Shades of Earl Grey

by Laura Childs

  “I appreciate the offer,” said Theodosia, “but let’s talk about it later, shall we?”

  “Of course, Theo,” said Delaine. “If you’re too busy to discuss it now.”

  “Delaine,” began Theodosia, “Timothy Neville tells me that your diamond watch was found in Claire Kitridge’s desk at the Heritage Society.”

  Delaine knit her perfectly plucked brows together. “Yes,” she said, “the police called me earlier about that. I meant to tell you. Isn’t it strange? And all the time I’ve been volunteering there, I considered Claire to be an extremely honest and trustworthy person. Salt of the earth, really. It’s funny how people can fool you. And disappoint you, too,” she added.

  “Do you really believe Claire stole your watch?” asked Theodosia.

  Delaine was suddenly reluctant to meet Theodosia’s gaze. “Well, someone did,” she said vaguely. “Along with everything else.”

  By everything else, Theodosia knew Delaine was still stewing mightily about the missing wedding ring.

  “When did you first decide your watch was missing?” asked Theodosia.

  Delaine shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe before I went to Savannah for the funeral. Maybe the day I got back. I’m not exactly sure. It’s all a little fuzzy. I certainly had other things on my mind.”

  “Is it possible you took your watch off while you were at the Heritage Society?” Theodosia knew that, as a volunteer for the Heritage Society, Delaine spent countless hours there. “Could you simply have misplaced it? If you did, someone might have found your watch and put it in Claire’s desk for safekeeping.”

  “Well . . .” said Delaine, “I was there Sunday morning for a while going over the numbers on ticket sales. And things were still in an uproar from the night before.” She shrugged again. “I don’t know, Theodosia. Don’t let’s get into it right now, there’s so much that’s still very painful for me.”

  “Please realize,” said Theodosia, “that the Heritage Society’s executive advisory committee wants to fire Claire.”

  Delaine looked surprised. “I thought she was just suspended.”

  “Delaine, think, please,” urged Theodosia. “This is important.”

  Delaine suddenly turned flashing eyes on Theodosia. “My niece Camille was important, too. And her poor dead fiancé. And their wedding ring. What if Claire Kitridge was somehow involved in that tragedy?”

  “You don’t really believe Claire is a cat burglar, do you?” Theodosia asked gently.

  Delaine pulled a hanky from her small baguette bag and daubed at her perfectly made-up eyes. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”

  “Could someone have come into your house while you were in Savannah for the funeral?” asked Theodosia.

  “Just Coop.”

  “What, Delaine?” said Theodosia loudly.

  “I gave Cooper Hobcaw the keys to my house.”

  “Why?”

  “Someone had to feed Sasha. I couldn’t let my little darling go hungry now, could I?”

  Sasha was Delaine’s cat, a seal point Siamese that she absolutely adored.

  “No, of course not,” agreed Theodosia.

  “Well then,” argued Delaine, “don’t you think Coop would have known if someone broke in or not? He’s a lawyer.” Delaine hesitated, rethinking what she’d just said. “Well . . . what I meant to say was that Cooper Hobcaw is extremely observant. He would certainly have noticed if a window was ajar or a door unlocked.”

  “You’re right,” said Theodosia. At this point she knew it was easier to agree with Delaine than argue with her. But she was mulling over the possibility that Cooper Hobcaw could have lifted Delaine’s Chopard watch and somehow planted it at the Heritage Society.

  “Theodosia, this is all so splendid,” exclaimed Brooke Carter Crockett. Theodosia turned to find that Brooke and Aerin Linley were also loaded down with an assortment of T-Bath products.

  “Isn’t it just?” agreed Delaine, glad for the diversion. “And do you know, I’m actually considering carrying some of these marvelous products in my store?”

  “Is she really?” asked Brooke as Delaine scurried off.

  “I think we’ll probably end up retailing everything here and on our web site,” said Theodosia.

  “Delaine is a bit of a dragon lady, isn’t she?” said Aerin Linley with a wry smile.

  “But a good customer of ours, too,” said Brooke, in a tone that indicated enough had been said about Delaine Dish. “Oh, I almost forgot . . .” Brooke dug in her purse, pulled out a tiny gold box, and handed it to Theodosia. “For you.”

