The Ellsworth Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page A

some
shopping.”
    Charles pulled out a wallet and counted out
a great many twenty-pound notes.   After counting it all a second time, he handed the money to Joan.   “I do hope that’s the right amount,” he
said.
    Joan nodded.   “That’s it exactly,” she agreed.   She slipped the stack of notes into a
pocket and then she and Janet showed the guests to their room.   As they had arrived first, Joan decided
to put them in the larger of the guest rooms.
    “I hope you’ll have everything you need,”
Joan said in the room’s doorway.   “We don’t do evening meals, but I can recommend a number of local
restaurants to you.”
    “For tonight, I think we’ll just go and
explore,” Charles replied.   “If we
have trouble finding places we like, we’ll take you up on that, though.”
    “You have a key to the front door, so you
can come and go as you please, of course,” Joan told them.
    “I suspect we’ll want to turn in fairly early.   Lynne’s an early riser, even when she’s
on holiday,” Charles said, earning an angry look from his companion.
    “What time would you like breakfast, then?”
Joan asked.
    “Oh, I think eight would be good, wouldn’t
it?” Charles replied, looking at Lynne for confirmation.
    “Eight would be fine,” Lynne agreed.
    “I usually do a full English breakfast for
guests,” Joan said.   “Would that
suit you both or would you rather have something else?”
    “Whatever is easiest for you,” Charles
said.   “We’re pretty easy to please.”
    Lynne looked as if she might argue, but then
she sighed and kept quiet.   Joan
glanced at Janet.
    “We’ll get out of your way, then,” Janet
said brightly.   “Do let us know if
you need anything.”
    The sisters headed back down the
stairs.   In the sitting room, Joan
pulled out the notes and the pair quickly went through them.
    “They all seem fine,” Janet said after a
moment.
    “You almost sound disappointed,” Joan
replied.
    “They’re here from Derby,” Janet said.   “Robert said there were lots of the fake
notes there.   They might have taken
one as change or something, that’s all.”
    “I’m glad you aren’t suspicious of our
guests,” Joan said.   “They seem like
a lovely couple.”
    “I thought they seemed a bit odd,” Janet
replied.   “Charles was friendly enough,
but Lynne seemed on edge about something.”
    “Yes, well, as long as it isn’t anything to
do with Doveby House, it isn’t our concern,” Joan
replied.   “I’m going to put the
money in the safe.   What are you
going to do?”
    Before Janet could reply, there was a knock
on the door.
    “I think I’ll answer the door,” she told
Joan.
    The couple on the doorstep
were considerably younger than Charles and Lynne Walters.  
    “Hi, we’re Peter and Paula Ellsworth,” the
young woman said.
    “Welcome to Doveby House,” Janet replied.   She stepped
back to let them in, looking them over curiously.
    Neither could be much over thirty, she
decided.   Peter had his dirty blond
hair pulled back into a ponytail that oddly seemed to suit him.   He was slender and was wearing those
glasses that darken in sunlight.   For some reason they didn’t seem to lighten up much as he stepped inside
the house.
    Paula was even thinner than her husband, and
Janet found herself wanting to urge the girl to eat a few biscuits.   She looked tired and stressed about
something, in spite of her perfectly styled hair and immaculate makeup.
    They were both dressed in jeans and T-shirts,
but neither looked especially comfortable in them.   Peter carried their one small suitcase
in as they entered the house.   Joan
joined them as Janet pushed the front door shut.
    “Welcome, I’ll just show you to your room,”
she said.
    Janet followed her sister and the pair up
the stairs.   Joan opened the door to
the smaller guest room and Peter and Paula shuffled inside.   Joan explained about the key to the front
door, but her only reply