Free Death of a Mad Hatter (A Hat Shop Mystery) by Jenn McKinlay Page A

friendly looking lady with short dark hair and a fabulous raspberry-colored trilby, addressed us.
    “Very well and yourselves?” Viv asked.
    “Enjoying a beautiful day in the garden,” the woman answered. “I’m Linda Pankhurst, and this is my sister Jacqueline Pankhurst.”
    Jacqueline was wearing a seafoam-green sun hat, which matched the piping on her black dress perfectly. She gave us a warm smile.
    “A pleasure,” I said. “I’m Scarlett Parker and this is my cousin Vivian Tremont.”
    “Oh, I’ve heard of you,” Jacqueline said. “My dear friend Sally Abbingdon raved about the hat you made for her for her son’s wedding.”
    Viv beamed and I glanced away as they all began to talk hats and what the latest trends were in the hat world.
    The rest of our tablemates began to sit and more introductions ensued. I glanced across the wide veranda and noticed that most of the other family members who were acting as table hosts were already seated. The only one I didn’t see was Geoffrey.
    As I made my visual sweep, George, looking quite fabulous in his caterpillar-inspired fedora, waved at me. I waved back unable to suppress my grin when he tipped his brim at me and finished it with a wicked wink.
    “Is it just me or should Tina be here by now?” Viv whispered in my ear.
    “She should be,” I said. “And Geoffrey is missing, too.”
    “Do you think she found out—” Viv began but I interrupted.
    “I don’t know,” I said.
    I knew she was thinking the same thing I was: that maybe Tina had found out about him and his secretary groping in the garden.
    “Why don’t you act as hostess and I’ll go look for her,” I said.
    Vivian nodded and I rose discreetly from my seat and stepped back until I could fade into the open door behind me. Once in the house, I retraced our steps from before. I knew the best person to ask about Tina’s whereabouts would be Buckley, assuming he was done assisting Ms. Whittles out the door.
    I didn’t see Buckley in the foyer, but I saw a caterer in an apron hurrying off in what I assumed was the direction of the kitchen. Sure enough, after a long hallway and three sharp turns and down a short staircase, I was standing in the heart of the house: the kitchen.
    The catering staff had overtaken the room and they were buzzing in and out with full trays as a cluster of chefs prepped each one. Buckley was overseeing the events with a critical eye and I thought the Grisbys were lucky to have such a detail-oriented man at the helm.
    “Ms. Parker,” Buckley said when he noticed me standing there. “How can I assist you?”
    We moved off to the side of the room and out of the waiters’ way.
    “Actually, I was just wondering if you’d seen either Geoffrey or Tina,” I said. “The tea is about to start and neither of them were at their tables.”
    Buckley frowned. “I have not. I was busy escorting our visitor into a waiting police car and then had to hurry back to make sure the tea got off. I’ll send some staff up to their rooms to make certain they are aware that the tea has begun. I’ll have someone check the grounds as well.”
    “Thank you,” I said. “That would be most helpful.”
    With a nod, I left him to go back to the tea. On my way, I got turned around. I was in a hallway that I was pretty sure I had not been in before when I saw a door that led outside. I decided to go out, thinking I’d just walk around the side of the mansion to get to the veranda, as it would be easier than getting lost in that maze of a house.
    A gravel path led from the door and into the gardens. I was in a section of rosebushes that were so lovely and pungent that they took my breath away. Deep-crimson blossoms mixed with cool lavenders and vibrant yellows. I told myself I had to bring Viv back here if we got the chance, because the blooms were positively inspiring.
    I heard the trickle of a fountain and found myself in a section of garden that was sculpted yew bushes. A herd of galloping