I glanced at Andre. I just knew this was about to become a deep discussion on all things hats, like the body of the hat (hood, capeline or flare) or the type of material used (sisal versus sinamay)—in other words, the conversation was about to get really, really boring. And it did.

Thankfully, Emily showed up several minutes later with the tea tray and, bless her, it was fully loaded with all sorts of scrumptious goodies. I didn’t want to make a pig of myself but our ride in the fresh air had me feeling ravenous.

“Come, let me show you my latest,” Dominick said to Viv. He seemed giddy to have someone there to talk shop with. He glanced at me and Andre. “Help yourselves. We’ll be right back.”

They wandered over to the worktable and I grinned at Andre. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

He poured the tea while I loaded two plates with warm scones, clotted cream, and fresh apple slices. Heaven.

We ate in companionable silence and I suspected the fresh air had given Andre as big an appetite as mine.

“Do you think she’ll be less cranky now?” he asked.

“Yes, right up until we return to the castle,” I said. “I can’t blame her. A person she knows is dead, potentially murdered, there’s no wedding, so our purpose for being here is nonexistent, and the two families tied to the wedding are pretty awful. Plus, being questioned by the police is never fun, as we all know.”

“What about the McKenna bride and her curse?” Andre asked.

“You don’t really believe in that, do you?” I asked.

“There was a cold spot in the middle of my room last night and there was no reason for it, as both the windows and the door were shut,” he said. “I think she’s real.”

“If she is, she’s over one thousand years old. Don’t you think she’d have gotten over whatever it is that’s bothering her by now? Andre, you don’t have to fret. I think it’s just an old folktale,” I said. I had no idea if it was or wasn’t but I didn’t want Andre brooding about it for the next few days. “I mean, if it was a true curse, there would have been a lot more incidents at the castle by now.”

Viv and Dominick returned to the table, and I was relieved to see that Andre and I had left plenty of food for them. Viv poured a cup of tea and handed it to Dominick, who settled into his seat.

“Are you talking about ghosts?” he asked.

Viv gave us a stern look. “You weren’t, were you?”

“Just kicking it around,” I said. “I’m trying to convince Andre that the curse of the McKenna bride is just an old ghost story and nothing to worry about.”