Free The Bennett Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Book 2) by Diana Xarissa Page A

with the world.   By the time
Joan called her down from her room for dinner, she was feeling a bit more like
herself.   She’d lost herself in one
of her favourite classic detective stories and now
felt as if Sherlock Holmes would be most welcome at the moment.   No doubt he’d be able to open the
library safe and spot Peter Smith with no difficulty whatsoever.
    When Janet
joined Joan in the kitchen, the two pies had just come out of the oven.
    “They look
wonderful,” Janet said.   “And they
smell even better.”
    “I am rather
pleased with them,” Joan admitted.   “The crust has browned quite nicely.   I wasn’t sure about this oven, but it
does a very nice job.”
    “Something
certainly smells good,” a voice boomed from the front of the house.
    The sisters
exchanged glances.   Edward had a key
to the front door, but the voice sounded like Michael’s, and he did not.   A moment later, all was revealed as
Edward, Michael and Leonard all appeared in the kitchen.
    “I was coming
up the walk just as Michael was about to knock,” Edward explained.   “I figured I might as well let them in.”
    Janet glanced
at Joan.   From the look on Joan’s
face, Edward’s decision hadn’t been a good one.
    “Of course,”
Janet said loudly before her sister could speak.   “We’re always happy to see Michael.”
    “And his
friends,” Joan added icily.   “I
thought you two had plans for today.”
    “We changed
our minds,” Michael said.   “We
decided we’d rather stay closer to home.   I came over to see if you both wanted to join us for dinner.”
    “As I’ve just
finished cooking, it’s a bit late for that,” Joan replied.
    “I see that,”
Michael said.   “And I smell it as
well.   Those pies smell beautiful.”
    “Thank you,”
Joan said shortly.
    Janet could
tell that the compliment had done little to soften her sister’s annoyance with
the man.   Of course, the polite
thing to do would be to invite them all to stay for dinner, but Janet was
hesitant to upset her sister further.   She glanced at Joan and raised her eyebrows.   For a moment it seemed as if Joan was
going to pretend not to understand the unspoken question, but then Joan sighed
deeply.
    “We’ve plenty
if everyone would like to stay for dinner,” she said in a grudging tone.
    “Thank you
kindly,” Michael said.   “We’d love
to, wouldn’t we, Leonard?”   Leonard
grunted something that didn’t exactly convey enthusiasm.
    “Am I invited
as well?” Edward asked, taking Janet’s hand to get her attention.
    “As Joan said,
we have plenty,” Janet replied, pulling her hand away and ignoring the tiniest
bit of regret as she did so.
    “You’d better
get yourselves settled in the dining room,” Joan said.   “Janet and I will serve.”
    “I’ll help,”
Michael said.   “It’s the least I can
do.”
    Joan opened
her mouth and then snapped it shut.   “In that case, Janet, you go and get everyone settled in the dining
room.   Michael and I will serve.”
    Janet led
Edward and Leonard into the dining room.   Janet quickly laid the table with cutlery from the sideboard and then they
all took seats.   Leonard sat across
from Edward, who’d taken the chair next to Janet’s once she’d sat down.
    “Maybe we
could go down to the pub for a drink after dinner?” Edward asked Janet.
    “I think, after
this lovely meal, I’ll be too tired to go out,” Janet replied.   Determined to change the subject, she
smiled at Leonard.   “I do hope
you’re enjoying your visit with Michael,” she said brightly.
    “It’s fine,”
he muttered.
    “What have you
two been doing?” Janet asked.
    “Not much,”
the man said with a shrug.   “I’m
here to get away from things at home.   I’m not much for sightseeing or whatever.”
    “But there are
some lovely old castles and stately homes in the area,” Janet told him.   “You should at least visit Chatsworth
and Hardwick.”
    Leonard
shrugged.