Read Online Harrowing Hats by Joyce and Jim Lavene - Free Book Online Page B

group would add their music to some of the regulars in the Village. I kind of wondered at their choice of hats. It seemed to me like the brims would be in the way if you were trying to read music and play a flute.
    The hats were all natural straw. We were adding ribbon and flowers, tacking them in place. It was easy work compared to some of my other apprenticeships. I knew I wasn’t learning in-depth hat-making skills, but I hoped that would come later.
    I looked up when I saw Andre put down his scissors and go sit in a corner by himself. I watched him stare blankly out the window for a few minutes before deciding that this was my chance to speak to him. Maybe I could learn something Chase hadn’t.
    “I’m sorry I was running a little late from lunch,” I began what I hoped would be an informative conversation.
    “That’s fine.” He waved his diminutive hand that was holding a lacy handkerchief. “It doesn’t matter. None of it really matters anymore.”
    “Is something wrong? Is there anything I can do?”
    He looked at me and laughed in a melancholy way. “Maybe if you’d made that offer long ago, there might have been something. But that would be saying you had a magic wand and could fix everything in my life.”
    “Sorry. I don’t have that. But I’m a good listener. I was just talking to Eloise—”
    The transformation was instantaneous. Andre went from unhappy to alert and smiling. “You were? And how is she? A lovely woman. Did you notice her skin? Like pale, creamy cocoa. And her eyes—like shining brown diamonds. How is she doing today?”
    I guess that answered the question about Andre being in love with Eloise. “She seemed fine. I thought she might be upset about Cesar’s death. I’d heard they were close. Maybe dating.”
    He made a spitting sound, but I didn’t see any actual saliva. He got to his feet and paced the best he could around hat boxes and yards of satin. “They were never dating! Cesar fancied himself such a great lover. But I’ve had Eloise’s heart for a long time. She loves me. Cesar was never her choice.”
    So what Grigg said was true. Both men were in love—or at least in lust—with Eloise.
    “Do you think Eloise could have killed Cesar?” No point in beating around the bush.
    He became outraged. “I’m glad I don’t have my scissors with me, young woman. Those could be fighting words. It’s as ridiculous as asking if I killed him.”
    “Did you?”
    “You’re only asking because his half-brain brothers think I killed him to gain the hand of the beautiful Eloise. What they don’t understand is that she loves me and could never stand Cesar. No need for me to kill him.” He seemed to remember who he was speaking to and shrugged. “Not that I would have anyway.”
    “Of course not.” I believed him. Again, common sense seemed in his corner. I couldn’t imagine him doing anything remotely violent. He fainted at the sight of Bernardo and Marco’s swords. That was in his favor, as far as I was concerned. It was easier (and more fun) for me to imagine Eloise killing Cesar.
    There didn’t seem to be much more to say. I started to turn away and rejoin the hat-decorating group when Andre stopped me. “I have an errand for you to run, Jessie. I hope you don’t mind. I’ve finished one of Queen Olivia’s hats and thought it might cheer her up to take a look at it. Did I ever tell you about when I was on the set of Xanadu with Olivia Newton John? Such a wonderful young woman. Such delicate features. It didn’t matter what you put on her. It looked good.”
    While he was telling me his story, he was also putting a large, rose-covered hatbox in my hands. He finished telling me about his run-in with John Travolta, then kind of patted me on the head and sent me on my way to the castle.
    It was hotter outside and dark clouds were threatening rain. I hoped the hatbox could protect the hat inside if it got wet. Having a squishy, ruined hat wouldn’t make Livy feel