Read Online Murder With Peacocks by Donna Andrews - Free Book Online
Authors: Donna Andrews
Tags: Fiction, General, Humorous stories, Mystery & Detective, Women Sleuths, Reference, Mystery Fiction, Women Detectives, Murder, Weddings, Langslow; Meg (Fictitious character), Yorktown (Va.), Women detectives - Virginia - Yorktown
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at least a dozen people who probably didn't realize it was a wig. She suggests that perhaps Mrs. Fenniman has had enough wine, which she has, but you know how contrary she is; she's off swilling it down now and will probably have to be carried home. And then--well, she said something very unkind about Natalie's looks, so I suppose you have to call me a biased witness. Oh, no, she's talking to Eric," Pam said, cutting short her tirade. "Excuse me while I rescue him; I don't fancy seeing her torture both kids on the same evening."
But before Pam had gone two steps, Mother swept over and led Mrs. Grover off. For the rest of the party, whenever I saw Mrs. Grover, she had Mother at her elbow and a vexed look on her face. Bravo, Mother.
That evening, as I was preparing for bed, I found myself getting depressed. I wasn't quite sure why. The anticipated explosion from Mrs. Grover hadn't happened. I'd actually enjoyed myself far more than I usually did at a family party. I'd spent much of the time with Michael. We had a great many interests in common, not to mention similar senses of humor. He seemed to enjoy the company of my eccentric relatives without actually appearing to be laughing at them. Unlike most of the theater people I'd ever met he didn't seem to have an overdeveloped ego and an underused brain--although maybe that was because he was a theater professor, not a working actor. And he was certainly easy on the eyes. Just my luck that I was the wrong gender to suit the only genuinely attractive, intelligent, witty, and interesting male to come along in years. I told myself that it was definitely destructive to my peace of mind to spend too much time with Michael What-a-Waste. I vowed that tomorrow, at Eileen's party, I would mingle. After all, while her father's guest list was unlikely to include anyone as gorgeous as Michael, it might offer someone who was not only unmarried but actually eligible.
Monday, May 30
However, I reckoned without Michael's apparent enthusiasm for my company. Obviously he'd decided I was a kindred spirit here in the wilderness. Or perhaps only the least unpalatable female camouflage available. Whatever. In the light of day, surrounded by dotty relatives, my resolution not to waste time on ineligible bachelors evaporated rapidly. And so from the start, the second party seemed almost as a continuation of Mother's.
"I have a sense of deja vu," Michael said, shortly after arriving. "Didn't I picnic with these same people yesterday?"
"Yes, and ate much the same menu you'll get today," I said. "Welcome to small town life."
"Speaking of food," Rob said, and he and Michael headed for the buffet table.
"Michael's right," I told Pam. "This picnic has almost the same cast of characters as Mother's."
"It's a pity the return performances include Mrs. Grover," Pam said. "After all the stories I've heard about her antics yesterday, I'd have thought she'd be persona non grata everywhere in town."
"She does have a gift for offending people, doesn't she," I replied. "I suppose we're underestimating the local dedication to Southern hospitality."
"Or Mother's ability to twist arms." "Also a pity Barry had to come," I said, glancing around to see if he was nearby.
"Oh, which one is he?" Pam asked.
"The one following Dad around like a puppy," I said, pointing. "He's been doing it all afternoon."
"Is Dad that entertaining today?" Pam asked.
"I don't know," I said. "I've been avoiding them. Actually, I think Barry's doing it to make a good impression on me. Steven and Eileen probably put him up to it."
"Hmph," Pam said. "I don't see them."
"They stopped over on Cape May on the way back from a fair."
"So we're partying without the guests of honor."
"Yes. Theoretically, they're supposed to be down here tomorrow so we can go pick her dress."
"I'm not holding my breath," Pam said. "Neither am I."
I felt it was very shortsighted of
But before Pam had gone two steps, Mother swept over and led Mrs. Grover off. For the rest of the party, whenever I saw Mrs. Grover, she had Mother at her elbow and a vexed look on her face. Bravo, Mother.
That evening, as I was preparing for bed, I found myself getting depressed. I wasn't quite sure why. The anticipated explosion from Mrs. Grover hadn't happened. I'd actually enjoyed myself far more than I usually did at a family party. I'd spent much of the time with Michael. We had a great many interests in common, not to mention similar senses of humor. He seemed to enjoy the company of my eccentric relatives without actually appearing to be laughing at them. Unlike most of the theater people I'd ever met he didn't seem to have an overdeveloped ego and an underused brain--although maybe that was because he was a theater professor, not a working actor. And he was certainly easy on the eyes. Just my luck that I was the wrong gender to suit the only genuinely attractive, intelligent, witty, and interesting male to come along in years. I told myself that it was definitely destructive to my peace of mind to spend too much time with Michael What-a-Waste. I vowed that tomorrow, at Eileen's party, I would mingle. After all, while her father's guest list was unlikely to include anyone as gorgeous as Michael, it might offer someone who was not only unmarried but actually eligible.
Monday, May 30
However, I reckoned without Michael's apparent enthusiasm for my company. Obviously he'd decided I was a kindred spirit here in the wilderness. Or perhaps only the least unpalatable female camouflage available. Whatever. In the light of day, surrounded by dotty relatives, my resolution not to waste time on ineligible bachelors evaporated rapidly. And so from the start, the second party seemed almost as a continuation of Mother's.
"I have a sense of deja vu," Michael said, shortly after arriving. "Didn't I picnic with these same people yesterday?"
"Yes, and ate much the same menu you'll get today," I said. "Welcome to small town life."
"Speaking of food," Rob said, and he and Michael headed for the buffet table.
"Michael's right," I told Pam. "This picnic has almost the same cast of characters as Mother's."
"It's a pity the return performances include Mrs. Grover," Pam said. "After all the stories I've heard about her antics yesterday, I'd have thought she'd be persona non grata everywhere in town."
"She does have a gift for offending people, doesn't she," I replied. "I suppose we're underestimating the local dedication to Southern hospitality."
"Or Mother's ability to twist arms." "Also a pity Barry had to come," I said, glancing around to see if he was nearby.
"Oh, which one is he?" Pam asked.
"The one following Dad around like a puppy," I said, pointing. "He's been doing it all afternoon."
"Is Dad that entertaining today?" Pam asked.
"I don't know," I said. "I've been avoiding them. Actually, I think Barry's doing it to make a good impression on me. Steven and Eileen probably put him up to it."
"Hmph," Pam said. "I don't see them."
"They stopped over on Cape May on the way back from a fair."
"So we're partying without the guests of honor."
"Yes. Theoretically, they're supposed to be down here tomorrow so we can go pick her dress."
"I'm not holding my breath," Pam said. "Neither am I."
I felt it was very shortsighted of
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