  “Brooke! What’s this?” exclaimed Theodosia as she tentatively accepted the little box.

  “Not much, really. Just a fun thing I put together.”

  “Go ahead, open it,” urged Aerin.

  Theodosia carefully lifted the lid on the box, then let out a squeak of surprise. “Is it my teacup?”

  Brooke nodded. She had taken the colorful shards of Theodosia’s shattered teacup of the other day, rimmed them with sterling silver and tiny bits of gold, and hung them on a charm bracelet.

  Entranced, Theodosia lifted the bracelet from the box. The results of Brooke’s efforts were spectacular. The broken pieces that had looked so sad when they were lying on the floor now gleamed and danced with a whole new life.

  “It’s spectacular,” said Theodosia. She clutched Brooke’s hand. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything. Just wear it in good health,” said Brooke. “As we shall continue to drink your tea in good health.”

  “But it must have taken so much time to create,” Theodosia protested.

  Brooke waved a hand dismissively. “Really, it’s not that big a deal. I buy the silver in small, thin strips anyway and it’s extremely malleable. It only takes a few minutes to outline each piece, then pinch everything into place. From there on it was just straight ahead soldering and jump rings. Jewelry Making 101.”

  “Well, it looks like a million bucks,” said Theodosia as she watched the colorful teacup pieces dance and jingle in their reincarnation as charms.

  “Think of it more as a priceless memory of your mother’s china,” said Brooke.

  “Theo,” said Aerin, who had been watching her with a barely contained smile. “I have an interesting proposal for you.”

  Theodosia turned inquisitive eyes on Aerin.

  “I have a dear friend who’s the producer for Windows on Charleston at Channel 10. She’s always looking for interesting guests and I mentioned your name—”

  “Oh, I don’t think—” began Theodosia.

  “And she mentioned that she’d love to have you on!” finished Aerin. “She saw the write-up on you and the T-Bath products in the Style Section and was really intrigued.”

  “Theodosia would be perfect, wouldn’t she?” interjected Drayton. He’d come up behind the three of them and overheard part of the conversation. “There’s been such an enormous resurgence in tea drinking. And of course, the Charleston Tea Plantation, the only tea plantation left in the United States, is practically in our back yard. Their American Classic Tea has been the official White House Tea since 1987 and has also been designated Hospitality Beverage of South Carolina.”

  Aerin clapped her hands together. “That’s so perfect, Drayton. Exactly the kind of sound bite they’re always looking for. Theodosia could expound on tea lore as well as talk about contemporary tea drinking. Maybe even share recipes.”

  “It would be a fun piece,” agreed Brooke.

  “We’ll look into it,” Drayton assured them.

  “Be sure to mention my name,” said Aerin.

  “What are you doing?” Theodosia hissed at Drayton when she had him alone.

  “Encouraging you to get a gig,” he said with a poker face.

  “What if I don’t want to get a gig?”

  “Think about it, Theo,” said Drayton. “What if you could actually land a segment on a local TV show? Think what it could do for busi
ness!”

  Theodosia glowered at him. “You’re using a marketing strategy to try to persuade me. That’s how I used to handle clients. Persuade them by pointing out the financial upside.”

  Drayton smiled. “Then you of all people should want to explore this opportunity. See if you can find out any more from Aerin, will you? She’s really a great person to know, exceedingly well connected.”

  “Drayton . . .” Theodosia began. She still hadn’t had a chance to tell him about her visit to Graham Carmody’s house last night, and her strange discovery of the Internet auction printouts was percolating in her brain.

  “Hmm?” he asked as he looked over her shoulder, his face suddenly lighting up. “Well, look who’s here! Hellooo!”

  “Oh, my gosh,” exclaimed Theodosia as her Aunt Libby walked through the door. “What are you doing here?”

  Libby Revelle squared her narrow shoulders and gave her niece a mildly inquisitive look. “You invited us, don’t you remember?”

  “Yes, of course. But I never expected you to show up.”

  Libby turned to Margaret Rose Reese, her companion and housekeeper. “It seems we’re a bit of a surprise,” she said dryly.

