Chapter 14
Cotton Duck was one of Charleston’s premier boutiques and Delaine Dish was its proud proprietor.
Only this morning Delaine was like a crazed moth frantically batting its wings against a screen.
Her white silk blouse had come partly untucked from her short black leather skirt, her hair streamed out in tendrils, and one false eyelash threatened to fly off.
“Not the pink dress, the blush-colored one,” Delaine screamed at her assistant, Janine.
“Mimi Carter’s coming by at eleven to pick it up so wrap it in tissue paper and put it in one of those silver hanging bags.
And don’t forget to check on the silver-gray silk stilettos we had hand-dyed for Mrs. Winder.
” Then she turned to a slightly amused Theodosia and said, “Sorry, sorry, I really do have the perfect gown for you.” She gazed at Aunt Libby, who was standing at Theodosia’s side, and said, “For you, too, sweetie.”
“I’ve decided to take a pass,” Aunt Libby said.
Delaine was shocked. “Not go to the Starry Starry Night Ball? But it’s shaping up to be the biggest black-tie event of the year!”
But Aunt Libby was firm. “You ladies go and enjoy yourselves. I’ve been to countless black-tie balls so I’m quite content to sit this one out.”
“If you say so,” Delaine said. She sighed, grabbed Theodosia by the hand, and led her to a rolling rack full of ball gowns. “I’ve done a pull…you know, narrowed the selection down to several highly appropriate gowns.”
“Which one do you like best?” Theodosia asked. She decided to make it easy on herself. If there was one dress Delaine was pushing—and she liked it, too—then her selection would be that much simpler.
“I’m glad you asked.” Delaine grabbed a pale peach gown off the rack and held it up, making the voluminous skirt swirl dramatically. “This is the one I think would be drop-dead gorgeous on you.”
Delaine had good taste and Theodosia was the first to admit it.
“It’s lovely,” Theodosia said. She was instantly enamored by the beaded bodice, full skirt, and sweetheart neckline.
It was sophisticated without evoking that dreaded pageant or prom dress look that so many full-length dresses seemed to convey. “But I’d better try it on.”
“Fingers crossed,” Delaine said.
Theodosia went into a dressing room, slipped out of her T-shirt and slacks, and gently pulled the dress over her head.
She gazed in the mirror and smiled, then raised up on tiptoes to mimic wearing high heels.
The dress looked great on her. A little bit glam, a little bit sexy.
Oh, why can’t I convince Riley to come to the ball?
If he saw me in this dress I know he’d jump at the chance.
“Do you need a zip?” Delaine called.
Theodosia stepped out of the room and turned her back to Delaine. “Please.”
“Okay, Cinderella,” Delaine said. “Turn around and let us get the full effect.”
Theodosia did a modified twirl to show off her dress.
“When I’m right, I’m right,” Delaine crowed. “That dress is pure perfection. In fact, the word dress doesn’t do it justice. That’s a true ball gown.”
“Like you’d wear to a cotillion,” Aunt Libby said.
“Um, yes,” Delaine said. “I suppose.”
Theodosia smiled. She could tell that Delaine was processing the word cotillion but nothing was pinging inside her brain.
“And of course I’ve got any number of wraps and accessories to go with your gown,” Delaine said. “Have a look around while I tend to a couple of things.” She touched a hand to her forehead and shouted, “Janine!”
“A wrap would be nice,” Theodosia said to Aunt Libby. “Maybe chiffon or even cashmere.”
Theodosia hunted through a rack of pashminas and silk scarves, then her eyes landed on a display of jewelry.
There were tiny diamond earrings, long strands of pearls, jeweled pins, and charm bracelets that weren’t appropriate with her gown but were tinkly and adorable anyway.
Yes, Delaine’s shop was filled with the latest and finest in clothing, lingerie, and accessories.
Besides the abundance of ball gowns, there were also racks of slacks, flirty dresses, silk blouses that looked as gossamer as dragonfly wings, and—oh my, was that a long denim skirt with a shark bite hem? How trendy and awfully fun.
As Theodosia shopped, she was aware of more customers entering the store. Some had been pulled to a display of jeweled handbags, one was checking out the shoe department where Aunt Libby had strayed, and a girl in a bright yellow T-shirt dress was staring directly at her.
Theodosia blinked, fought to bring up the young woman’s name, and finally said, “Hello, Amber.”
