemed to hesitate.

“However, perhaps I can do without the coffee.”

Flick had been sponging down the preparation table. She froze in midswipe. “You? No coffee?”

“It seems only fair that I learn more about the beverage that currently pays my rent and supports my lifestyle.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s not late, only fourteen thirty”—he smiled again—“two thirty, I mean. If you have no pressing plans, I’d like to sample a reasonable cross section of teas and find the one I like best.”

“You’re saying you want me to set up a personal tea tasting for you?”

His sudden nervous chortle intensified her surprise. “Well, yes—but with normal strength tea. I doubt that I’m ready for the extra-strong brew you tea tasters drink. And, of course, I won’t promise that I will like any of them. I am, however, willing to try what you suggest.”

“I’d be honored to help you find a tea you will really enjoy.

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