Flavia de Luce Omnibus # 01-03 Sweetness, Weed, Red Herring by Alan Bradley

Author:Alan Bradley [Bradley, Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, omnibus, cozy, women sleuths
ISBN: 9780345533609
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-12-05T07:00:00+00:00

As I suspected she would be, Feely was still flirting with Dieter beneath the oaks.

Father stood near the door of the church with the perplexed look on his face of a man trying to decide if he should rush to the aid of someone who has unwittingly wandered into the tiger’s cage, but can’t quite make up his mind about which of the cage’s two occupants is in greater need of saving from the other.

“Feely,” he called out at last, “we mustn’t keep Mrs. Mullet waiting.”

My stomach curdled instantly. Today was Sunday, the day of the week upon which we were force-fed, like Strasbourg geese, upon one of Mrs. Mullet’s failed culinary experiments, such as stuffed sow’s liver brought whole to the table and passed off as Mock Denbighshire Sweet Loaf.

“Father,” Feely said, taking the bull by the horns, “I’d like you to meet Dieter Schrantz.”

Father, of course, like everyone else in Bishop’s Lacey, was aware that there were German prisoners of war working in the neighbourhood. But until that moment, he had never been put in the position of having to converse with someone he always referred to, at home in Buckshaw’s drawing room, as the Enemy.

He offered his hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Dieter said, and I could see that Father was taken aback by Dieter’s perfect English. But before he could respond, Feely fired off the next round: “I’ve invited Dieter to tea,” she said. “And he’s accepted.”

“Providing you approve, of course, sir,” Dieter added.

Father seemed flustered. He pulled his spectacles from his waistcoat pocket and began polishing them on his handkerchief. Fortunately, Aunt Felicity arrived in time to intervene.

“Of course he approves!” she said. “Haviland’s never been one to hold a grudge, have you, Havvie?”

Like a man in a dream, Father looked round him and remarked, to no one in particular, “Interesting weather.”

I took immediate advantage of his momentary confusion.

“Go on ahead without me,” I said. “I just want to pop in and make sure Nialla’s all right. I’ll be home directly.”

And no one lifted a finger to stop me.

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