“I was wondering if you’d remember me,” Amber said. Her gaze was a little bit confrontational but her tone was friendly enough. She indicated Theodosia’s gown. “That looks cool on you.”
“Thank you, and it’s lovely to see you again,” Theodosia said. Then, “Let me guess, you’re here to pick up a ball gown, too?”
That got Amber talking. “Thanks to my prodding, Brody managed to get us tickets at the very last moment,” Amber said.
“I’ve never attended one of these formal Charleston blowouts so I thought it might be fun.
Especially since Brody’s mom had been the chair of the event.
” Amber shrugged as she ran her fingers over a silk shawl.
“Sad, of course, but I suppose the show must go on.”
“That’s one way to look at it,” Theodosia said. She wondered if there was an actual human heart beating within Amber’s small frame.
Delaine spotted Amber and rushed over. “Amber, dear!” she cried. “Per your request, I have two spectacular ball gowns that I saved just for you. Come see. Theo, you have a look-see, too.”
So the three of them wandered to the back of the shop, where two gorgeous champagne-colored gowns had been placed on mannequins. One gown was full-skirted, a veritable princess gown; the other, a sexy, body-hugging sheath.
“You see, these are the two best dresses,” Delaine said. “And in sample sizes.” Her eyes gleamed. “When we talked on the phone you said price was no object, am I right?”
“It’s no problem at all,” Amber said. “Not since Brody and I became an item.”
“Is there a wedding in the cards?” Delaine asked in a breathy voice.
“Could be.” Amber lifted her left hand and fluttered her fingers. “You see this? Brody just bought me the most fabulous diamond promise ring.”
“Ohmigosh!” Delaine cooed. “It’s gorgeous. Isn’t it amazing, Theo?”
“Beautiful ring,” Theodosia said.
“It’s a two-carat Asscher cut diamond, VS1,” Amber said. “Pre-nineteen hundred so it’s a genuine antique!”
“Vintage is always best when it comes to diamonds!” Delaine was practically drooling now. “But you say it’s not an engagement ring, per se?” Delaine always liked to nail relationships down tight. Especially engagements, of which she’d had three. Broken ones, that was.
“It’s a promise ring that will definitely lead to something more permanent,” Amber said.
“Brody made a promise to me, and I intend to make sure he keeps it.” She wiggled her shoulders as if the idea of becoming the new Mrs. Brody Van Courtland was just too delicious for words.
“As for the gowns, I’m taking both of them.
Then I’ll make my final decision the night of the ball. ”
“Smart,” Delaine said, delighted to make such a whopper of a sale. “Choose your dress according to your mood. And you’re absolutely positive there’s no sticking point on price?”
“From now on, the sky’s the limit,” Amber said.
“In that case,” Delaine said, “I have a champagne-colored mink shrug that would pair beautifully with either gown.”
Amber didn’t have to think twice. “Bring it on.”
While Delaine ran off to grab the mink, Theodosia said, “You and Brody got real serious real fast.”
“I think it’s because of his mom’s untimely death,” Amber said. “Brody’s realized just how important it is to have family.”
“You’re probably right,” Theodosia said. She suddenly felt a bit of sadness for the two of them. They were navigating a tragic death and probably feeling more than a little lost. “Why don’t you two drop by the Indigo Tea Shop one of these days? Let me treat you to a cup of tea and a scone.”
“I think I’d like that,” Amber said.
“It sounds as if you might be staying in Charleston for a while, so it’d be fun for you to familiarize yourself with some of the neighborhood haunts.
” Theodosia was sincere in her invitation, but she was also secretly hoping to get Amber by herself for a while so she could ask a few probing questions. Because…well, you never know.
“You are too kind,” Amber gushed. Then added, “Folks in Charleston really do have exquisite manners.”
Theodosia just smiled. The realization had suddenly hit her that Amber could hold a fair amount of sway over Brody.
Amber was clearly pressing him to subsidize her lifestyle, but…
and here was the big question she was suddenly wondering about…
could she have talked Brody into murdering his own mother?
The idea was horrific, of course, but stranger things were known to happen when millions of dollars were on the line.
* * *
Theodosia dropped Aunt Libby back at the Featherbed House, then arrived at the Indigo Tea Shop, where Drayton had been holding down the fort.
“Did you find a dress?” were his first words to her.
“Yes, but if Delaine hears you calling it a dress instead of a ball gown she’ll hammer your head in with a beaded bag.”
“Then I shall watch my words carefully,” Drayton said.
