Midsummer Murder by Shelley Freydont Read Free Book Online

until clouds of steam thickened the air.
    When she emerged from the bathroom, Biddy was sitting at the window, arms wrapped about her and wearing a thick Spoleto Festival sweatshirt over her nightgown.
    “Nice look,” said Lindy. She shivered as she grabbed clothes from the bureau. “Pretty damn cold for July, if you ask me.”
    “And nasty running from building to building in the rain just to work. Give me the city any old day.”
    “Sissy. We’ll have you hiking and rowing and swimming in the lake before you know it.”
    “Hiking maybe, as long as there’s a path, but swim in a place where icky things live and brush up against your legs and bite your toes?
    Yuck! If we get two seconds off, I’ll curl up with a book and look out the window at the view.”
    “Very literary, but even Eliza Bennet schlepped through pastures and climbed over stiles in the rain to visit Mr. Darcy.”
    “Yeah, but Austen didn’t put in any snakes or mosquitoes or wild dogs. I’ll just be the perfect weekend guest and get the vapors anytime 30

    Midsummer Murder
    someone suggests mountain climbing.” Biddy walked into the bathroom.
    The sound of running water drowned out her next words.
    “Well, suit yourself, I intend to explore every nook and cranny,”
    Lindy said above the noise.
    A few minutes later, Biddy came back into the room scrubbing her hair with a fluffy pink towel. “I suppose it’s useless to dry my hair. It’ll just get wet again.”
    “Yep, hurry up. I want to go make sure everything is running according to schedule. I’m sure Jeremy has taken care of it, but he did seem distracted last night.”
    “I’ll say.” Biddy’s face clouded momentarily. “It sure would be a lot easier on all of us if he didn’t try to carry the weight of the world all by himself. Between him and Robert there’s enough responsibility-taking to spread over an entire camp of pampered, undisciplined dancers.”
    “Next, you’ll be giving a speech about the old days, when we had to walk through the snow to class, and only had one pair of black tights, that we had to wash out in the sink every night. Get dressed.”
    “Well, I think Marguerite is right. There just isn’t the discipline there used to be.”
    “You don’t think our dancers are disciplined?”
    “They’re the exception. And that’s because of Jeremy. And even they like to party too much.”
    “Some people . . .”—Lindy arched an eyebrow at her friend— “have a short memory.”
    Biddy made a face and pulled on khaki slacks, then reached for her sweatshirt. “I wonder how Robert is this morning. I felt sorry for the guy. He was so upset.”
    “It’s a good thing Chi-Chi is so nurturing,” said Lindy. “I wonder if they’ll let her sit in on Robert’s interview with the sheriff.”
    “If I were the sheriff, I’d lock the door. I wonder what’s for breakfast?”
    Biddy grabbed her dance bag, and Lindy followed her down the stairs. The spicy smells of coffee, eggs, and breakfast meats greeted them as they entered the dining room.
    With a contented sigh, Biddy headed for the row of chafing dishes on the side board. “I could get used to living like this.” She reached for a plate.
    31

    Shelley Freydont
    “Yeah, you could. You never gain weight. I’d be too wide to get through the door after about two weeks.”
    Biddy only nodded. She was already tucking into a pile of scrambled eggs.

    * * *
Lindy watched Biddy eat while she sipped at black coffee and separated wedges of an orange. It was not great for her stomach, but her thighs would be thankful. After what seemed like an age of watching Biddy pack away eggs, toast and jam, and bacon, Lindy stood up.
    “If you’re feeling revived enough for a walk, I think we should go check on the classes. Rebo is teaching modern technique to the students, if Jeremy didn’t change his mind.”
    Biddy put her napkin on the table and pushed back her chair. “I’m feeling much better, thank you,” she said.