A Wrinkle in Thyme

by Sarah Fox

  “Ah,” Winnifred said. “I have an idea what that might have been about.”

  “Don’t leave us in the dark, Auntie,” Krista urged.

  “There was a rumor going about town a few months ago that Evangeline was having an affair,” Winnifred explained. “More than one person saw her in Port Angeles looking very cozy with a man who definitely wasn’t Richard.”

  No wonder Evangeline had gone so pale when Jane had made the threat.

  “Why do you suppose Flora never revealed the Oldershaw family’s secret?” I asked.

  “Knowing my grandmother,” Winnifred said, “she wouldn’t have wanted to cause a fuss. Perhaps she thought it was best to let sleeping dogs lie. Or maybe she didn’t want to have to explain how she found out about the secret.” Winnifred took a sip of champagne. “I have to say, Evangeline can be a real pain in the neck, but she and Jane organized a great party. The food is delicious, and the champagne is too.”

  “Speaking of food, I think I’ll go try some of it,” I said, my stomach giving a rumble of hunger.

  I excused myself from Winnifred and Krista and headed over to the food tables at the other end of the yard. On my way there, I smiled and waved at Lisa, who was surrounded by several women who were admiring her engagement ring. I was glad to see my friend beaming with happiness.

  Before reaching the food, I made a short detour. I’d spotted Tommy arriving through the back gate, along with Keegan and another of his roommates. His friends headed straight for the food, but Tommy saw me coming and paused, leaning on his crutches.

  “I’m so glad you’re here.” I gave him a hug, careful not to knock him off balance.

  “So am I.” He took in the sight of the crowd. “Looks like a great turnout.”

  “I think half the town showed up, but you got here in time because there’s still plenty of food.”

  “That’s definitely a good thing,” he said. “I’m starving.”

  “Do you want me to fill a plate for you?” I offered.

  “Keegan said he’d do that, but thanks.”

  I told him I’d grab him a chair and quickly fetched one from the porch. When he was settled, I resumed my path toward the spread of food. Several other people were wandering around the tables, selecting food, so I took one of the paper plates stacked at the end of the nearest table and waited for my turn. I nearly toppled over when Sienna tackle hugged me from the side.

  “Thank you so much, Marley!” She squeezed me tight before letting go. “The notes you emailed me are super helpful.”

  “I’m so glad,” I said once I had my breath back.

  After the events of the previous evening, I’d needed a relaxing morning. I’d spent the first several hours of the day finishing Sienna’s book and typing up some feedback. Her writing really impressed me, and the story had kept me riveted all the way to the end. In my notes, I pointed out a few plot threads that she’d left dangling, and a couple of other small issues, but I hadn’t found any major problems. I was no expert, but I thought she had a really strong manuscript, and I knew for sure that she had an amazing writing talent.

  “I’m super excited to get to work on the next draft.” Sienna’s gaze drifted to all the food laid out before us. “But I’m going to need some brain fuel for that.”

  “Good thinking,” I said as she grabbed a plate.

  The crowd at the food tables had thinned, so we worked our way around, adding finger sandwiches and hors d’oeuvres to our plates. I munched on the delicious food while chatting with Sienna and Patricia.

  I’d almost emptied my plate when I spotted Ray across the yard, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt. When he headed over to the food tables, I approached him.

  “I’m glad to see you made it,” I told him as I snagged another couple of sandwiches.

  “It’s been a long day,” Ray said as he loaded up his plate, “but I needed to eat, and I thought it would be nice to relax for a few minutes.”

  “Did you work all night?” I asked.

  It had been quite late when I’d finished giving my statement the night before, and at the time, it seemed as though Ray’s work had only begun.

  “Just about,” he said. “And then all day again.”

  “Did you get a confession out of Richard?”

  Ray poured himself a cup of coffee from the urn at the end of the table. “No such luck. He lawyered up right away. I’m not expecting him to confess anytime soon.”

  “But the statements Krista and I gave will help, right?” I didn’t even want to think about the case against Richard falling apart.

  “Definitely, and we have a fair amount of other evidence against him. Dean Vaccarino has admitted that he stole recycling from Richard and Evangeline’s house while he was looking for documents to help him with his identity fraud scheme. He didn’t realize that there were letters mixed in with the other papers until he got home.”

  “It would have been smarter for Richard to burn the letters instead of putting them out with the recycling,” I said.

  “It’s a good thing for us that he’s not smarter.”

  I agreed with that wholeheartedly. “Do you think Evangeline knew what he’d done?”

  “I’m pretty sure she didn’t. She was horrified when she found out. I don’t think she wants anything more to do with Richard. He was so concerned about preserving the Oldershaw family’s reputation and wealth—and by connection his own—but now he’s gone and dragged the family name through the mud. I’m betting Oldershaw Confections will do their best to distance the company from him in the weeks to come.”

  I took a bite of a delicious cheese puff. “Has he been charged with the hit-and-run too?”

