Fair Isle and Fortunes

by Nancy Warren

  Bill Newman finally said, “Joanna? Is this true? Did you kill Elizabeth for money?”

  “Of course I didn’t.”

  He heaved a great sigh. “You did kill Grayson Timmins, though.”

  “What?” She turned on him, now, murder in her eye.

  He took a step back but continued, “I’ve always known it. Never wanted to tackle you with it because I loved you, you see. Maybe Grayson Timmins was wrong, holding this village back in the Dark Ages. I knew you’d gone to see him the day he was killed, but I always believed it was an accident and you were sorry. It never happened again, and so I let myself believe it was an aberration.” He shook his head. “But killing Elizabeth Palmer was deliberate. That was cruel.”

  She let out a shriek. “You’re as crazy as she is.”

  He shook his head again. “I know where she hid those things she stole from Mr. Timmins. For thirty years I’ve known. I can’t prove that my wife killed Elizabeth Palmer, but I can give you the proof that she murdered Grayson Timmins.”

  Joanna was fast, I’ll give her that. She flew toward the door, shoving her husband out of the way, no doubt intending to get rid of the evidence. I was so startled, she was out the door before I could make my feet move. Sylvia passed me, but still Joanna had the door open and was running outside. She gave a shriek as she slammed into Rafe. He grabbed her arm and dragged her back inside, struggling. He looked to me and gave me a tiny nod. “I don’t think you’ve finished with your meeting.”

  Sylvia said, “I suppose someone should call the police.”

  Rafe said, “I took the liberty.”

  Chapter 28

  June the twenty-first was as sunny and bright as the longest day of the year should be. It was Friday morning, and Violet, now thankfully living back in her own cottage, arrived early with takeout coffee and muffins, one of which had a birthday candle in it. She said, “No wonder you’re such a powerful witch, with your birthday falling on the summer solstice.”

  “I’ve always loved having my birthday on the longest day of the year. I get to enjoy the day longer.”

  “I hope you don’t mind that tonight we’re having dinner with our grandmothers. I was thinking maybe we’d go to the pub afterward and meet up with some of the girls, give you a proper celebration on your twenty-sixth birthday.”

  Her tone was altogether too airy. I knew something more was planned than a simple family dinner. The vampires had been going around very secretive and full of suppressed excitement. Conversations had ended abruptly when I entered a room. They might be superhuman, but they were terrible at planning a surprise party. Still, I played along because it was so sweet that they wanted to do something nice for me.

  “That would be great.” I was making friends here in Oxford. It was nice to know that I knew enough people for a party.

  Late that morning, Ian Chisholm came into the shop and, looking sheepish, said, “Happy Birthday, Lucy.” He handed me a card that read, “Happy Birthday to a very good friend. With love, Ian.” After dating briefly, could we ever really go back to friends? I decided that was a question for another day. This day was all about me. Though I did ask him how the case against Joanna Newman was coming along.

  “I never call a case airtight, but this one’s close,” he said with satisfaction. “Her fingerprints were all over the property stolen from Grayson Timmins the day he was murdered. She’d hidden the items in an old shed on Nickleby Farm. They were stuffed inside an old burlap sack of horse feed. It’s more difficult to tie her to Elizabeth Palmer’s murder, but her bow fits as the murder weapon, and she uses the same arrows as the one that killed Elizabeth.”

  “Good. It’s time she paid for what she did.”

  I didn’t see too much of the vampires that day. I expected they were all sleeping. Violet had arranged a dinner with the two of us and Scarlett and Polly. Gran couldn’t be seen in public, but she was going to come to the flat later to hear about my evening and drink a glass of sherry with me. I noticed Violet kept glancing at her watch, and she kept checking her phone and texting when she thought I wasn’t looking. Of course I pretended I didn’t notice. We closed up as usual at five, and then she said, “Do you mind if I come upstairs to your place to change?”

  “All right.”

