“What else do you know about him?” Theodosia asked.
Lois thought for a moment. “Hmm, not much at all. He wasn’t exactly big on chitchat, if you know what I mean.”
“Anything at all would be of help.”
“Well, I do know that he’s staying at the Rosewalk Inn.”
“You,” Theodosia gasped, “are totally brilliant. In fact, I’m going to buy you a fancy dinner at Poogan’s Porch as soon as I solve this case.” And she blew back out the door.
“Case?” Lois said in her wake. “What case?”
19
Drayton was delighted to see that Theodosia had returned as promised. “You’re back,” he said. “Thank holy heaven. Haley’s already popped out to take a few orders. It seems we have some very anxious and hungry customers.” He glanced around the tea shop. “And lots of them, as you can plainly see.”
“Then I’ll run back and start grabbing luncheon orders,” Theodosia said.
“Good. And please don’t forget about Mrs. Biatek at table six. She brought in her daughter, Kristen, and two friends. They’re waiting to place their order.”
“Got it.” Theodosia ducked into the kitchen, which was filled with the aromas of baking bread, stir-fry chicken, and shrimp gumbo. Haley had outdone herself yet again.
“Thank goodness you’re back,” Haley said. “We were beginning to worry.”
Theodosia grabbed two shrimp gumbos. “These are for which table?”
“Table four.” Haley added a Waldorf tea sandwich to each plate. “Then come right back here. By the time you serve those, I’ll have a couple more luncheon plates all fixed up and ready to go.”
Theodosia worked frantically for the next twenty minutes. Serving lunches, taking orders, pouring tea, serving more lunches. Finally, when every customer had been taken care of, she dashed up to the counter to tell Drayton what she’d learned.
“I found out where Professor Shepley is staying,” Theodosia said, almost breathlessly.
His brows shot up. “Shepley, the mysterious event crasher?”
“That’s right. He’s got a room over at the Rosewalk Inn.”
“The B and B that Tyrone Chandler manages. So now this Shepley character is on your short list of suspects, too?”
“My list’s not that short anymore,” Theodosia said. “I keep adding to it.”
“So what do you plan to do about Shepley? Go over and accost this poor visiting academic? Demand that he confess to being an international jewel thief?”
“I’ve got a much better idea,” Theodosia said. “I’m going to call over to the Rosewalk Inn and extend a complimentary invitation to Shepley. Invite him to our Romanov Tea tonight.”
Drayton’s face pulled into a slow grin. “My, aren’t you a devilishly clever little investigator.”
? ? ?
Just when Theodosia was clearing two tables at once, balancing a gray plastic tub of dishes on one hip, Delaine came sauntering in.
“Theodosia!” she exclaimed. She was wearing a cranberry-colored suede jacket, black pencil skirt, and had a half-dozen gold chains strung around her neck. She carried a black suede Chanel bag that probably cost as much as a down payment on a house.
“Delaine,” Theodosia said back. “Are you just slumming or did you stop by for lunch?”
Delaine cocked her head and considered this. “I suppose I could go for a nibble. As long as it’s low carb.”
“We can make that happen. At least Haley can.” Delaine was obviously off her grapefruit juice and cider vinegar cleanse and back on her low-carb program.
“But that’s not why I’m here,” Delaine said.
Okay, why are you here?
Delaine offered Theodosia a cheesy grin. “I wanted to inform you that I’ve selected three very special dresses for you.”
Wait, did I order three dresses? Was I shopping in my sleep? Did I drink and dial? Or maybe I have temporary amnesia because I sure don’t remember ordering any dresses.
“Dresses?” Theodosia said, still racking her brain. “For . . . what purpose?”
Delaine tossed her head like a nervous show pony. “More like for what occasion.” When Theodosia didn’t respond, she said, “For Saturday night, you silly girl. To wear to the Rare Antiquities Show at the Heritage Society.” When Theodosia’s face finally registered surprise (if not dismay), she continued on. “We simply can’t have you wearing that same old black cocktail dress again. I mean, haven’t we all had our fill of that particular dress?” She said the word dress like she was referring to moldy cleaning rags.
“But I . . .”
Delaine gave Theodosia a sly smile. “Besides, you’re back on the market, girlfriend. Which means you need to look sexy and sultry so you can attract one of Charleston’s eligible bachelors.”
“Really?” Theodosia said. “And here I thought that was your role.”
“Well, dear, it often is,” Delaine said smoothly, unfazed by the slight jab. “But it just so happens I’m seeing Mr. Gilles right now. Exclusively, I might add.”