Free Murder in Style by Veronica Heley Page B

need, just now, is to start a row in the family. Right?’
    Lesley frowned and shrugged. Then shrugged again.
    â€˜I’m serious, Lesley,’ said Ellie. ‘A feud of this sort can carry on for years, with one side carrying a grudge against the other. If you do want to intervene for Susan’s sake, well and good. But I don’t see how could you do it, without seeming to criticize Angelica and, by extension, your fiancé. I suppose you could just have a quiet word with him to warn him you won’t put up with Angelica’s wanting her own way all the time once you’re married. You could say that you think Angelica has slightly overstepped the mark, but Susan is being very brave and will put up with whatever Angelica has decided. Tell him that you’ll pay the bill without quibbling, but say you hope the girl will be more tactful in future? But, if you’d rather not interfere – and Angelica will take it as interference, believe me – then Susan will cope and all will be peace and quiet.’
    Lesley pulled at her button. It came off in her hands. ‘So I am to start my marriage by giving in to my husband, even though I believe he’s in the wrong?’
    â€˜It’s a small thing. A little diplomacy now would calm the troubled waters.’
    Lesley considered the loose button. ‘I’m fond of Susan. She’s a great girl who’s had a lot to put up with. My sister is much older than me and we haven’t much in common. She never really wanted a child, especially after her husband walked out on the two of them. And now she’s got the menopause and her hip replacement has gone wrong and goodness knows what else and everyone’s walking on eggshells around her. Poor Susan. I daresay she would put up with wearing something which makes her look a fright, but now that I know about it I’ll always be aware that Angelica’s made her look a figure of fun. And don’t tell me Angelica will spare her feelings on the day, because she won’t. Angelica is not kind. She will make remarks about pink elephants and the like. Such things can hurt most terribly. I’ll have a word with Sir about this and I’ll tell Susan, myself, that she should get herself something she’d like to wear.’
    â€˜Go carefully, Lesley. I’m older than you, and have seen what family upsets can do. Sisters not speaking for twenty years, that sort of thing. If you have a word with your fiancé and he sees the point, then that’s fine: Susan gets her own dress. But it might be a good idea to ask his permission before you tell Susan to go ahead.’
    â€˜Ask his permission, indeed!’ Lesley put the button on her pocket. ‘I can do without this! Who’s paying for the wedding, anyway? I am. On his salary we’d have prosecco instead of champagne, and a tatty buffet in a pub rather than a sit-down meal.’
    â€˜Yes, I know. But tempers can get frayed so easily just before a wedding. I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t mentioned it. Susan is very mature for her age, and for your sake she’ll play along. It’s only for one day, after all.’
    â€˜She might not find anything suitable at The Magpie boutique.’
    â€˜True.’
    â€˜You’ll take her there tomorrow morning? Juno won’t be there, will she? Did you say she was ill?’
    â€˜Celine knows where the bodies are hidden, and I think she might open up to me, with a bit of luck.’ And, Ellie would be out of the house again if Diana called round. Idly, Ellie wondered how much money her daughter wanted this time.
    Lesley got to her feet. ‘I must go. The florist we’d chosen has broken her wrist and dropped out, so we’ve got to find someone else at short notice. You do realize that the person with the best motive for killing Poppy is her sister?’
    â€˜Yes. But I don’t believe it.’
    â€˜It might have been an