  She brought a dress bag upstairs, and I was surprised at how fancy her blue frock was. She said, “I thought it would be fun to dress up. In honor of you making my village safe for witches once more, we’re going to a very nice restaurant.”

  “All right.” I could feel her suppressed excitement, and it ignited mine. I pulled out a pink and white strapless dress and pink high-heeled sandals. In case it grew chilly, I slipped the white pashmina around my shoulders that I hadn’t worn since the village fête. I put extra effort into my hair and makeup. When we were both ready, I asked, “Do you mind driving?”

  “Sorry, Lucy. I would, but my car had a flat tire this morning. I had to get a ride to work. I was hoping you could drive.”

  I tried not to be irritated. “Perhaps we should take a cab?”

  “Oh come on,” she chided. “If you drink too much, we’ll get a taxi back. Or I can drive.”

  “Fine,” I said, a little huffy, grabbing some sneakers to drive in. When we got to the spot where I’d wedged Gran’s tiny car last time I drove it, I saw a brand-new car sitting there. The same model I’d test-driven, only this one was red. As bright and shiny as a fresh cherry. My jaw dropped. “I don’t understand.”

  Violet started to laugh, and then the back doors of the car opened and Gran and Sylvia came out, both giggling and crying, “Happy Birthday!” We hugged, and I think I squealed. Gran said, “This is a gift from all of us. Rafe said you liked this car when you drove it.”

  Trust Rafe. He’d been right, though.

  “Jason Palmer gave us a very good price, and he’s promised you free servicing and oil changes for the rest of your natural life.”

  I stroked my new car. I was already in love. “Well, I did help save him from jail for a murder he didn’t commit.”

  Sylvia nodded. “And that dreadful Joanna woman will soon be behind bars, where she should have been for the last thirty years.” She shook her head. “Her poor husband. I don’t know if Bill Newman will ever recover from the shock. He blames himself, you know. He had a great fondness for Elizabeth. That’s why he lent her husband the money. If he hadn’t made that loan, she’d still be alive. Bankrupt, but alive. He feels it badly. In protecting his wife all those years, he gave her the opportunity to kill Elizabeth.”

  I hugged the two vampires and then Violet and I piled into my brand-new car. While the roads didn’t magically become right-hand drive, I had so much easier a time driving an automatic car that was smooth and responsive to the touch that I felt like I might actually enjoy driving again.

  As we drove, I said, “You were right in your fortune-telling. Elizabeth did die. And, I guess now Jason’s in the clear for murder, he’ll get that check and marry Nora.”

  She shuddered. “I will never tell fortunes again.” Then she brightened. “But I did do some good, you know. You remember that woman with low self-esteem whose dates canceled on her?”

  “Of course. She was convinced you were a wicked witch.”

  “Well, guess who’s got herself a new haircut, a better attitude, and a new beau?”

  I was so astonished I took my eyes off the road for a second to stare at my witch cousin. “Are you kidding me? Who?”

  She chuckled. “She’s been having coffee with Tony Betts.”

  I felt the rightness of them together in my heart. “That’s just perfect. I hope they’ll be happy together.”

  “She couldn’t be a worse partner than Nora.”

  There was that.

  I kept following Violet’s instructions, and then the scenery began to grow familiar. “Wait a minute. Where are we headed?”

  But by then, I knew. We turned in to the open gates to Rafe’s manor house. I pulled up in front of t
he house, or as close as I could get considering how many cars were already parked there.

  As we got out, I heard a shriek and looked up to see Henri the peacock on top of his favorite wall. As I looked up at him, he fanned open his tail. I laughed at him in delight. “Thank you, Henri. I love you too.”

  The door opened. William said, “Good evening, ladies. Please come in. Happy Birthday, Lucy.”

  Rafe and his staff had gone all-out. There were pink and purple balloons everywhere and a garden party outside. As I wandered around, I realized how many friends I’d made here. There were Alice and Charlie from Frogg’s Books holding hands and looking so deeply in love, I was expecting a wedding invitation any day now.

