“Oh, that’s all right. We had to cancel anyway. Richard’s meeting with the town council lasted until eight-thirty, and our reservations were for eight. We settled for going out for drinks and appetizers with Del Woodley. He’s on the council, you know.”

“I haven’t seen Del in a while. He’s well?”

“He seems to be, especially now that Benton has moved to Lake Eden permanently and taken over production at DelRay Manufacturing. Del was working too hard, and after Judith was gone, he had no social life at all.”

“But now he does?”

“Oh, yes! Danielle has been very good for him.”

This time Hannah did turn to look at Michelle, who appeared every bit as shocked as Hannah was.

“Danielle Watson?” Claire asked.

“Yes. Del called her right after the council meeting and invited her to join us for drinks last night.”

“Danielle Watson is dating Del Woodley?”

“Heavens no! Benton is dating Danielle. And just between you and me, I think it could be serious. But Benton was still at the plant last night, and Danielle didn’t want Del to feel that he was a third wheel. She’s a very nice person, you know. She makes sure that Del is included in a lot of their social events. She even acts as a hostess for Del on the rare occasions when Del entertains.”

Hannah jotted a note in her book to call Danielle Watson at her dance studio. If drinks with the mayor had lasted any longer than ten-thirty or eleven, Mayor Bascomb was in the clear.

“I’m sorry that you didn’t get to go out to dinner, but that still sounds like a nice evening,” Claire commented.

“Oh, it was. Richard came to the house to pick me up, and Del was already in the car. I joined them, and then we stopped to pick up Danielle at her dance studio. Richard was going to invite his sister, Tory, to join us but she was tied up with the people from the Christmas play.”

“Has Del been dating Tory?” Claire asked, and Hannah felt like applauding. It was precisely the question she would have asked.

“Yes, a few times. They’re both very well off, you know. I think both of them are comfortable with each other. Del knows that Tory isn’t a gold-digger, and she knows that Del isn’t after her money. It’s difficult for people with money to find suitable companions, don’t you think?”

“Well . . .”

“Of course you wouldn’t really know about that,” Stephanie cut off any answer that Claire might have given, thereby proving that she didn’t give a fig about Claire’s opinion on social matters.

“Was it a late evening?” Claire asked Stephanie.

“I didn’t notice the time. Why do you ask? Do I look tired?”

“Not at all. You look fresh as a daisy and absolutely fabulous in that lovely outfit.”