Read Online The Body in the Boudoir by Katherine Hall Page - Free Book Online Page B

child. Are you feeling all right?”
    Faith wasn’t feeling all right. She was feeling extremely ill. And if she didn’t make it to the adjoining powder room, she was going to be ill all over Poppy’s Aubusson carpet. She clapped a hand over her mouth and stood up, swaying slightly.
    The voices in the room mounted to a crescendo of sound, sentences bouncing out at her—“Too much to drink?” “You don’t think she’s, well, you know?” “Cold feet?” “She looks like she’s got a fever—that bug that’s been going around?”
    As Hope steered her through the door just in time, Faith heard her great-aunt Tammy’s voice above the rest.
    â€œThe bride’s been poisoned.”

Chapter 3
    G reat-aunt Tammy, a voluptuous, big-hair brunette from Louisiana, had been coyly admitting to being thirty-five for the ten years she’d been married to Faith’s great-uncle Schuyler Wayfort, known to all as Sky. He’d been twenty-six years her senior when they met.
    Her dramatic pronouncement at the shower produced instant silence in the room until her sister-in-law said, “Don’t be absurd, Tamora”—Eleanor Wayfort Lennox never employed nicknames—“my granddaughter is merely indisposed.”
    Since the sounds of Faith’s indisposition were penetrating the door, everyone hurriedly resumed talking again. Her mother got up to join Hope. Meanwhile, Poppy Morris had followed Faith immediately, always levelheaded in a crisis—red wine spilled on Princess Di’s snowy white Versace; no Coca-Cola, only Pepsi, in the kitchen for Joan Crawford (hangers not a problem, Poppy never had wire ones). She returned a few seconds later to call 911 and her private physician, in that order. Poppy knew her number by heart “just in case,” as she had memorized those of certain lawyers over the years for the same reason. The next thing she did was usher everyone down to the living room.
    The doctor arrived before the EMTs.
    â€œHer pulse is more rapid than normal, but she’s not running a fever. Yet it’s clear that her system is experiencing a shock and I’d like to admit her if the vomiting doesn’t stop soon. She’ll need an IV to prevent dehydration.”
    Faith shook her head violently and managed to say, “No hospital.”
    â€œDoes she have any food allergies?” Dr. Ginsburg asked.
    â€œNone that I know of, and I should know. I’m her mother,” Jane Sibley said.
    At this point the EMTs stepped into the Garden Room with what seemed like enough equipment for a four-alarm fire. Poppy’s powder room was the size of a master bath, but it was getting crowded. Hope and Jane moved out. Poppy stayed.
    Faith was sitting on the floor, leaning against the commode she had been hugging. Her throat felt as if someone had taken sandpaper to it.
    â€œI’m fine,” she croaked, wishing everyone would leave so she could take a nap on the floor. The tile felt cool to her touch and she closed her eyes in preparation. Maybe when she opened them the room would be empty and, just as in the movies, it would all have been a horrible dream.
    One of the EMTs was conferring with the doctor while the other was asking what the victim had eaten recently. Poppy listed the menu.
    â€œWe all ate from the same buffet, though, and served ourselves. It’s been cleared away, but everything was in a large bowl or basket or on a platter.”
    The Payard chocolates and pastries were still in mouthwatering view.
    â€œWhat about these?” He picked up a plate.
    â€œFaith hadn’t eaten any dessert yet. She was opening her presents,” Poppy said.
    â€œAnd they’re from Payard, ” she added, popping a truffle in her mouth to settle the subject.
    Dr. Ginsburg came out to speak to Jane Sibley. “My best guess is food poisoning of some sort, but quite puzzling as you all ingested