  A group of theater students from Cardinal College stood in a laughing group. I was Happy Birthday’d and hugged by Scarlett and Polly, then Liam, who spent the rest of the evening flirting with my cousin Violet.

  A few witches showed up, though they were on their way to the summer solstice celebration at the standing stones. I was so happy to have a good excuse not to go. Margaret Twig wished me a happy birthday and somehow managed to make the words sound vaguely like a threat. I didn’t think she was here to celebrate the anniversary of my birth. I thought she was here for the free champagne.

  Some of my favorite customers were there and, of course, most of the vampires. Rafe had organized a huge marquee tent so no one had to stand in the sunshine who didn’t want to. Even so, many of the vampires chose to stay inside. I drank champagne and ate far too much of the gorgeous food.

  Rafe was the perfect host, introducing people to each other here, making a laughing comment there, and never quite in my vicinity. The sun went down and the garden began to sparkle with twinkle lights and candles.

  It was such a clear night, I felt that I could see every star in the heavens. From the squawking, I knew the peacocks were close by. Soon they’d be bedding down for the night. Rafe had once said that Henri was partial to steak. I snuck some of the sliced beef from the buffet table and slipped out, looking for my peacock boyfriend.

  I headed for Henri’s favorite spot and gasped when I saw a tall, dark shadow standing by the wall. Then I realized Rafe was on the same errand. “No wonder Henri’s so fat,” I scolded. “You keep feeding him.”

  “And what might you be doing out here with that napkin in your hand?” His voice was low and sexy.

  I chuckled. “Busted.”

  Having heard voices, Henri waddled out as though we’d rung the dinner bell. Two other peacocks headed toward us and one of the peahens. I put down the food that I’d brought, and then Rafe pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to me so I could wipe my hands.

  He stood beside me, and we both looked up at the stars. “How does it feel to be twenty-six?”

  I thought about his question. “Like I should be all grown up. Like I should know more by now.”

  He put an arm around my shoulders, and we stood there watching the peacocks enjoy their impromptu feast. “There’s plenty of time to know everything.”

  “What were you doing on your twenty-sixth birthday?” Normally he didn’t talk too much about his past, but I thought given that it was my birthday, he might throw me a bone. He seemed to be looking back into his past, and he had a long way to look. “That was the year Queen Elizabeth was crowned.” He gave me a look. “I mean, of course, the first Queen Elizabeth. I spent many years in her service.”

  “Man, you are really old.”

  He looked down at me. “Old enough to know when you’re trying to get a rise out of me.”

  I leaned into him. “Thank you for that beautiful car. I know it was your idea.”

  He didn’t deny it. “I like to keep you safe. I was sure that old wreck of your grandmother’s would leave you stranded somewhere.”

  “Do you want to take a ride?”

  “What, now?”

  “It’s a beautiful night for a drive.”

  “And leave my guests?”

  “Rafe, you’ve got a perfectly good staff. We won’t be gone for long.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “The standing stones.”

  “I thought you’d sworn off those witchy get-togethers.”

  I thought I had too. “Now that I’m all grown up, I think I’d better start taking this witch thing more seriously.”

  We walked toward my new car, and he said, “You’re more powerful than you think.” And then, so softly I could pretend I hadn’t heard him, he said, “You’ve certainly bewitched me.”

  Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed Lucy’s adventure. Keep reading for a sneak peek of the next mystery, Lace and Lies, Vampire Knitting Club Book 7.

  A Note from Nancy

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for reading the Vampire Knitting Club series. I am so grateful for all the enthusiasm this series has received. I have plenty more stories about Lucy and her undead knitters planned for the future.

  I hope you’ll consider leaving a review and please tell your friends who like cozy mysteries.

  Review on Amazon, Goodreads or BookBub.

  Your support is the wool that helps me knit up these yarns.

