“No, thanks. I won’t stay long. I thought you’d want to know what’s happening. You can tell Simon and Bernie.”

  “Don’t forget Rose.”

  “Fear not, I never forget Rose. Karen called a lawyer, as is of course her right, and she’s clammed up. Not saying a word.”

  “Is that recording we made admissible in court?”

  “Recording?” She raised one eyebrow. “What recording?”

  “But—”

  “It’s illegal in the state of Massachusetts for one party to record another without the agreement of all parties. I didn’t record anything. I simply connected to the device Rose had on her in order to amplify the conversation. Much like a hearing aid.”

  “Oh. Okay.”

  “Rose will testify in court about what Karen told her. Karen’s lawyer will naturally attempt to argue that Karen was making up a story for an old lady’s amusement. However, I’m not concerned. The truth is out there, and I have plenty of material to build on it. For starters, when she and her friends were initially questioned after the death, Karen flat out told us she had never before met Ralph Reynolds or any members of his family. We have the picture Bernie found on Facebook as proof she was lying. We’ll find more proof she was lying, and about more important things. Her bank records, for example, show she was sending money regularly to a joint account she held with Ralph Reynolds. She was extraordinary naïve. Willful blindness, perhaps, until she couldn’t remain blind any longer. Contrary to what he told Karen about them both putting away their savings, hers was the only money going into that account.”

  “Thanks for letting me know. I’m pretty satisfied we know why Karen killed Ralph, and why she so foolishly hung around after. But one thing has been bothering me. Who attacked Sophia? That can’t have been a coincidence.”

  “It wasn’t. Karen denies killing Ralph. Being interviewed by the police is a tricky business, Lily. You have to think fast, and keep all sorts of balls in the air. Karen dropped one. She doesn’t admit to attacking Sophia, but she did say she was glad that incident proved Jenny Hill hadn’t killed Ralph.”

  “I don’t get it.”

  “I believe when Karen killed Ralph she didn’t worry about what might happen if someone else was blamed for it. If that someone was either Sophia or Regina, she didn’t much care. But when Jenny came under suspicion, Karen had a change of heart. She didn’t want to see an innocent woman go to jail. If she knew Jenny was having a night out with Hannah and—”

  “Yes! She did know. I can testify to that. Karen was there, on the veranda, when Greg told us he was going for dinner with Hannah and Jenny and then to a movie Jenny particularly wanted to see. Karen knew Jenny would have an alibi. Rather convoluted thinking.”

  “Which is why Sophia came to no harm. It might help Karen’s case if she admits to it. She was guilt-stricken at the idea of Jenny taking the fall, and she took concrete steps to avoid that happening. Some juries like that sort of thing.”

  “I’m not going to say I now like Karen, but it was a kind thing to do.”

  “Good night, Lily. You take care. One more thing. You haven’t given your official statement yet. Be at the police station tomorrow morning.”

  “I have to work.”

  “Ten o’clock should suit. Be there.”

  Chapter 27

  And that, I thought, was the end of that. Rose would have to testify at Karen’s trial, and perhaps Bernie, Simon, and me also. Otherwise, I hoped never to see anyone in the Reynolds family ever again.

  Several days later Cheryl came into the tearoom kitchen and said, “Couple of women are asking if you have a moment, Lily.”

  “A moment. I never have a moment. If they’re going to complain, tell them I’ve gone out. Tell them I quit.”

  “Not a complaint. You know them.”

  Grumbling, I washed my hands, took off my apron and hairnet, and shook out my hair. I walked through the restaurant and out to the patio. At four o’clock on a sunny Saturday every table in the place was taken. Two women sat at a small table tucked into a corner next to the low drystone wall, moss and tiny flowers spilling out of the cracks. Hannah Hill stood up and waved when she saw me. She’d been served the cream tea for two.

  I was, as Simon would put it, gobsmacked to see who she was dining with.

  “Lily,” McKenzie Reynolds said when I reached the table. “Thank you, this was all super nice.”

  “Do you have a minute to join us?” Hannah asked. “I’m sure you’re busy but . . .”

  “Happy to.” I spotted a spare chair and asked if I could have it. The occupants of the table smiled and told me it was free. I pulled it over to Hannah and McKenzie and waved to Cheryl. “I’d love a pot of Creamy Earl Grey, please, and some of whatever sandwiches we have going.”

  “Sure. Be right back.”

  I sat down. I looked at Hannah. I looked at McKenzie.

  “Greg’s father’s going home tomorrow,” Hannah said. “Greg’s in town to arrange the details. We wanted to stay here, but you didn’t have any rooms free.”

  “Busy time of year for us,” I said.

  “I came to be with Greg,” McKenzie said. “And, I will admit, because Jack’s band was so popular at that place in town, they were asked to perform some more.”

  “How’s your mother doing?” I asked.

  “Okay. Mom’s a survivor. Grandma’s not been around much. Seems there’ve been some problems in the company, and she’s trying to whip Ivan into shape to handle it.”

  “Is he going to be able to do that?”

  “I genuinely believe he’s going to try his best. It might be too late, and his best might not be good enough. But that is not your problem.” She cleared her throat and glanced away.