  “We added that charge this morning,” Ray said. “We found Tommy’s camera when we executed a search warrant at Richard and Evangeline’s house, and there are some scratches and a small dent on the front bumper of Evangeline’s BMW.”

  Relief eased the remaining tension in my shoulders. It sounded as though both Jane and Tommy would now have justice.

  Several other people swooped in to speak with Ray, so I tossed my empty plate in the bin beneath one of the tables and wandered off. When strong arms snaked around my waist from behind me, I smiled.

  “Were you giving Ray the third-degree?” Brett asked, his tone teasing.

  “Maybe a little.” I leaned back against his chest and closed my eyes, soaking in the comfort of having him close.

  We lapsed into silence, muted conversations and laughter surrounding us.

  Brett kissed the top of my head. “Everything okay?” he asked quietly.

  I opened my eyes and looked around at all the familiar faces gathered beneath the fairy lights and colorful lanterns. Many of my friends, neighbors, and in-laws were present, all safe and happy.

  “Better than okay.” I smiled and tipped my head back so I could look into Brett’s eyes. “Everything’s perfect.”

  Recipes

  Raspberry Orange Pancakes

  2 tablespoons melted butter

  1 cup milk

  2 teaspoons lemon juice

  1 1/2 cups flour

  1/4 cup sugar

  3 teaspoons baking powder

  1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  2 teaspoons orange zest

  1 large egg

  1/2 cup orange juice

  2 teaspoons vanilla

  1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen

  Vegetable oil for greasing

  Melt the butter and set aside to cool. Combine the milk and lemon juice and set aside to thicken.

  Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and orange zest. In a separate bowl, beat together egg, milk/lemon juice, orange juice, vanilla, and butter. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the liquid ingredients. Mix until just combined. Fold in raspberries.

>   Ladle batter onto a greased skillet and cook on medium heat until bubbles form on the top and don’t disappear. Flip and cook second side until golden brown.

  Thyme for Breakfast Frittata

  1 tbsp olive oil

  1/2 cup chopped onion

  1 tsp minced garlic

  1 small zucchini, thinly sliced

  1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped

  1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

  1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

  1/2 tsp dried dill (or 1 tbsp fresh)

  1/4 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tsp fresh)

  Pinch chipotle chili powder

  1/4 tsp ground black pepper

  Dash Worcestershire sauce

  8 eggs, lightly beaten

  1/4 cup milk

  1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

  In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, black pepper, chili powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Set aside.

  In a 10-inch, non-stick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, while stirring, for approximately 2 minutes, or until the onions begin to soften. Add the zucchini, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Cook until the vegetables have just softened, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in the parsley, dill, and thyme. Cook for another 30 to 60 seconds.

  Reduce heat to low. Evenly distribute the vegetables in the skillet. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables. Sprinkle the feta cheese on top. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and leave to cook until the eggs are completely set, approximately 18 minutes. Remove from heat. Slice and serve while hot.

  Serves 4.

  Strawberry Rhubarb Crêpes

  Crêpes:

  2 cups all-purpose flour

  3 cups milk

  4 eggs

  2 tbsp. sugar

  1 tsp. vanilla

  Butter or oil for greasing pan

  Sift flour and sugar into a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Make a well in the dry ingredients. Pour in half the liquid ingredients. Whisk until smooth. Add the remaining liquid ingredients. Whisk until smooth again.

  Optional: Refrigerate batter for up to six hours.

  Heat crêpe pan or small skillet over low heat for several minutes. Grease lightly. Increase heat to medium and leave for 1–2 minutes. Pour 1/4 cup batter into the pan. Tilt and swirl to coat the pan. Cook until lightly browned. Remove from pan.

  Filling:

  2 cups chopped rhubarb

  1 cup water

  3/4 cup sugar

  1/4 cup cornstarch

  1/2 tsp cinnamon

  1 tsp lemon juice

  2 cups sliced strawberries

  1 tsp vanilla extract

  In a large saucepan, combine the rhubarb, water, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Add the lemon juice and strawberries. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rhubarb is tender, approximately 15 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract and remove from heat.

  Spoon filling onto crêpe, roll, and top with whipped cream.

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to several people whose hard work and input made this book what it is today. I’m forever grateful to my agent, Jessica Faust, for helping me bring this series to life, and to my editor at Kensington Books, Elizabeth May, for helping me shape this manuscript into a better book. The art department has created gorgeous covers for the series, and I appreciate all the work the entire Kensington team has put into this book. Thank you to Marguerite Gavin for doing such a great job of narrating the audiobooks, and thanks also to my review crew and all the readers who have returned for another of Marley’s adventures in Wildwood Cove.

  Keep reading for a special early excerpt!

  USA Today Bestselling Author

  SARAH FOX

  CLARET AND PRESENT DANGER

  A Literary Pub Mystery

  In this thrilling mystery by USA Today bestselling author Sarah Fox, deadly happenings stick around like red wine stains on white tunics when the Renaissance Faire visits Shady Creek, Vermont.