  “You’re a wonderful surprise!” exclaimed Theodosia as she suddenly threw her arms around Aunt Libby and planted a kiss on her smooth cheek. She released her, then repeated her motions with a slightly embarrassed Margaret Rose.

  “Oh, honey,” protested Margaret Rose, who struggled to maintain the stern facade she’d honed to perfection from years spent as a housekeeper for an aging Episcopalian minister, “you don’t have to go all gushy. It’s just us.” But she was pleased anyway.

  “We decided to make an evening of it,” declared Aunt Libby. “Margaret Rose and I have been stuck out at Cain Ridge for what feels like forever.”

  Cain Ridge was the former rice plantation out in the low-country where Aunt Libby and Theodosia’s father had grown up.

  “Our master plan,” continued Aunt Libby, “was to drop by your little reception, then treat ourselves to dinner at the Women’s Club. Afterwards, we’re going to soak up a little culture at the symphony.”

  Theodosia stared at her. “I’m going to the symphony tonight. With Jory Davis.”

  “Good,” declared Aunt Libby with a sly grin. “Then you and your gentleman friend can buy us both a nice Dubonet with a twist during intermission” And with that, Aunt Libby pushed her way into the crowd, eager to get reacquainted with old friends and enjoy a good chat.

  CHAPTER 18

  THE HAUNTING STRAINS of Nessum Dorma from Puccini’s opera Turandot filled the auditorium as the symphony orchestra played their fourth piece of the night. Normally, the symphony offered three concert series over the course of their season—Chamber Music, Classical, and Pops. But tonight’s gala was a special concert, an opera venue that featured a medley of work from such opera greats as Puccini, Verdi, and Rossini.

  On the stage, Timothy Neville played first chair in the violin section. In the audience, sitting center stage, fifteen rows back from the orchestra, Theodosia and Jory Davis listened with rapt attention. Off to their left and a few rows down were Aunt Libby and Margaret Rose. Before the auditorium lights had dimmed, Theodosia had spotted Delaine and Cooper Hobcaw over to her right, their heads together, whispering conspiratorially.

  The conductor bobbed and wove with the sweetly lyrical music. Then, as the final elegant notes hung in the air, he spun on his heels, his baton held aloft, and bowed deeply. The packed house rose to its feet and thunderous applause flooded the hall.

  Jory Davis gazed down at Theodosia. She could see in his eyes that he approved of how she looked tonight. She’d dressed in a short silver sheath and left her auburn hair loose so that it fell over her shoulders.

  “Want to stroll down to the lobby for a drink?” Jory asked. “We’ve got a good twenty minutes before the second half of the concert begins.”

  Theodosia’s shining face smiled up at him. “Love to,” she said.

  Everyone seemed to have the same idea, and by the time they’d elbowed their way to the small bar, it was six deep in thirsty customers. It seemed that almost every opera lover was also eager for a cold refreshment.

  “I’ve got an idea,” said Jory, taking Theodosia’s elbow and steering her away from the knot of people. “Let’s sit at one of those little tables over by the window. I actually believe there are waiters who’ll shuttle drinks to us.”

  Theodosia followed Jory to a tiny black enamel table and seated herself on an even tinier black enamel folding chair.

  “I wonder where Aunt Libby and Margaret Rose are?” said Theodosia, looking around, trying to peer over heads.

  “Maybe they didn’t come down for intermission after all? Oh, here we go,” said Jory as a waiter dropped two white bar napkins on the table. “Theo, what would you like to drink?”

  “White wine, please,” she said as she continued to scan the crowd.

  “Glass of white wine,” Jory repeated to the waiter, “and a bourbon and water.”

  Theodosia glanced up just as the waiter finished making a note of their drink order and turned to leave. Recognition jolted her and she instinctively clutched at Jory Davis’s arm. The waiter who’d just taken their drink order was none other than the young man she’d paid a surreptitious visit to last night! Graham Carmody!

  Amazing, she thought to herself. The very same waiter who was working at the Heritage Society the night the Blue Kashmir necklace disappeared and at the Lady Goodwood Inn when Captain Corey Buchanan was killed! And now he’s turned up here.

