Pride, Prejudice, and Peril by Katie Oliver

Author:Katie Oliver [Oliver, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2021-12-07T00:00:00+00:00

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* * *

At nine o’clock that evening, Phaedra flipped the “Open” sign on the Poison Pen’s door to “Closed.”

“If you leave before we return,” her father said as he came downstairs in a suit and tie, “lock up. Your mother and I have dinner reservations at Orsini’s.”

“I’ve heard great things about that place. You’re looking very handsome, by the way.” She pecked him affectionately on the cheek. “Our meeting should be over before you get back. But I’ll stick around until you do.”

Nan Brighton sailed down the stairs in a sleeveless jade green dress and heels, a silk pashmina draped over her shoulders. “Have fun at your meeting, darling. And please—”

“I’ll wash up and put everything away when we’re done. We have a lot to discuss tonight.”

“I’m sure you do,” she conceded. “Now that there’s been an actual murder in Laurel Springs.”

“Any progress in finding the killer?” Malcolm asked.

“Not as far as I know,” Phaedra said. “Not that Detective Morelli ever tells me anything.”

“Matt Morelli?” Surprise widened her father’s eyes. “He’s the officer assigned to the case?”

“Yes. Why? Do you know him?”

“He came out to investigate when someone broke into the bookstore last month and stole those first editions. You remember.”

She did. “Were they recovered?”

“Sadly, no. The case is still open. Morelli was very thorough. Good man.”

That, Phaedra thought, was subject to debate.

“He’s certainly attractive,” Nan remarked. “Perhaps I’ll invite him over for Sunday dinner. You, too, Phaedra. I’ll do a roast and all the trimmings.”

“Stop it, Mother.”

“Stop what? I can’t invite a perfectly nice young man to join us for Sunday dinner?”

“Time to go, Nan,” Malcolm said, and glanced at his watch. “We don’t want to lose our reservation.”

“Have fun, you two,” Phaedra called after them as her father opened the door and ushered her mother onto the porch. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

He winked. “I promise I’ll have her home by eleven.”

“See that you do.” She waved goodbye and closed the door, locking it behind her. After switching on the outside lights, she made her way upstairs.

Time to get ready for a much-needed reconvening of the Jane Austen Tea Society.

In the kitchen, Phaedra fixed a pot of Darjeeling, steeping the leaves in a Blue Willow pot, and arranged a plate with a few of her mother’s lemon poppy seed cookies and another with brownies. She took down cups and saucers, spoons and napkins, and set out the creamer and sugar bowl.

She’d just arranged everything on a tray when her phone rang. A smile lit her face. “Hannah! How’s everything? How’s Charles?”

“Fine. We’re driving out to Middleburg tomorrow.”

“Yes, I remember. And afterward?”

“Dinner at the Red Fox Inn.”

“Nice. The man has excellent taste.”

“Oh, Phae . . . I like him. A lot. He’s so thoughtful and sweet.” She sighed. “He has two tickets to see a famous Shakespearean actor, Tyrell something, at Ford’s Theatre.”

“Tyrell Blackmoore.” Phaedra added a few more brownies to the plate. “I didn’t know Charles liked Shakespeare.”

“He doesn’t. Someone at the embassy gave him the tickets.

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