03 - Murder in Mink by Evelyn James Read Free Book Online

in line with the other cousins.
It should be pointed out that we are fairly close blood relations, at least we
should have been in the third row. Considering we are actually staying with the
bridegroom’s family!”
    “It’s this thing.” Tommy tapped the side of his
wheelchair, “They didn’t know where to put me so I wouldn’t block an aisle.”
    Clara’s frown deepened.
    “That is unfair Tommy, did you not lose the use of your
legs fighting for most of these souls here? I’m sure we could have squeezed you
into a pew briefly. I shall talk to someone!”
    “Clara!” Tommy hissed, his tone suddenly sharp, “Don’t
make a scene, I do not want to be manhandled out of this chair and into
a pew in front of everyone.”
    Clara sank into her pew.
    “I know. I know that.” She said softly, “I just… I feel
hurt that they didn’t consider you better when they organised this. Glorianna
has spent enough of Hogarth’s money after all. She could have arranged
something, instead of shunning us, sticking us up a corner, like we were
outcasts.”
    “It doesn’t upset me.” Tommy said soothingly.
    “What would mother say? She would be so upset.”
    “But I’m not.” Tommy persisted, “It’s just a wedding, and
quite frankly I would rather be here than be sitting next to weeping aunts and
uncles.”
    “Yes. Yes, you are right. At least they didn’t put us
behind a pillar.”
    “Talking of uncles, watch out here comes Eustace.”
    Eustace squeezed his girth into the narrow space between
the rows of pews and edged down towards Clara. He collapsed onto the hard wood
with a groan.
    “Mind if I sit here? They don’t want me at the front, I
know that without asking. Look at Glory’s face.” Eustace raised a hand and gave
a silly wave to Glorianna who had momentarily turned in her seat. She glared
back and turned away quickly.
    “How did you offend Glorianna in the first place? She has
only been married to Hogarth these last, what, five years?”
    “Eight. Married him shortly after Maud Campbell popped
her clogs. I thought Hogarth couldn’t get a worse wife than old Maud, oh she
was a battleaxe! Ruled her husband and her children with an iron will. Andrew
is like her ever so much. She was barely cold in her grave when Hogarth
announced he was marrying again, for the sake of the girls, of course.”
    “Glorianna isn’t such a bad thing, she has been very
pleasant to us.” Clara replied.
    “HahI You don’t know her yet, just you ask Susan. That
little drama last night? If you ask me Glory had a fair hand in it.”
    “She was very worried about Susan, you saw that.”
    “And so she should be, if it were her sharp tongue that
sent Susan out into the cold to do herself in.”
    Clara stiffened a little.
    “It was an accident.”
    “You and I both know she jumped.” Eustace grimaced and
rubbed at his breastbone, “Damn indigestion, won’t leave me be.”
    “Are you suggesting Glorianna and Susan do not get
along?”
    “How many teenage daughters get along with a stepmother
their father married within weeks of their real mother’s death? Typical
bitterness and angst. Susan is a dear thing, but rather sensitive. She takes
things to heart and Glory has a cruel tongue when she wants. Of course, she is
all sweetness and light to her special guests.”
    There was an unpleasant emphasis in Eustace’s words that
made Clara uncomfortable. She knew she shouldn’t ask, but if she didn’t she
would wonder what he had meant.
    “Special?”
    “Glory likes her charity cases, anyone she can fuss over
and feel better than. Sorry to say you are it Clara. The poor relations. That’s
why you are staying at the house and no one else is. You’re Glory’s project
that she can usher around and show to her friends to prove how generous and
nice she is. The reason she doesn’t like me is that I wouldn’t play her game.”
Eustace snorted, “She wants her friends to remember how she looked after her
husband’s poor