  As Theodosia stared at the retreating back of Graham Carmody, she realized that, if the young man really was a cat burglar, his job as a waiter was the perfect ploy to put him in close contact with potential victims! What better way to check out which ladies were wearing diamond earrings or flashing an emerald bracelet or carrying a Judith Leiber jeweled purse? You could spot your mark and then pounce!

  “It’s perfect,” Theodosia uttered aloud, surprised at the simplicity of it all. Because when you thought about it, working as a waiter for an upscale caterer really was a clever cover.

  Jory Davis smiled at her, apparently assuming her remark referred to their evening together thus far. “Glad you’re having a good time,” he replied. “You seemed a bit distracted earlier, but I chalked it up to a hectic day.”

  “Jory,” she said, “we need to talk.”

  Jory gazed at her anxiously. “Okay,” he said slowly.

  Theodosia saw the worried look on Jory’s face and hastily reassured him. “No, this isn’t about us. This isn’t one of those We need to talk because I just want to be friends kind of things.”

  Exhaling with a mock sigh of relief, Jory suddenly turned sober. “Hey, you’re really upset, aren’t you?”

  She nodded.

  “Tell me what’s going on,” he urged. “Let me help.”

  “Okay,” she agreed, “but let’s get our drinks first. And move outside. You’ll see why in a moment.”

  Once their drinks arrived, they carried them out to a small patio directly off the lobby. The night was cool and the beginnings of a full moon bobbed overhead. Halloween’s in two nights, Theodosia reminded herself. A haunting night, a night filled with mystery. Then again, she just might have as much mystery and intrigue as she needed right now!

  Settling down on a wide bench, Theodosia took a quick sip of wine, then held Jory’s hand in hers as she slowly related to him the events of the past week.

  She told him about the mysterious intruder she and Earl Grey had chased from Harlan Wilson’s hospital room.

  She told him about Cooper Hobcaw and his evening runs through the historic district. Explained that just when Cooper Hobcaw was given custody of the key to Delaine’s house, her expensive Chopard watch suddenly turned up missing. Then she related how the watch had been discovered in Claire Kitridge’s desk at the Heritage Society, thanks to an anonymous tip.

  Theodosia’
s suspicions about the waiter, Graham Carmody, came as a complete surprise to Jory. So much so, in fact, that when the strains of the opening overture came wafting out, he asked Theodosia if she’d rather stay there and keep talking.

  “Absolutely I would,” she told him.

  “You’re sure you don’t mind missing the second half?” he asked. “They’re doing Bizet’s Carmen.”

  “I’ve got it on CD. Besides, this is more important, don’t you think?”

  “It’s fascinating as hell, I’ll give you that much,” said Jory. He frowned, set his empty drink glass down next to his feet. “Okay, let’s go back to the first event. The engagement party. That’s when everything seemed to kick into high gear.”

  “Right,” said Theodosia. “That’s when things came to our attention. Drayton’s and mine. And Haley’s and Delaine’s, too, I guess. Then we found out that other valuables had been stolen previously.” Theodosia took a final sip of her white wine. “Camille’s wedding ring was appraised at something like sixty or seventy thousand dollars.” She shrugged. “I don’t know the value of the other items that have been stolen, but I’d say our cat burglar has been making quite a haul.”

  “Only the insurance companies know for sure,” said Jory. “But let’s see what kind of case we can build against Cooper Hobcaw. Do you remember seeing him after the ceiling crashed in at the Lady Goodwood?”

  “Yes,” replied Theodosia. “And he was absolutely soaked to the bone. Dripping all over the carpet. But he’d ostensibly run out to flag down the ambulance.”

  “So that’s circumstantial evidence,” said Jory. “And we know Cooper Hobcaw likes his nightly jaunts through the historic district. But we don’t have proof as to whether he’s casing homes or just stretching his legs.”

  Theodosia snuggled against Jory’s shoulder. It was comforting knowing he was securely on her side.

  “And this waiter . . .” Jory began. “The one that’s here tonight.”

  “Graham Carmody,” said Theodosia.

  “He’s a real wild card. Turns up like a bad penny.” Jory Davis rubbed a hand through his curly hair. “Did you get a good look at those computer printouts you lifted?”