  Until next time,

  Happy Reading,

  Nancy

  Lace and Lies

  © 2019 Nancy Warren

  Chapter 1

  “Teddy Lamont is coming to Cardinal Woolsey’s.” I was so excited I squeaked. Nineteen vampires stopped knitting, crocheting or gossiping to stare at me in various attitudes of awe. I’d saved the news so my grandmother would be among the first to hear it and for me to see her lined face beam with pleasure.

  Gran had started Cardinal Woolsey’s knitting and yarn shop and, even though she was now undead, I still liked to include her in all business decisions. She’d agreed with my idea to offer our shop for a special promotion by Larch Wools. Larch was making a TV series featuring celebrity sweater designer and knitting expert Teddy Lamont, who would teach one of his sweater patterns to a class inside a knitting shop.

  Every knitting shop in the UK that carried Larch Wools had been invited to apply for the coveted spot. According to the letter I’d received, Cardinal Woolsey’s was chosen for several reasons. We sold a lot of Larch Wools, Oxford was geographically in the middle of the UK, and the shop itself was photogenic and had room for a TV crew.

  Several voices called out at once:

  “When is it?”

  “Can we all meet Teddy?”

  “When will it be on the telly?”

  I could only answer the first of these questions. “Filming takes place in a couple of weeks.”

  “So soon.” Sylvia spoke up. She’d been a silent film star in the 1920s and based on that thought she knew everything about the entertainment industry. She looked me up and down critically. “You’ll want to lose a few pounds, Lucy. The camera is unforgiving. And what will you wear? Hand knitted items, of course, but of the highest possible quality.”

  All the vampires listened intently. Alfred, who may not have been a movie star, but was as bossy as Sylvia chimed in. “Yes. There’s no time to waste. If we all get started now, we can have an entire television wardrobe for Lucy by the time shooting starts.”

  “I don’t need a new wardrobe,” I protested. My closets and drawers were already overflowing with hand knitted garments from the vampires who soothed their boredom by knitting me the most exquisite creations. The weight loss, however, was probably a good idea. Working in a knitting shop wasn’t conducive to an active lifestyle. At least, that’s what I told myself.

  Sylvia eyed my long blonde hair, which I’d stuck in a pony today since I was too lazy to style it. “You’ll want to wear your hair back for the filming, so the camera can see your face.” She shook her head in fond reminiscence. “What a time I had of it playing Lady Godiva. Sir John Barrymore was beside himself trying to keep my face visible to the camera and preserve my modesty.”

  Normally, I loved Sylvia’s trips down her cinema
tic memory lane, but today I was more interested in the upcoming televised knitting show than her long ago triumphs.

  “Who will be in your class, dear?” Gran asked, perhaps also feeling we should get back on track.

  “The yarn company is choosing the students. They’re running a national contest. Six lucky winners get to learn from Teddy Lamont. If they don’t live within driving distance, they’ll be put up at a hotel for the few days we’re filming.”

  “My goodness. They’re going all out.”

  I was both excited and nervous. In knitting terms, this was like having a movie star come to your house for dinner.

  “How typical,” Hester moaned. Hester was perpetually a hormone-challenged teenager whose awkward stage would last for eternity. I tried to feel sympathy for her, remembering the misery of my own teenage years, but she made it difficult. “Maybe I would have liked to be in the class, but oh, no. Everything gets decided by ‘the man.’” She sighed theatrically, and tossed the black shawl sweater was knitting into her bag. Her entire color palette was black.

  Sylvia laughed, and it was a bitter sound. “Darling girl, if it were possible for us to be filmed, I’d have played the dowager Lady Grantham. I’m perfect for the part. Maggie, Judy, Helen, I’d give those dames a run for their money. But we don’t appear on film any more than we show up in mirrors or photographs. You can no more be a television or film star than you can sunbathe on the Riviera.”

  I felt so guilty. I’d never thought that my exciting news would be such a downer for the vampires who lived beneath my Oxford shop. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “I didn’t think. I can cancel it.”

  “Don’t even think of such a thing,” Gran cried. “This is wonderful publicity for Cardinal Woolsey’s, and for you.”