Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye by M. C. Beaton Read Free Book Online

Agatha.
    ‘I’ve been giving Toni driving lessons.’
    ‘Good for you. Sit down, Toni. I’ve got your contract. Read it carefully and sign it at the places I’ve marked with a cross. Charles, Roy was going to come with me on Saturday
to Mrs Tamworthy’s birthday party.’
    ‘Who’s Mrs Tamworthy?’
    Agatha told him. When she had finished, Charles said, ‘It all sounds very odd. I’m curious. I’ll come with you.’
    ‘Thanks. I think the old lady might just be bonkers, but I wasn’t going to enjoy being on my own.’
    ‘I’ve finished,’ said Toni. ‘It’s a generous wage.’
    ‘You’ll not only be earning it,’ said Agatha, ‘you’ll soon be paying me rent, so you’ll need it. I’m buying a little flat round the corner from the
office. You should be able to move in after a fortnight.’ She raised a hand to cut off a volley of excited thanks from Toni. ‘As I said, you’ll be earning it. Charles, are you
staying?’
    ‘May as well. I’ll sleep on the sofa.’
    ‘You’ve got a perfectly good bedroom in that mansion of yours,’ Agatha pointed out, ‘and it’s only half an hour’s drive away.’
    ‘My aunt is having friends round this evening.’ Charles lived with his aunt. ‘It’ll be like a geriatric convention. Much more fun here. Tell you what, I’ll take you
both out for dinner.’
    ‘I haven’t the right clothes to wear,’ said Toni, imagining a grand restaurant.
    ‘You’ll do as you are,’ said Agatha. ‘I’ll bet dear Charles here means to take us to the pub.’
    ‘You are so right, Aggie.’
    ‘Got your wallet?’
    ‘Don’t be nasty.’
    Toni loved the Red Lion with its oak beams, stone floor and little mullioned windows. Agatha was chatting to Charles about the forthcoming weekend. Toni studied her uneasily.
She was very grateful to Agatha for all her generosity but was frightened it was merely a whim and Agatha would soon grow tired of playing the Lady Bountiful, not knowing that a good part of
Agatha’s generosity was prompted by shrewd business acumen. Agatha saw a promising detective, a young detective who would not leave her to go to university as Harry had done. Charles was also
a puzzle. He was light and amusing, but Toni wondered what he really thought about things, not knowing that Agatha, who had known him a long time, often worried about the same thing.
    They all ate ham, egg and chips. Agatha and Charles had a glass of wine each and Toni had an orange juice.
    When they got back to the cottage, Toni suddenly felt awkward. Were Charles and Agatha having an affair? Charles seemed a bit younger than Agatha. Agatha, despite her stocky figure and small
eyes, exuded an air of sexiness of which she seemed totally unaware.
    Toni decided to plead an early night. ‘Have you a copy of A Christmas Carol?’ she asked.
    ‘Don’t think so.’
    ‘It’s just that your friend, Mrs Bloxby, came round. She got me to read to this old lady and that was the book. I keep wondering what happens.’
    Charles laughed. ‘You’ve led a charmed life if you don’t know. There have been so many films and plays based on that book.’
    ‘Never mind,’ said Agatha. ‘There’s a box of detective stories in the kitchen. Help yourself.’
    Toni selected a copy of The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey. It was the first detective story she had ever read. She read on into the night, until her eyelids drooped and she fell
asleep.
    In the next two days, Agatha found she was engaged to find evidence in two more divorce cases. Toni, who had returned to work on Wednesday, had done well retrieving two cats and one dog, having
taken Mrs Freedman’s advice and gone to the animal shelter.
    Agatha turned to her. ‘I think I’ll put you on the Horrington case, Toni,’ she said. ‘Here is the file. Study it. It’s quite simple. Mrs Horrington thinks her
husband is playing around and wants proof. Phil will give you the camera and lens. You haven’t seen your new flat yet.