The Blood of an Englishman (25 page)

“I am,” said Agatha. “Very.”

“Maybe you should trust the police on this one, Agatha. I am perfectly sure they grilled her.”

“There's something about her that makes men go weak at the knees,” said Agatha.

“You need a break after all you've been through,” said James. “Go on holiday.”

“Maybe. I'll call on Bill Wong and see if there's any news.”

*   *   *

It turned out to be Bill's day off. Once she got past the barrier of his formidable mother, Bill led her into the garden and listened to her suspicions about Gwen.

“We've got absolutely nothing on her,” said Bill. “And believe me, we tried. Forensics went over that cold room where John was dissected. They found his fingerprints but none from Gwen so when she said she'd never ever go in there and left it all to her son, we had to believe her. Gareth Craven vouched for her and said she'd given up baking entirely after the murder of her husband.”

“He's sweet on her,” said Agatha. “I bet he'll be the next husband and God help him.”

“Agatha, it's time to let go. You've had a dreadful experience. Forget it. Take a break. It's lovely weather.”

Agatha sighed. “I'm maybe imagining things. I'll do that.”

*   *   *

That evening, Jill had a visitor, but not a client. Clive Tremund, a private detective from Oxford, accepted a cash payment and said, “Why were you so curious about the Raisin woman?”

“She's a detective. She lives here. I wanted to know all about her. She could make trouble for me and I'd like to keep her at arm's length.”

“You mean you don't want her ferreting around in
your
background?”

“I've got nothing to hide. Now, get out of here.”

Clive paused in the doorway. “I'd be careful if I were you. Murder follows that woman Raisin around.”

“Pooh, it'll be a blue moon before anyone murders me.”

After he had gone, Jill settled down in front of the television and switched on the news. Forest fires had been raging across Canada and a cloud of dust was heading across the Atlantic.

“So in our skies next week,” said the announcer, “we may have the rare sight of a blue moon.”

Also by M. C. Beaton

AGATHA RAISIN

Something Borrowed, Someone Dead: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Hiss and Hers: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

As the Pig Turns: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Busy Body: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

There Goes the Bride: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

A Spoonful of Poison: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Kissing Christmas Goodbye: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Love, Lies and Liquor: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Perfect Paragon: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Deadly Dance: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House

Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate

Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came

Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell

Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfram

Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden

Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham

Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death

Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist

Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage

The Walkers of Dembley: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Potted Gardener: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Vicious Vet: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Quiche of Death: An Agatha Raisin Mystery

The Skeleton in the Closet

EDWARDIAN MYSTERY SERIES

Our Lady of Pain

Sick of Shadows

Hasty Death

Snobbery with Violence

 

About The Author

M. C. Beaton, who was the British guest of honor at Bouchercon 2006, has been hailed as the “Queen of Crime” by
The Globe and Mail
. In addition to her
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling Agatha Raisin novels, Beaton is the author of the Hamish Macbeth series and four Edwardian mysteries.

Born in Scotland, she currently divides her time between the English Cotswolds and Paris. Visit her on Facebook or at
www.mcbeaton.com
.

 

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

 

THE BLOOD OF AN ENGLISHMAN.
Copyright © 2014 by M. C. Beaton. All rights reserved. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

 

www.minotaurbooks.com

 

eBooks may be purchased for business or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department by writing to [email protected].

 

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

 

Beaton, M. C.

    The blood of an Englishman: an Agatha Raisin mystery / M. C. Beaton.—First edition.

        pages  cm

    ISBN 978-0-312-61626-7 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-1-4668-5773-5 (e-book)

  1.  Raisin, Agatha (Fictitious character)—Fiction.   2.  Women private investigators—England—Cotswold Hills—Fiction.   3.  Amateur theater—England—Cotswold Hills—Fiction.   4.  City and town life—England—Fiction.   5.  Cotswold Hills (England)—Fiction.   I.  Title.

    PR6053.H4535B58 2014

   823'.914—dc23

2014016728

 

e-ISBN 9781466857735

 

First Edition: September 2014