Murder at the York Tea Room

Ashley Fontaine, self-important and high-profile event planner that she was, simmered with ill-disguised annoyance. She barely touched the exquisite food and pointedly ignored her cup of tea. Ashley was clearly irritated at the way the meeting was going. She felt she should be leading the proceedings and instead she was being overlooked. Even worse – outvoted. The toothy smile was frozen on her face, and she began staring significantly in turn at the various guests around the table, catching their eyes with a cold, penetrating expression. Nothing was having the effect she had so carefully planned. Jean Pierre smoothly ignored her and continued to hold the attention of the table. He announced who was going to be invited to the vineyard’s appreciation party, he asked everyone at the table how to best accommodate the children, and admitted that a certain media presence would be discreetly encouraged. Chief Bernard was appealed to and he suggested hiring a firm to manage parking logistics and basic security. No one thought to ask Ashley for her opinion and, as people ate their way through delicious tea sandwiches and began to indulge in the scones and desserts, she finally had had enough. She would not be treated this way. Heads would roll.

When Ashley spoke, her voice was velvet sarcasm. “As soon as we have all made gluttons of ourselves with these lovely and decadent desserts, don’t you think we should get down to my part of the business here today? I have quite a bit to say.” She pointedly ignored the sweets, her icy gaze sweeping the faces of the others. Picking up her now-cold tea, she swallowed the entire contents and set the fragile cup down on the saucer with a loud clatter.

Jean Pierre spoke up with deliberate graciousness. “Yes, of course we should get down to your business, Ashley, but first, I think, a Pavlova.” Maddeningly, he reached for the airy confection of baked meringue and fruit, and winked at Hazel on his left, who was already munching one. He was enchanted as Hazel winked back. Ashley set her jaw, showing her alarmingly white teeth, and began to turn a truly alarming shade of red.