Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs Read Free Book Online

his lined face assumed a pained expression. “ Really hoping you wouldn’t go there.”
    Delaine continued to toy with her ring. “Well, Drayton, honey, I just did. So there. And you two know exactly what I’m talking about.” She looked up in triumph, then glanced back and forth, from Theodosia’s face to Drayton’s. “Don’t tell me the same thought hasn’t crossed your minds. You know darn well that any thief who was attempting to steal an heirloom ring might also have his eye on that European Jewel Collection!”
    With that, Delaine put her handkerchief to her face and began emitting little sobs.
    Theodosia sat back in her chair and studied Delaine. Are these crocodile tears or genuine tears of sorrow and frustration? Probably a little of both, she decided. Delaine was genuinely upset over the death of her niece’s fiancé as well as the apparent loss of the antique wedding ring.
    On the other hand, if Delaine thought she could goad her and Drayton into helping, then she would. She’d use every trick in the book.
    Theodosia sighed. Problem was, Delaine’s remark about the Treasures Show at the Heritage Society was a point well taken. Would a cat burglar stop with just one item? No, probably not. Would the European Jewel Collection at the Treasures Show be enough of a lure to bring him out again? Hmm . . . that was the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question, wasn’t it?
    Â 
    â€œDrayton, what are you doing? ” shrieked Haley in alarm.
    Standing behind the counter, Drayton was dumping teaspoon after heaping teaspoon of Lapsang Souchong into a Victorian-style teapot.
    â€œHmm?” he asked. It was early afternoon and the luncheon crowd had just departed. Haley had whipped together chicken salad with pecans and served it mounded on lettuce cups with a wedge of banana bread spread with softened cream cheese. Every plate had sold out.
    â€œYou’ve dumped almost a dozen spoonfuls into that pot!” she told him. “Your tea is going to be so strong it’ll take the finish off!”
    Drayton gazed down in horror. “Good lord! I completely lost track there, didn’t I?”
    â€œHere,” Haley said as she elbowed Drayton out of the way, ready to take charge. “Let me do this. You get out the step stool and pull a couple jars of DuBose Bees Honey down from the shelf. You see that lady over there in the yellow sweater?”
    Drayton scanned the tea room then nodded obediently, still lost in thought.
    â€œWell, she adored the DuBose honey so much on her scone that she wants to take a couple jars home.”
    â€œOkay,” he agreed.
    â€œReally,” huffed Haley, “it seems like everyone’s lost their mind today.”
    â€œWho’s lost their mind?” asked Theodosia as she emerged from the back carrying a fresh plate of scones.
    â€œDrayton has,” said Haley. “He was about to make a superstrong pot of tea. As if that stuff isn’t strong enough to begin with,” she sniffed.
    â€œLook at our little Haley,” said Drayton. “Two years ago she didn’t know a Darjeeling from a Yunnan. Now she’s an expert.”
    â€œThat’s enough sarcasm, Drayton,” Haley snapped. “I wasn’t the one who was about to send one of our guests into anaphylactic shock with a gigantic overdose of caffeine.”
    The bell over the door tinkled as a group of tourists pushed their way into the shop. Haley, sensing that Drayton still wasn’t himself, immediately hustled over to seat them.
    â€œStill feeling discombobulated?” Theodosia asked Drayton.
    He nodded. “I keep thinking about what Delaine said regarding the members-only party tomorrow night at the Heritage Society. Granted, the installation of the entire Treasures Show won’t be completed until next weekend when the public opening occurs. But the traveling European Jewel Collection will be there