Wedding Rows by Kate Kingsbury Read Free Book Online

you,” she said, coming straight to the point. “It concerns a gentleman guest at the wedding. A rather tall chap wearing a dark gray suit and light blue silk tie. Was he a friend of yours?”
    Daphne stared blankly at her, while Rodney’s eyes narrowed. “If you are referring to Brian Sutcliffe, he’s nothing but a two-timing fortune hunter. He barged into the wedding uninvited and made a general nuisance of himself. The man is a rake of the worst kind.”
    “Rodney is absolutely right,” Daphne agreed fervently. “The man is a cheat and a liar. I can’t imagine what my daughter sees in that charlatan.”
    “In that case,” Elizabeth said quietly, “I imagine neither of you will be too upset to hear that someone killed him this afternoon.”
    Rodney Winterhalter met her gaze without so much as a blink. “Is that so.”
    Somewhat taken aback by his indifference, Elizabeth was lost for words.
    Then, in the silence that followed, Daphne gasped, then whispered fearfully, “My God, Rodney. What have you done?”
    Elizabeth watched Rodney’s face as he stared at his wife, his eyes burning with fury. “What the devil are you talking about, Daphne? I didn’t stick a knife in the blasted chap, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
    Daphne looked as if she didn’t believe him, and Elizabeth said hastily, “I think I should warn you that police constable Dalrymple is on his way up here to question Tess. By all accounts, she was one of the last people to see the gentleman alive.”
    A worried expression clouded Daphne’s face. “Oh, dear. I do hope—” She broke off, and stared helplessly at her husband.
    “Don’t be ridiculous,” Rodney snapped. He turned to Elizabeth. “I’m quite sure my daughter has nothing to do with this. Unfortunately she was quite infatuated with the rotter.”
    “I don’t—” Daphne was interrupted by the sound of a sharp tap on the door.
    At Elizabeth’s command to enter, the door opened and Sadie poked her head into the space. “Pardon me, your ladyship,” she said, flicking a glance at the Winterhalters, “but Violet said to tell you P. C. Dalrymple is in the kitchen.”
    “Thank you, Sadie.”
    The girl nodded and started to withdraw her head when Rodney asked sharply, “Did Tess come home with you?”
    Sadie opened the door wider. “Yes, sir. My friend gave her a ride home in his Jeep a while ago.”
    Daphne rolled her eyes in horror, but Rodney merely nodded. “Be so kind as to tell her I wish to speak to her. Now.”
    “Yes, sir, but I think she’s gone to bed.”
    “Then get her out of bed,” Rodney ordered harshly. “I want to speak to her before the constable gets to her.”
    Sadie’s eyebrows rose and her eyes widened as she looked at Elizabeth.
    “It’s all right, Sadie,” Elizabeth said quietly. “Do as Mr. Winterhalter asks at once.”
    “Yes, m’m.” Sadie’s face disappeared and the door closed with a quiet snap.
    Daphne folded her arms across her chest and started rocking back and forth, while Rodney paced across the soft carpet to the bookshelves and back again.
    “You don’t mind if I stay?” Elizabeth murmured, as she took a seat across from Daphne.
    Daphne shook her head, while Rodney muttered, “Of course not, your ladyship. We have nothing to hide.”
    Elizabeth attempted to make light conversation, but her efforts were largely ignored, and she was quite relieved when the door opened and Tess, wearing a yellow silk robe tied with a black silk sash, wandered into the room.
    “You got me out of bed,” she said, as her parents turned to face her. “Couldn’t it wait until tomorrow?”
    “We have something to tell you,” Rodney began, but Daphne sprang to her feet.
    “Let me tell her,” she said, the words more a command than a request.
    Rodney turned away with an impatient flick of his head. “Very well. But be quick about it. That police chap will be here any second.”
    Tess sent a startled look his way.