  Cheryl slipped a teapot and matching cup and a plate of sandwiches in front of me. I poured the tea, breathing in the deep rich scent of the touch of vanilla and caramel added to the classic tea blend, added a splash of milk and a few grains of sugar, and I waited.

  Eventually, McKenzie took a deep breath and turned back to face me. “I’ve come to apologize. You and your staff went to so much trouble to create the perfect wedding shower for Hannah and I . . . ruined it.”

  I didn’t say I knew. I glanced at Hannah. She was smiling at McKenzie.

  “Mac,” Hannah said, “broke down and confessed to Greg and me after that woman was arrested for killing their father.”

  “I’d say it was intended to be a joke, but that’s not true,” McKenzie said. “Greg told me about the Raggedy Ann doll Hannah’s father had given her not long before he died. He was thinking about using the story in his speech at the wedding, as a way of remembering Hannah’s absent dad. I . . . Okay, this is hard for me to say, although I already told Greg and Hannah. I’m jealous of Hannah. She has such a close, loving relationship with her mom. She has Greg, who’s a great guy. I have . . . well, you’ve met my parents and my grandmother.”

  “And . . .” Hannah prompted.

  “Yeah, okay. Spit it out, girl,” McKenzie said to herself. “I didn’t like . . . don’t like not being in the spotlight.”

  “You don’t need to tell me this,” I said.

  “But I do,” McKenzie said. “It’s like those twelve-step programs, right? You’re supposed to apologize to everyone you’ve hurt. I know you don’t care personally about our family dramas, but this place is your business and you work hard here. Truth be told, I’m kinda jealous of you, too. Having this lovely place. Not to mention—” She nodded to the garden, where Simon was welding the hedge trimmer, the sun shining off his blond hair. “That totally delectable guy. Don’t worry. I won’t sabotage anything. And, yeah. I’m sorry for crawling all over him the other night. Jack and I . . . well not much is happening there. I think we’ll be finished soon. I don’t think he much cares one way or another about that.”

  “Thank you for your honesty.”

  “What happened with my dad’s tough to deal with. The lies, the deceit. He and Mom should have divorced years ago. You know what they say—the only thing worse than being from a broken family is living in one. Grandma never helped the situation any. And then for Dad to . . . cheat that woman. If what the police are saying is true. Gave me a lot to think about, is all I’m saying.”

  “How’s your mom doing? I sensed a great deal of anger there.”

  “No kidding. I wasn’t around when Greg and Hannah started dating, but Ivan told me Mom was upset about it. He didn’t know why. Being Ivan, he was too lazy to try to find out why. I figured right from the get-go Dad was still carrying a torch for Jenny. Although he covered it up in his usual way, by a combination of denial and anger. Anger toward Jenny, most of all. And, through Jenny, at Hannah. Jenny must have been thinking she’d had a lucky escape when she met Max Hill and dumped my dad. Anyway, back to Mom. A friend suggested she see a therapist, supposedly to deal with Dad’s betrayal of her and then his death. I’m hoping a good therapist will dig a lot deeper and help her sort out some of her issues. And she does have a good therapist. My grandma’s paying for it. Believe it or not, they’re going to have some sessions together.”

  I nibbled on my herbed egg sandwich. Pretty good, if I do say so myself.

  McKenzie took a deep breath before continuing. “My stupid stunt didn’t contribute to my dad’s death, but then the cops started asking me questions about it, and for a while I wondered if it had. If my own stupidity had caused my father’s death. Turns out I get off on that score, but I decided to come clean with Hannah and Greg. The least I could do was clear up that tiny cloud hanging over them.”

  Hannah put her hand in the center of the table, and McKenzie laid hers on top of it.

  “And now,” Hannah said, “on to cheerier topics. Sophia’s insurance company is giving her a good portion of the money she put down for the wedding reception. We’ve rescheduled the wedding for two months from now. It’s going to be held at the small church my parents were married in. Our reception is going to be low-key, simple, and exactly what Greg and I want.”

  “I’m glad to hear that,” I said. And I was. Perhaps some good could come out of the tragic events.

  * * *

  I left the tearoom at a good time that evening, and Simon and I joined Rose on the veranda. Guests came and went, bidding us a good evening. A honeymooning couple, well into their fifties, wandered through the gardens, hand in hand. A car pulled into the lot and a teenage boy leapt out. He ran up the steps, all arms and legs and fury, his face like a thundercloud, and slammed the door behind him. His parents got out of the car, also looking as though storms were moving in. The father caught Rose’s eye and shrugged in embarrassment. Robbie snoozed on Rose’s lap, and Éclair had settled at my feet.

  “Something interesting came in the mail today, love,” my grandmother said.

  “What was that?”

  “A letter, all the way from England.”

  “Buckingham Palace?” Simon asked. “Looking to hire a close protection officer slash gardener?”

  “No. An invitation.” She dug into the cavernous pockets of her wide skirt and showed us a card. Thick creamy card stock with elaborate gold trim, the printed invitation perfectly centered in flowing gold script. “I’ve been invited to a birthday party.”

  “In England?” Simon said. “That’s nice. Have you been back since you moved to America?”

