Shades of Earl Grey Read Online Free PDF

was, got caught off balance. The storm, the pouring rain, a nearby lightning strike spooked him or unnerved him. Or maybe it was just terribly treacherous up there. Anyway, somewhere along the way, his foot just happened to slip.”
    They both gazed up at the gaping hole.
    â€œAnd he came crashing through into the Garden Room,” said Drayton.
    Theodosia pointed to the remains of an elaborate pulley system that hung from the ceiling. “You see that chain and pulley right there? This roof was meant to crank open. It was designed that way back when it was a working greenhouse, before they pulled out the old wooden tables and sprinkler system and turned it into the Garden Room. But I imagine the system still works. You could still open the roof . . .”
    â€œSomeone scampered across the roof,” said Drayton, still trying out the idea. “With the idea of making off with the ring and maybe even the silver. But instead, this person came crashing down on top of poor Captain Buchanan.”
    â€œYes,” said Theodosia, “that might explain the first crash we heard.”
    â€œAnd the second crash?” asked Drayton.
    Theodosia hesitated. “I’m not entirely sure. But if someone crashed through the roof, wouldn’t they have to go back up through it?”
    â€œHow?” he sputtered.
    â€œI have no clue.”
    â€œFolks?” called the janitor. “Is one of you a The-o-dosia?” He pronounced the name slowly and phonetically.
    â€œThat’s me,” said Theodosia.
    â€œPhone call,” said the janitor.
    Theodosia and Drayton hurried out to the lobby, where Mr. Welborne was talking excitedly with two staff members.
    â€œI have a phone call?” she said.
    The woman behind the front desk indicated a small, private phone booth just down the hallway.
    Theodosia seated herself on a small round stool that was covered with a needlepoint cushion and picked up the receiver.
    It was Cooper Hobcaw calling from the hospital. He spoke clearly but rapidly for a few minutes and Theodosia listened carefully. Afterward, she thanked him, then hung up the phone.
    She stood, drew a deep sigh, and turned to Drayton. “He’s dead,” she told him sadly. “Captain Buchanan is dead.”

CHAPTER 3
    FRIDAY MORNING AT 9:00 A.M., the Indigo Tea Shop was packed. Besides their Church Street regulars, a tour group led by Dindy Moore, one of Drayton’s friends from the Heritage Society, had decided to begin their walking tour of the historic district with a breakfast tea. And now the group easily filled four of the dozen or so tables.
    Drayton hustled back and forth, a teapot in each hand, pouring steaming cups of Munnar black tea and English breakfast tea. Haley had come in early, even though she’d been deeply upset by the news of Captain Corey Buchanan’s death, and still managed to bake a full complement of pastries. This morning the customers at the Indigo Tea Shop were enjoying steaming apple-ginger muffins, blueberry scones, and cream muffins, which in any other part of the country would rightly be called popovers.
    Standing behind the counter, Theodosia busied herself by handling take-out orders, always in big demand first thing in the morning.
    After the horror of last night, she felt reassured and warmed by the atmosphere of the tea shop. A fire crackled in the tiny stone fireplace as copper teapots chirped and whistled. The scent of orange, cinnamon, and ginger perfumed the air around her.
    Teas were like aromatherapy, Theodosia had long since decided. The ripe orchid aroma of Keemun tea from Anhui Province in China was always slightly heady and uplifting, the bright, brisk smell of Indian Nilgiri seemed to calm and stabilize, the scent of jasmine always soothed.
    Finally, when the morning rush seemed to settle into a more manageable pace, Theodosia slipped through the dark green velvet curtains and into her office at the back of the shop.
    This