Death By Darjeeling

Chapter 25

I can’t believe what I just did, I can’t believe it! Theodosia repeated to herself as she drove back toward the Indigo Tea Shop.

She was truly waiting for the proverbial bolt of lightning to descend from the heavens and strike her dead. She’d told so many fibs today that her head was spinning. And she figured her karma bank had to be operating at a deficit.

No, Theodosia consoled herself as she spun down Tradd Street, this is a murder investigation. You think Burt Tidwell worries about stretching the truth when he’s questioning a suspect?

She braked suddenly to avoid sideswiping a horse-drawn carriage packed full of tourists.

No way, she grumbled to herself. Burt Tidwell probably pulls out a rubber hose and threatens his suspects. And that’s only after he’s intimidated them into tears.

“You’re finally back!” exclaimed Drayton. “You must have had an amazingly long meeting with Mr. Dauphine. Did he regale you with tales of his days in the Merchant Marines during World War II?”

Drayton was seated at Theodosia’s desk, wholesalers’ catalogs spread out around him. He had gathered up the papers and files Theodosia had dumped earlier and arranged them in neat little stacks on her bookcase.

“Don’t even ask,” said Theodosia as she plopped her handbag on the side chair. “Oh, Brown Betty Teapots.” She squinted at the colorful brochures from her upside-down view.

“We’re positively down to the dregs on teapot selection,” said Drayton. “I know you’ve been preoccupied lately, so I thought I’d make the first pass on a reorder. Besides these traditional English Brown Bettys and Blue Willow pots, Marrington Imports has some stunning contemporary ceramics. A trifle edgy, but still your taste.” Drayton slid the catalog toward her. “And look at these Victorian styles with matching tea towels.”

“Wonderful,” agreed Theodosia. She sat down and balanced on the edge of her side chair, staring straight across at Drayton’s lined countenance. “But, Drayton, don’t apologize for doing my job. I should be thanking you. As the Indigo Tea Shop’s benevolent taskmaster, you keep us all moving forward.”

“Thank you, Theodosia,” said Drayton. A smile lit his face, and a look of satisfaction softened the lines around his eyes. “That means a lot to me.”

Theodosia jumped up and peered into the little mirror that hung on the back of the door. It was slightly pitted and wavy from age, but she gamely reapplied her lipstick and fluffed her hair.

“My goodness!” She whirled about, suddenly remembering her three o’clock meeting. “Tanner Joseph. I was supposed to meet with him. About the labels for the holiday blends!”

“No need to panic,” Drayton replied mildly. “He’s here.” Drayton consulted his watch, an ancient Piaget that seemed to perpetually run ten minutes slow. “Has been for almost fifteen, no twenty-five, minutes. Haley took the initiative. She offered to give him the nickel tour.”

“She did?” Theodosia allowed herself to relax. For all Haley’s indecision about choosing a major and amassing enough credits to graduate, she could sometimes exhibit an amazing take-charge attitude.

But it was Bethany, not Haley, who was seated across the table from Tanner Joseph as Theodosia parted the green velvet curtains and stepped somewhat breathlessly into the tea room.

“Mr. Joseph,” said Theodosia as she approached him, her smile warm and apologetic. “Forgive me. I am so sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Hello, Miss Browning.” Tanner Joseph rose from his chair. Dressed in a faded chambray shirt and khaki slacks, he looked more like the executive director of a nonprofit group that he really was, and less the beach bum from two days ago. “Nice to see you again, but please don’t apologize. Your very capable assistant here has been kind enough to bring me up to speed.”

Bethany gazed anxiously toward Theodosia, a look that said she hoped she hadn’t overstepped her bounds.

“Excellent,” replied Theodosia with a reassuring smile for Bethany that conveyed Thank you, well done.

“I have to be honest,” said Tanner Joseph with a lopsided grin. “My tea drinking has been limited to English breakfast teas and flavored ice teas that come in bottles. But all of this is fascinating. I had no idea so many varieties of tea even existed. Or that water temperature or steeping time was critical. Plus, my taste buds have just been awakened and treated to this rather amazing Japanese green tea. Gyokuro, isn’t that what you called it, Bethany?”

Tanner Joseph smiled down at Bethany, and something seemed to pass between them.

Interesting, mused Theodosia as she caught the exchange. I would have guessed Haley would be the one attracted to this likable young man. Up until this moment, Bethany hadn’t displayed a whit of interest in meeting anyone new.

“I’m delighted we had a hand in helping nurture yet another tea aficionado, Mr. Joseph,” Theodosia laughed as she sat down at the table and helped herself to a cup of the flavorful green tea as well.

“Call me Tanner, please.” He sat back down in his chair, picked up his cup of tea, and took a sip.

“Okay then, Tanner,” said Theodosia. “You’ve seen our shop, enjoyed a cup of tea. By chance, has Bethany mentioned our holiday blends?”

Tanner Joseph held up an oversized artist’s sketch pad. One page was covered with notes and thumbnail drawings.

“We’ve already been through it,” he said. “She told me all about Drayton’s different blends, the names you came up with, even your ideas on design. See...” He laughed. “I’m pumped. I’ve already noodled a few sketches.”

“You work pretty fast,” said Theodosia. This was a surprise.

“Oh, yeah,” said Tanner Joseph with great enthusiasm. “You have no idea what a fun project this is versus the tedium of waging constant war against environmental robbers and plunderers.”

Theodosia sat with Bethany and Tanner Joseph for ten more minutes, expressing her thoughts on the holiday blends and what she called the “look and feel” of the label design. Tanner Joseph, in turn, shared his few quick sketches with her, and Theodosia saw that he’d grasped the concept immediately.

They went over timing and budget for a few minutes more, then Theodosia and Bethany walked Tanner Joseph to the door and bade him good-bye.

“I had no idea you knew so much about the holiday blends,” said Theodosia as Bethany closed and locked the double doors. She was pleased but a little taken aback, wondering how Bethany had gleaned so much information.

“Drayton told me all about the holiday blends this morning while we were putting together boxes of tea samplers. He really loves to share his knowledge of tea.”

“To anyone who will listen,” Theodosia agreed with a laugh. “But I daresay, he’s taken you under his wing.”

“It’s such a rare talent to know which teas combine with different spices and fruits. And Drayton really seems to come up with some wonderful blends.”

“Bethany,” said Theodosia, thoroughly pleased, “you’re an amazingly quick study.”

Bethany blushed. “But tea is such a fun subject. And something Drayton is so obviously passionate about.”

“It’s been his life,” agreed Theodosia.

“I didn’t mean that you’re not passionate,” blushed Bethany. “It’s just that . . .”

“It’s just that I haven’t been around much lately,” finished Theodosia. “Don’t worry, dear. I’m passionate about a lot of subjects.”

“Like finding out what killed Hughes Barron?” Bethany asked in a quiet voice.

“Well . . . yes,” said Theodosia, a little surprised by the quick change of subject. “It is a rather compelling mystery.”

“And you love mysteries,” said Bethany, her eyes twinkling. “I mean, getting involved in them.”

“I guess I do,” said Theodosia. She was somewhat taken aback by Bethany’s insight. Although she loved nothing better than curling up in front of the fireplace with a good mystery, a P. D. James or a Mary Higgins Clark, she’d never consciously considered the fact that she was itching to get entangled in a real-life mystery. A murder mystery, no less.

She sighed. Well, like it or not, she was hip deep in one now.