Mulled Murder (Pennyfoot Holiday Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF Page A

on solid ground before he took a wife.”
    Phoebe shrugged. “Ah well, you always did treat your staff as though they were family. Personally I think you worry about them too much. You should be worrying about yourself, and how much extra work all this will put on you.”
    “I’m happy to do it,” Cecily assured her, meaning every word. “We shall miss Pansy sorely, and we all want to give her the very best send-off we can manage. Holding her wedding reception here in the Pennyfoot has been a dream of hers since she first started working here, and we are all happy to give her that dream.”
    “Well, I—” Phoebe broke off as Lilly appeared in the doorway, her eyes wide with apprehension.
    “I’m sorry to disturb you, m’m.” She bent her knees in an awkward curtsey. “There’s two gentlemen to see you.” She slid her gaze sideways at Phoebe, then back again. “There’s a
constable
, m’m.”
    She’d said it as if announcing the presence of the devil. Cecily felt a chill all the way down her back. Madeline’s words rang in her head.
I could be wrong, but I have a feeling the Pennyfoot is involved somehow.
    “Thank you, Lilly,” she said, doing her best to sound unaffected by the news. “Please see the gentlemen into the library and tell them I’ll join them shortly.”
    “Yes, m’m.” Looking worried, Lilly rushed off.
    Phoebe sounded shaken when she spoke. “I suppose they’re here with regards to the dead body on the beach.”
    Cecily nodded. “Sam Northcott will probably want to ask you and the colonel about what happened. Though, on second thought, it might be better if you talk to the constable alone. You know how confused the colonel can be at times. Especially after he’s visited the bar.”
    Phoebe groaned. “I do, indeed. You’re quite right, Cecily. I shall speak to P.C. Northcott alone. Though I must confess, I’m rather dreading the idea.”
    “I’ll be there with you,” Cecily said, leading her friend to the door. “Let us just hope that this whole tragic event can be dealt with quickly and quietly. The last thing we need is for our guests to hear of this.”
    “Oh, I couldn’t agree more.” Phoebe shuddered. “I shall never forget the sight of that poor man all shriveled up and—”
    “Phoebe!”
    To Cecily’s relief Phoebe closed her mouth and didn’t speak again as they made their way to the library.
    P.C. Northcott stood with his back to the fire when Cecily entered the room. His helmet lay on a chair close by. Kevin had seated himself, but jumped to his feet when the women appeared.
    The constable was the first to speak, though he remained close to the fire, warming his backside. “Ah, Mrs. Baxter. Sorry to ’ave to meet again under these h’unfortunate circumstances.”
    “Yes, indeed, Sam.” Cecily turned to Dr. Prestwick. “Kevin, it’s good to see you.”
    “Cecily.” Kevin nodded at Phoebe. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Fortescue.”
    Phoebe became flustered, as she usually did when addressed by Kevin. He was a handsome man, whose surgery was always full of women, most of whom faked ailments just for the opportunity to spend some time with the charming doctor.
    There had been a time when Kevin Prestwick had pursued Cecily quite ardently, even though she’d given him not one speck of encouragement. Baxter had never forgotten that, and for a long while treated the doctor with disdain. When it became apparent, however, that Kevin had transferred his affections to Madeline, the tension had eased between them, and now she liked to think that the two men had become firm friends.
    Right now Kevin’s chiseled features wore a grave frown, intensifying Cecily’s anxiety. He looked about to speak, but Sam Northcott was too quick for him.
    “We ’ave identified the deceased discovered on the beach,” the constable announced in his pompous voice of authority.
    “At least we think we have,” Kevin said, earning a scowl of annoyance from Northcott. “The chap was