Murder of the Bride Read Online Free PDF

gifts. Remembering the box under his arm, Rex added the fruit bowl to the collection.
    To his relief, he was able to procure a pint of Guinness from the full-service bar.
    â€œI never saw anyone so indecently pregnant!” hissed a snarky female voice. “Isn’t Polly a bit far along to be flying to Majorca for her honeymoon?”
    Rex pretended not to hear. “Shotgun wedding” was the next indignant phrase to assail his ears. He was about to turn and upbraid the gossipers with a sharp look of rebuke when an authoritative voice interrupted him.
    â€œHelen!” Victoria Newcombe air-kissed his fiancée on the cheek. “Thank you so much for coming.”
    Mrs. Newcombe had removed her hat, and Rex found she stood up commendably to close scrutiny. A blonder and slimmer version of her daughter, her flawless makeup accentuated well-modeled bones, her body, as youthful as her face, evidently no stranger to a regular workout routine. “Sorry I didn’t get around to greeting you at the church,” she told them both, “but I was so busy. Honestly, once I’m through with this, I won’t know what to do with myself !”
    â€œYou’ve done a wonderful job,” Helen dutifully replied. “Everything is perfect. This is my fiancé, Rex Graves.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Mr. Graves. I am so happy for Helen. Just goes to show—one should never give up! Ah, the vicar has arrived.” The elderly man, divested of surplice, hesitated in the doorway. “Catch up with you later, darling,” Victoria Newcombe promised Helen as she breezed off in the clergyman’s direction.
    â€œNever give up!” Helen mimicked in good humor when their hostess was far enough away not to hear. “She’s one to talk! I suspect Bobby Carter has been keeping her company in her husband’s long absence.”
    â€œHe’s somewhat older than Victoria, isn’t he?”
    â€œSomewhat,” Helen said enigmatically.
    Rex wrapped an arm around her waist and watched the guests congregate at the bar. Helen’s ex-boyfriend, taller and more athletic than Rex had anticipated, stood with the bride and groom. His date, glimpsed from the back in church, now faced them, clad in a slinky silver sequined dress, one hand possessively encircling Clive’s arm. Hmm, Rex thought; Clive has great taste in women. “Aye, verra nice,” he let slip.
    â€œRex, are you looking for a kick in the shins?” Helen inquired.
    â€œI prefer blondes. And if you were a redhead, I’d prefer redheads.”
    â€œWatch it, or I’ll pour this champagne all over your red head.”
    Clive guided his companion toward them with what Rex took to be a smile of triumph. The teacher blinked as he announced, “Helen, I’d like to present Jasmina,” as though he were presenting a trophy.
    The two women clasped hands, Jasmina emitting a nervous little giggle. The silver hoops on her ears offset the smooth honey matte of her skin. Adeptly applied black liquid liner underscored almond-shaped eyes of shiny licorice. By and by, Rex became aware of Helen’s insistent gaze on his own face and slid his eyes to Clive’s more pedestrian features. Stepping forward and introducing himself, he shook the teacher’s hand. As predicted—a wimpy grip.
    â€œDown for the weekend?” Clive asked.
    â€œThat’s right. Hope to go hiking in the Peak District tomorrow.”
    â€œHelen told me you were an avid walker,” Clive said, making Rex wonder what else she had told him in his regard. Her ex launched into a rapturous soliloquy about the District’s rugged charm and recommended which trails to take, blinking all the while and leading Rex to suppose he was trying contact lenses, or else his current pair was drying up on him. It made Rex feel a compulsion to blink too. Soon bored by Clive’s hyper enthusiasm, he listened with one ear to the