Theodosia stood at the front counter and gazed at him. “I ran into someone last night.”
“Oh?” Drayton was busy adding scoops of Fujian silver tea to a pale yellow teapot.
“I dropped by the Tangled Rose and Veda Fisher was just checking in.”
Drayton looked up as he poured in a gush of hot water. “And she is…?”
“Mrs. V’s sister from Savannah.”
“Oh!”
Now Theodosia had his full attention. “Payton is staying there as well.”
“Did they both plan to stay there or was this just a happy circumstance?”
“No preplanning and definitely not all that happy. The two women circled each other like a couple of wary prize fighters. Luckily no blows were forthcoming.”
“So now they’re both hanging out at the scene of the crime. Sounds as if you had an interesting evening.”
“That’s not the half of it. Afterward, I dropped by Honey Badger House to meet the gang.”
“How did that go?”
“Kind of like a cross between Fight Club and an Our Gang comedy. Most of the kids were fairly decent, but a couple seemed a little skeevy.”
Drayton looked concerned. “You see them as possible suspects in Mrs. V’s murder?”
“I’m still ruminating on that. And I haven’t met all of the residents yet, so there’s that to consider.”
“Do you plan on meeting them?”
“At this point I pretty much have to.” She touched a finger to a floral teacup, then said, “Have we been busy?”
“See for yourself,” Drayton said.
Theodosia turned to check the tea room. “Four tables.” She lifted a shoulder.
“Not exactly a morning rush, but not too bad either.” She hoped they weren’t experiencing a periodic lull.
Any time business dropped off, it was adversely reflected in their bottom line.
But just as a tickle of worry began to insinuate itself in her brain, the front door opened and a group of six women pushed their way in.
“Tea?” one of them asked.
“Scones?” asked another. They all looked eager for a genuine tea shop experience. And thank goodness for that.
“Right this way, ladies,” Theodosia said, grabbing today’s printed menus and feeling upbeat that business had suddenly picked up. Maybe if she made a habit of worrying more, then new customers would magically appear? Maybe.
Theodosia served pots of Gunpowder green tea and Imperial oolong tea as well as raspberry scones and white chocolate tea bread. When all her guests were sipping and talking and munching and crunching, Theodosia slipped into the kitchen, where Haley had started prepping for lunch.
“You’re back,” Haley said. She pulled open her oven door, checked three dozen carrot muffins that were turning golden brown, then snapped the door shut. “Four more minutes to go. Hey, how was dress shopping?”
“I swallowed my pride and let Delaine pick out my ball gown,” Theodosia said. “It was the path of least resistance…”
Haley made a face.
“And Delaine does have exceptional taste.”
“Just as long as you like it. Hey, Ben and I are gonna be at the ball, too.”
“You are?” This was news to Theodosia.
“Drayton had extra tickets. Apparently Timothy Neville got a bunch of complimentary tickets and he gave a few to Drayton.”
“Who passed two tickets on to you. That’s great.”
Haley scrunched up her face. “Think I can get by wearing a long black dress? My wardrobe’s not exactly what you’d call expansive or even remotely couture.” She touched a hand to her white chef’s jacket, then looked down at her bright green Crocs, what she called her cookin’ shoes, and chuckled.
“I think you’ll look adorable in whatever you wear,” Theodosia said, “but, yes, your long dress should be just fine.” She knew Delaine wouldn’t consider it an appropriate ball gown, but by the time Saturday evening rolled around Delaine would be running about, gushing and preening, completely unaware of Haley’s presence.
“Good. So maybe you’d like a peek at today’s luncheon menu?”
“I can’t wait,” Theodosia said. Haley’s offerings were always a delight.
“Here you go.” Haley handed Theodosia a five-by-seven recipe card on which she’d scrawled today’s menu.
Theodosia scanned the offerings as she wandered back into the tea room. She waved the card at Drayton and said, “Have you seen this?”
“No. Haley, the little imp, has been teasing me about the menu all morning. What’s she have on the docket that’s so mysterious?”
“Let’s see.” Theodosia cleared her throat in a faux stalling maneuver.
“Come on.”
“Besides the raspberry scones, we have carrot muffins, roast beef and caramelized onion tea sandwiches, mini crab cakes, citrus salad, and for the pièce de résistance—brown butter sea scallops.”
Drayton looked beyond pleased. “Haley made my favorite sea scallops? In brown butter sauce?”
“Looks like.”
“That darling girl.”