Agony of the Leaves: Tea Shop Mystery #13 Read Online Free PDF Page B

guess.”
    “I guess,” said Theodosia.
    “Really,” said Delaine, batting her eyes and trying to look as sincere as she could manage, “I do apologize.”
    “Apology accepted,” said Theodosia, thinking this was the first time she’d ever seen Delaine so solicitous. Except, of course, when she was cuddling and fussing with her cats.
    Delaine stood up and smoothed the front of her jacket. “There’s just oneteeny-tiny thing I need to confirm before I take off.”
    “What’s that?” asked Theodosia.
    Delaine pulled her mouth into a hungry smile. “The scavenger hunt for City Charities kicks off Thursday afternoon. And I wanted to make sure you’re still fielding a team.” She held up an index finger and waggled it back and forth. “Remember, Theo, it’s a
benefit
.”
    “I remember,” Theodosia told her. How could she not? Delaine had been pounding away at her for the last month.
    “And,” Delaine continued, “you did agree your team would help raise funds for Tuesday’s Child.”
    “Yes, but I…” Theodosia stammered. In lieu of what had just happened last night, how could she possibly go tripping off on a scavenger hunt? It was almost unthinkable.
    But Delaine seemed to read her thoughts. “In fact, I’m bringing the executive director of Tuesday’s Child here for lunch tomorrow. For the sole purpose of meeting you!”
    Theodosia shook her head, tiredly. “I don’t know…” Her brain was still numb from Parker’s untimely death, she had two major tea parties to stage, the Charleston Coffee & Tea Expo kicked off this week, and now Delaine was haranguing her about a scavenger hunt.
    Delaine’s expression of concern suddenly switched to one of abject horror. “You
have
to participate, Theo! I’m
counting
on you! The at-risk
children
who benefit from Tuesday’s Child are counting on you!”
    Oh dear.
“I suppose when you put it that way…” said Theodosia.
    “Honestly, Theodosia!” said Delaine, jumping to her feet. “You’ve got to pull yourself out of this…this morass. And just get moving!”
    Theodosia did get
moving then, scurrying about the Indigo Tea Shop, placing bone china cups and saucers just so, arranging tiny silver butter knives, setting out glass bowls filled with sugar cubes, polishing silver sugar tongs.
    “Splendid,” said Drayton, as he fussed right alongside her.
    Cozy and charming, the Indigo Tea Shop featured walls festooned with antique engravings depicting rice plantations and various views of the Charleston harbor, as well as Theodosia’s handmade grapevine wreaths decorated with miniature teacups. Antique plates were propped on several wooden shelves along with collectiblecup-and-saucer sets. A highboy held tins of tea, jars of Dubose Bees Honey, and Theodosia’s selection of T-Bath products.
    When Theodosia and Drayton finally arranged chairs, lit candles, and set three different pots of tea to brewing, they stood together and gazed about the little shop. It sparkled and shone to perfection while steamy notes of Darjeeling, Pouchong, and orange spice hung in the air.
    “You don’t think we’re being too…futsy, do you?” Theodosia asked.
    Drayton reared back. “Nonsense, this is perfection! Every aspect of composing a tea shop experience is akin to creating a perfectstill-life painting. We do a splendid job and you know it. All our customers tell us so.”
    “That they do,” Theodosia admitted.
    “So why would you question our commitment to putting on an exquisite tea service?” asked Drayton, his feathers slightly ruffled.
    “I’m just…having a bad morning, I guess,” said Theodosia.
    “Poor dear,” said Drayton. “I do feel so bad for you.”
    “I’ll be okay,” said Theodosia. Draping a long black Parisian waiter’s apron around her neck, she tied it from back to front, resolving to be positive. If only for their customers.
    “Say now,” said Haley, stepping out from the back. “You feel up to running through today’s