  The Trueheart Renaissance Faire and Circus has rolled into town, attracting locals who can’t wait to spend a few summer days lost in a whimsical world of all-knowing fortunetellers and daring acrobats. Well-read pub owner Sadie Coleman is swept up in the magic herself when she serves drinks to the faire’s resident wizard, the shamelessly brazen illusionist Ozzie Stone, and scores two tickets to his dazzling performance.

  Sadie has no complaints about indulging in a free show with her new beau, craft brewery owner Grayson Blake. But while Ozzie is an instant crowd-pleaser, the real surprise comes when he collapses in the middle of his set. It’s not part of the act—Ozzie is dead, seemingly poisoned by someone who wasn’t clowning around about silencing the outspoken showman.

  The terrifying situation intensifies when police eye one of Sadie’s employees, last seen caught in a suspicious fistfight at the fairground. With so much at stake, Sadie must strain through a suspect list longer than her cocktail menu to find the real killer. But when another performer is murdered, it becomes clear that bringing the mixed-up murderer to justice will be about as dangerous as walking the high wire after happy hour…

  Look for Claret and Present Danger, on sale now!

  Claret and Present Danger

  Chapter One

  The sword blades glinted in the sunlight. The crowd watched with anticipation as the weapons clanged together again and again. The duelers managed to make it look like their fight wasn’t choreographed, and now and then, they hurled renaissance insults at each other. Both men wore a combination of leather and plate armor but still managed to lunge and dodge with relative agility. I wasn’t sure how they could stand the heat in their costumes. Summer was in full swing in Shady Creek, Vermont, and the sun was beating down from a gorgeous blue sky.

  The taller of the two fighters parried a blow and then moved in for the kill. His opponent gasped as the sword blade slid between his arm and side, appearing from my vantage point as though it had pierced his abdomen. The wounded man staggered before dramatically falling to the ground.

  The other man raised his sword in victory.

  “Huzzah!” the crowd cheered, and I joined in.

  “He killed him!” nine-year-old Kiandra Williams exclaimed as the crowd slowly dispersed, everyone moving on to check out other parts of the Trueheart Renaissance Faire and Circus.

  “It was just pretend,” my best friend, Shontelle, reminded her daughter.

  “I know,” Kiandra said. “I like the sound the swords make when they hit each other.” She bounced up onto the balls of her feet. “Can we go watch the acrobats now?”

  I checked the time on my phone. “It would probably be a good idea to go find seats.”

  The three of us made our way toward the red and white striped tent that stood near the far end of the park, which had been transformed into a renaissance village for the duration of the two-week event. This was my first time attending a renaissance faire, and although I’d been at the park for less than an hour, I was already thoroughly impressed.

  There were various stalls and huts where people in period costumes demonstrated skills such as glass blowing, metalworking, basket weaving, leatherworking, and candle making. Many of the goods the craftsmen and craftswomen were making were available for sale, and I was considering doing some early Christmas shopping before the faire was over.

  Musicians had gathered on a small stage, playing various instruments, including lutes, violins, and others that I couldn’t name. Food vendors sold snacks from huts, and a tavern was set up in one of the larger structures, where adult fairgoers could sit down for a meal and enjoy a tankard of ale. Here and there, costumed actors interacted with each other and with the spectators. Kiandra, like many other children at the faire, had already had h
er face painted. She now sported a unicorn on one cheek and a butterfly on the other.

  At the tent entrance, we handed over our tickets to a woman in a tightfitting bodice and full skirt, with a crown of flowers in her dark hair. Bleachers provided the unassigned seating in the tent. We’d arrived early, so we had our choice of spots. We decided on the third row back in the middle section.

  “Sit next to me, Sadie,” Kiandra requested as she plopped herself down on the bench.

  I did as asked, and Shontelle sat on Kiandra’s other side.

  “We’ve got a good view from here,” I said.

  Kiandra’s gaze traveled up and up. Her eyes widened. “Look how high that is!”

  I followed the finger she was pointing up toward the ceiling of the tent. Way up high was a tightrope as well as two trapezes. I wouldn’t have had the nerve to climb the ladder to get up that high, let alone swing out on a trapeze or balance along a wire.

  I also noticed some silks hanging from the metal framework up near the tent’s ceiling. I’d never watched a live performance with aerial silks, but I’d seen one on TV and thought we could be in for a spectacular show.

  When I’d first heard that the renaissance faire was coming to my adopted home of Shady Creek, Vermont, the fact that it included circus elements had surprised me. Apparently, the faire used to be more traditional, but had recently added new attractions. Most people I knew were excited to take in both aspects of the faire, and so was I, starting with the acrobat show that was about to begin.

  The bleachers quickly filled with spectators, and soon the lights dimmed. As the tent grew darker, I caught sight of a thin girl with wavy blond hair slipping into the tent while the ticket lady had her back turned. The girl appeared to be about eight or nine years old and didn’t look familiar, but I didn’t have a chance to notice anything more about her. She disappeared behind the bleachers, and music began to play, signaling the start of the show.