Read Online Poison Flowers by Natasha Cooper - Free Book Online

him slurping up the first of his oysters and put her spoon into the frothy green soup she had chosen to draw a line between all the dinners they had shared in the past. It was quite pleasant, if a little sharper than she would have liked.
    â€˜You’re making a mistake,’ said Richard, enthusiastically licking his fingers. ‘These are wonderful and we’re not likely to get many more until the autumn.’
    â€˜What about it? I’m sure Mrs Rusham could get you oysters just as good as those,’ said Willow cajolingly.
    â€˜I’ve never been able to resist you when you were determined on anything,’ said Richard, picking up another of the thick grey shells, squeezing lemon juice on to the quivering blob it contained and tipping it into his mouth. ‘I might as well give in gracefully. When am I to have this dinner party?’
    â€˜As soon as possible,’ said Willow. ‘Next week? Thursday or Friday, perhaps?’
    â€˜All right,’ said Richard amenable at last, ‘but in return I want you to tell me what this is all about.’ He sucked up another oyster and drained the liquid its shell contained straight into his mouth.
    When he had dropped the shell on his plate, he looked at her. She was relieved to see that there was a smile back in his greyish eyes.
    â€˜I can’t do that, I’m afraid,’ said Willow, deciding that she had eaten enough soup to last her for some time. She put down her spoon.
    â€˜You’re not playing your old game, are you? Racing that policeman to the solution of some mystery? Presumably he can’t work out who caused Titchmell’s death and you …’ He paused, but Willow was far too experienced to be rushed into speech by someone else’s silence. She only smiled, wondering whether her mouth looked as much like the Mona Lisa’s as it felt.
    â€˜Well in that case, I can see that I shall just have to help you out,’ said Richard with a self-satisfied smile. ‘You wouldn’t have got anywhere last time without me.’
    Remembering that she had said something very similar to Tom Worth, Willow decided to allow Richard his triumph and laughed with him.

Chapter Four
    Eating one of Mrs Rusham’s best breakfasts the following morning, Willow ran through her list of questions to ask about the four victims and thought about the people who might be able to answer some of them. She decided that if she were to telephone them to put in her various requests for information, she could then reasonably ignore the investigation for the rest of the day and go shopping. There was to be a sale of fine English furniture at Christie’s the following week and she would be able to view the lots any time that day.
    She had just finished eating when Mrs Rusham came in with the newspapers and a second cup of coffee.
    â€˜Thank you, Mrs Rusham,’ said Willow, looking up. ‘That was perfect. You really are a splendid cook.’
    â€˜I’m glad you think so, Miss Woodruffe,’ said Mrs Rusham. For some reason Willow had never understood, her housekeeper had always treated her with cool formality although she had shown Richard an almost confiding devotion, and her severe features lightened into a real smile as Willow told her about Richard’s plans for a dinner party.
    â€˜And since he has very little time and not a lot of expertise, he wondered whether you would be prepared to help him out,’ said Willow at last.
    â€˜Well of course, Miss Woodruffe,’ said Mrs Rusham happily. ‘It’s always a pleasure to do anything for Mr Lawrence-Crescent.’
    â€˜Splendid,’ said Willow, wondering what Richard had ever actually done to arouse the affection she could see shining in her employee’s usually dull brown eyes. ‘Why don’t you ring him up at his office – here’s the number – some time this morning and sort it all out with him?’
    Willow