  “Several times. I couldn’t attend my grandmother’s funeral as I was pregnant with one of the boys, but I did go to my dear father’s and later my mother’s. And again for a couple of family weddings. This invitation, however, is not from a relative.”

  I could tell by the way she was dragging it out, whatever this was, it meant something special to Rose. I waited for her to enjoy the drama and then get on with it.

  “I have been invited to the hundredth birthday celebration of Elizabeth, the Dowager Countess of Frockmorton. The party is to be held at Thornecroft Castle.” Rose beamed. “A note included with the invitation says her ladyship is hoping to reconnect with many of the favored staff and tradespeople from over her long years.”

  “Are you going to go?” Simon asked.

  “I’d like to. The party’s in late October, when the season here is winding down, before it picks up again for the holiday rush. I should be able to close the B & B for a week. Naturally, a lady of my advanced years would find it difficult to travel so far on her own.” She smiled at me.

  “You want me to go to England with you?” I asked.

  “As I said, I’ve been back to England several times over the years, but not to Thornecroft Castle. I’d like to see it again. And I’d like you to see it with me, love.”

  I looked at Simon. He gave me a broad wink. “Just so happens, the winter job I have is in Yorkshire. Not that far from Thornecroft Castle.”

  “Wouldn’t mind a holiday,” I said. “I’ve never been to England.”

  Rose clapped her hands, startling Robbie. “Imagine, me going to Lady Frockmorton’s party! As a guest, not to work in the kitchen.”

  “Speaking of kitchen maids,” I said, reluctantly pushing myself to my feet. “I’ve just remembered that I’m almost out of eggs in the B & B kitchen. I won’t have enough if every one of the guests wants eggs tomorrow. That means a run to the store before I can finally rest my weary kitchen maid legs.”

  “I’ll give you a lift on the bike,” Simon said.

  I eyed him carefully. “I suppose it would be okay going to the store. But what about coming back? I don’t want scrambled eggs yet.”

  “I’ll be careful on the turns and the bumps.”

  “Live dangerously, love,” Rose said. “That’s my motto, and it’s never led me astray. Someday perhaps. But not yet.”

  Recipes

  Banana Bread with Walnuts

  Overripe bananas. What to do with them? If there’s one thing likely to be in every cook’s repertoire, whether home cook, amateur baker, or professional pastry chef, it’s banana bread. Because, after all, no one wants to throw out those fast-expiring bananas. For her own enjoyment, Lily likes nuts in her banana bread, but when baking for the breakfasts at Victoria-on-Sea, she leaves them out, just to be safe. This version has nuts included.

  Note: Lily makes gluten-free banana bread for the guests when requested, but this recipe is NOT gluten-free.

  Ingredients:

  1¼ cups unbleached all-purpose flour

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  ½ teaspoon fine salt

  2 large eggs, at room temperature

  ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

  ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

  1 cup sugar

  3 very ripe bananas, peeled, and mashed with a fork

  ½ cup toasted walnut pieces

  Instructions:

  Lightly brush a 9 by 5 by 3-inch loaf pan with butter. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

  Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl, set aside. Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a small bowl.

  Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually pour the egg mixture into the butter while mixing until incorporated. Add the mashed bananas.

  With a rubber spatula, mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold in the nuts and transfer the batter to the prepared pan.

  Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Turn the bread out of the pan and let cool completely on the rack.

  Egg Salad Sandwiches with Herby Mayonnaise

  A highly popular teatime option, these colorful sandwiches are in regular rotation at Tea by the Sea.

  Makes six full size sandwiches or twenty-four tea sandwiches

  Ingredients:

  6 hard-boiled eggs, shells removed

  ½ cup mayonnaise

  ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  1 green onion, finely chopped

  12 slices white bread, crusts removed, lightly buttered

  Salt and pepper

  ⅔ cup finely chopped and packed mixed fresh herbs, such as basil, dill, chives, Italian parsley

  Instructions:

  In a large bowl, crush the eggs with a fork. Add the mayonnaise and combine. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and green onion. Season with salt and pepper.

  Spread the egg mixture on half of the previously buttered bread slices.

  Sprinkle with chopped herbs.

  Cover with the remaining slices of bread.

  Cut each sandwich into 4 wedges.

  Maple Pecan Squares

  A delicious addition to the sweets course, these squares are always a hit at Tea by the Sea.

  Makes 36 squares

  Ingredients:

  Shortbread base:

  1 cup all-purpose flour

  ⅓ cup light brown sugar, packed

  ¼ cup coarsely chopped pecans

  ½ tsp salt

  ¼ tsp baking powder

  ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

  ⅓ cup unsalted butter, room temperature

  Topping:

  ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

  ½ cup light brown sugar, packed

  ⅓ cup pure maple syrup

  2 tsp vanilla extract

  ¼ tsp fine salt

  1 large egg

  1¾ cups coarsely chopped pecans

  Instructions:

  Preheat oven to 350ºF.

  Grease and line a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper so that it hangs over the sides.

  For base, pulse flour, brown sugar, pecans, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon in a food processor to combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture is crumbly. Press mixture into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes, until it just browns around the edges. Cool.