Murder On The Rue Cassette (A Serafina Florio Mystery) Read Online Free PDF

arrival time.” Her
stomach began to churn. She wasn’t used to moving so quickly and envied the
madam her quick embrace of change.
    Carmela almost spilled her caffè.
“My hair’s a mess, my figure slovenly, and I’ve nothing to wear, nothing! I
can’t possibly go. Totò get those knucklebones off this table.”
    “Not to worry, my sweet. Wire
Giulia your measurements. She’ll fix up something for you. And don’t forget the
grand department stores. You’ve never seen anything like them. Ready to wear
dresses that are sumptuous. We’ll buy a whole new wardrobe for you, in addition
to what Giulia conjures up for us.”
    Carlo rolled his eyes.
    Their buoyant spirits added to
the house’s usual pandemonium. Everyone was talking, arms flying, children
ranging about the kitchen table, Carmela in a state examining herself in the
glass, Carlo stealing bread from her plate. They were excited. No, relieved,
that was it. The commission meant they could live comfortably for several years
if they were careful.
    Renata, Serafina’s older
daughter and family chef, busied herself at the stove rolling eggs into omelets
and shoveling biancomangiare topped with orange sauce into
bowls while the domestic shuffled back and forth carrying food and steaming
cups of latté to the table. Maria clomped in from the parlor, a score in one
hand, pushing up her spectacles with the other, and asking for peace, please,
while she practiced.
    Thank the Madonna , Carlo was home for another few
weeks after the Easter holidays and he could help manage Maria and Totò.
Serafina wondered what had happened to Gloria; he never spoke of her, and truth
to tell, he seemed more interested in reading the paper and visiting his
friends who were also in town. Come to think of it, she never saw him study.
But she didn’t have time to worry about him now.
    After the breakfast was served,
Renata was out the door and on her way to La Vucciria. She wanted to prepare a
feast for Serafina and Carmela before their departure, saying she didn’t know
when they’d have another proper meal.
    “But we go to Paris, the home of
cuisine,” Carmela said.
    “Who told you that?” Carlo
asked, forking in a mouthful of omelet. “What they know of food and love, they
learned from us. But it’s the center of style and color and medicine.” He
shoveled some biancomangiare into his mouth. “Are you sure
you won’t need more help? Arcangelo and Teo are youngsters, and what does
Carmela know of stealthy pursuit?”
    “Much more than you. I couldn’t
have caught the Ambrosi murderer without her.” Serafina sipped her latté.
“Besides, I don’t know how long we’ll be gone and you’ve got school. It was
your father’s dying wish that you practice medicine. Don’t you dare disappoint
him.”
    “Shouldn’t you take me, too?”
Maria asked. “The Hôtel du Louvre has a pianoforte in the lobby played by
Mozart.”
    “Does not.” Teo, the orphan who
lived with Serafina, came into the room followed by the nurse carrying the two
youngest members of the household, Teo’s brother and Carmela’s child. “Mozart
played the harpsichord, and the instrument that he played as a child is in the
Palace of Versailles.”
    Maria looked like she’d been
slapped. “Who asked you?” She pushed back her chair, crossing her arms. “You
know nothing about anything, you’re not even a part of our family, you’re a
silly orphan, now go away.” She turned to Serafina. “And why does he get to go
to Paris and not me?”
    “First, Teo and his brother are
part of our family.” Serafina looked toward Carmela. “Second, this is not a
holiday outing. He and Arcangelo have work to do in this investigation, and I
suggest they’d better get started. We need to find out who’s been following me.
And third, if you cannot be gracious to Teo, go to your room.”
    As soon as she said the words,
she’d regretted them. She’d lost control, something she vowed never to do
again. Worse,