An Old-Fashioned Murder Read Online Free PDF Page A

favorite piece.”
    â€œEverything looks good,” Henry Brent agreed. “Nothing broken or banged about too badly in the delivery.”
    â€œIt almost makes me glad that we had the flood,” Aunt Emily said, as she hugged each sister in turn. “Such beautiful new—well, old—furniture to enjoy.”
    â€œWe’re so happy—”
    â€œâ€”that you’re so happy.”
    â€œBut there’s still more to be happy about!” Henry Brent gave an excited double clack. “There’s a surprise, isn’t there, Ducky?”
    The group turned expectantly toward Daisy.
    â€œA surprise?” Lillian echoed from the edge of the parlor. Parker had just collected their bags from the car, and she was in the process of directing him upstairs. “Oh, Daisy! Is it Matt? Is Matt the surprise?”
    Daisy stared at her.
    â€œYou should have told me that he was back!” she went on breathlessly. “I would have prepared. We would have thrown a party.”
    There was a moment of stunned silence all around. Daisy’s mouth opened, but not a syllable emerged.
    â€œWe are throwing a party,” Aunt Emily reminded Lillian crisply after a minute, “and I can assure you that Matt McGovern is not in any way involved.”
    Lillian’s face fell.
    With his own face hidden behind a humongous paisley carpet bag, Parker said, “Which room was it again, my dear?”
    â€œThe James Longstreet,” Aunt Emily answered. “Third floor. First door on your right. The key will be in the lock.”
    Henry Brent gave an amused clack. “Very appropriate choice in rooms, I’d say,” he commented to Drew.
    Drew looked at Daisy quizzically. History was not his forte.
    â€œAll of the inn’s rooms are named after Confederate generals,” she explained briefly. “Longstreet isn’t considered the most popular. He befriended Grant after the war—”
    â€œâ€”and lost Gettysburg,” Edna finished for her, with a distinct hint of pique.
    â€œYes, indeed,” Henry Brent chimed in. “Edna is the president-elect of our local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy. If there’s anything that you want to know about the war, she’s the one to go to.”
    Edna’s back straightened proudly. Both she and her sister were loyal, longtime members of the organization. Edna had been diligently working her way up the rungs of the officer ladder for many years. When finally selected as president, she had proclaimed to everybody who would listen that it was the happiest day of her life.
    â€œWhat room am I in?” Henry Brent asked Daisy.
    â€œThe Jubal Early, I believe.”
    He nodded approvingly.
    â€œIt’s on this floor, on the other side of the dining room,” Daisy told him.
    â€œWe didn’t want you to have to climb up and down the stairs all weekend, Henry,” Aunt Emily added.
    â€œBut climbing is evidently just fine for us,” Lillian remarked acidly.
    Aunt Emily turned to respond, but she and Parker had already started down the hall toward the stairs.
    â€œThat woman is going to be a headache, isn’t she?” Drew said in a low tone that only Daisy could hear.
    â€œ Headache isn’t a strong enough word,” she replied with a sigh.
    His brow furrowed. “Should I try talking to her?”
    Daisy shook her head. “It won’t do any good.”
    â€œBut maybe if she got to know me a little better, then she wouldn’t be quite so stuck on your ex.”
    â€œIt’s a nice idea,” Daisy put her hand on his appreciatively, “except Lillian will always be stuck on Matt. Somewhere along the line she decided that her darling nephew could neither be blamed for anything nor do anything wrong. And she’s getting worse about it, not better. Talking to her will only provoke her. It’s like waving a hunk of fresh hamburger in front of an ornery