An Old-Fashioned Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

usually pretty good at it. I’ve lived here long enough to know where all the creaky old floorboards are, so I manage to avoid most of them. The stairs can get a bit tricky, though, especially this time of year when the wood is drier and more prone to squeaks.”
    â€œNo worries,” Kenneth told her. “I tend to be a light sleeper away from home. Every strange tick and click wakes me, even the quiet ones.”
    Aunt Emily frowned at the newly delivered longcase clock. “Then perhaps we better not set that one while you’re here. They can take some getting used to, and if you’re already restless during the night, all those gongs every hour could be frustrating.”
    â€œNo worries,” Kenneth repeated. “I heard the clock over there on the mantel chime each half-hour, and it didn’t bother me.”
    Daisy blinked at him in surprise. “The chimes from that little clock are really light. You must have exceptionally good hearing.”
    â€œHe does,” his wife confirmed softly.
    Aunt Emily’s frown deepened. “I do wish that you would have mentioned this earlier. I could have moved you to a different room when there were still more options available. Let me think for a moment. You’re in the George Pickett. That’s directly at the top of the stairs on the second floor—”
    â€œWe would be happy to switch,” Lillian proposed, as she and Parker reappeared in the parlor.
    She spoke the words with such a complete lack of expression that Daisy couldn’t tell if the offer was one of genuine kindness or simply another complaint about having to climb to the third floor.
    â€œThat’s generous of you, Lillian,” Aunt Emily replied. “But your room is directly at the top of the stairs, too, only slightly higher. I don’t believe that’s going to help much with noises echoing up the steps.”
    â€œSarah and I don’t need to move,” Kenneth said.
    â€œThere is an empty room further down the hall on the third floor,” Aunt Emily told him. “It’s rather small, though, because it tucks up into the attic, so I’m not sure how comfortable the two of you would be.”
    â€œWe’re fine where we are,” he answered.
    Aunt Emily didn’t press the point further. He was the customer, after all. If he didn’t have a problem with the location of his room, then neither did she. A somewhat awkward pause followed, during which Lillian and Parker deposited themselves on the gold-brocaded settee across from the Fowler sisters, who were seated on the emerald-brocaded settee.
    â€œIf you decide to set both clocks,” May observed after a moment to no one in particular, “you should check that they have the same time—”
    â€œâ€”or you’ll have dueling chimes,” Edna concurred.
    Although Parker wheezed in amusement, somehow the remark made the pause even more awkward. Daisy tried a new subject.
    â€œDid you have any luck with the house-hunting today?” she asked Sarah, hoping to draw the woman—who was still standing half hidden in the shadow of her husband—out of her shell.
    â€œThere was one brick ranch,” Sarah began timidly. She looked at Kenneth for corroboration.
    â€œWe talked about this already.” He used the same tone that he had earlier with Aunt Emily—affable but firm. “It’s not big enough.”
    â€œBut the garden was terribly pretty.”
    Kenneth gave his wife an almost pitying glance. “It’s the middle of winter. The garden was bare dirt with a few matted leaves in the corners.”
    Sarah sniffled.
    â€œNow, the garden here,” he went on, “that’s an entirely different matter.” He turned to Aunt Emily. “I’ve seen those azaleas that you have along the eastern side of the house. They’re so big, they must be ancient.”
    Aunt Emily nodded with pride. “They were