Thaddeus Lewis Mysteries 3-Book Bundle by Janet Kellough

Author:Janet Kellough
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dundurn Press
Published: 2013-07-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Hiram Elliott had finally died, Francis announced at suppertime. He had heard the news when he went to pick up a barrel of oysters that Sophie had ordered. The doctor had been to see the old man the previous night and had given his opinion that he couldn’t last much longer. Hiram had slipped away quietly in the early afternoon.

“Clementine was at the farmhouse when I went past,” Lewis reported. “Reuben must have summoned her. I expect it’s a relief after all this time.”

The old man had lingered many months longer than anyone had expected, and in these cases the family often became tired with the waiting, Lewis knew, so that it came almost as a surprise when the loved one finally passed.

“Loved one” was perhaps an inappropriate phrase, according to Sophie. Her mother knew the family well, she said, and her mother’s opinion was that Hiram was “the meanest man alive.” She had added, “Now I guess he’s the meanest man dead.”

Lewis had to object to this, if only on theological grounds. “You shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, you know. He may have repented his sins before he passed.”

But Sophie was unapologetic. “He spoke ill enough of everyone else. I don’t see why that fact should be overlooked just because he’s passed on. We can only hope he’s met his just reward.”

Lewis was curious about the details of Hiram’s meanness, but he had no opportunity to question Sophie further, as Daniel asked with an anxious look on his face, “Do you suppose one of us should call at the viewing tomorrow? After all, Mrs. Elliott is a guest here.”

This hadn’t occurred to Lewis. He had never met Hiram Elliott and had had only brief encounters with Reuben, but he supposed Daniel was right. It wouldn’t hurt them to show their support at a difficult time.

“I could call on our behalf, if you like,” he said. “It would be a decent enough thing to do. And I suppose Martha should go as well. She and the boy are such good friends.”

Daniel looked a little put out at this, and Lewis realized that he had had a picture of himself squiring the elegant Clementine along, offering a sympathetic arm to her grief.

“Or you could do it,” Lewis added hastily. “It’s just that I’m probably the least missed. After all, the hotel is still full of other guests.”

Daniel agreed, albeit reluctantly. Lewis thought that it wouldn’t hurt Daniel a bit to stay back and attend to business. It was his hotel, after all.

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