“Well, maybe if you and Augusta could find the real killer, I wouldn’t feel the need to take those chances,” I said haughtily then swung around and started to walk away.

“Hey, Chance,” he called after me, and I half-turned looking over my shoulder at him.

“What?”

“You look nice.”

I spun back away from him, my heart fluttering at the compliment. Okay, maybe he was being sarcastic, but he’d actually seemed sincere.

It wasn’t like me to get all flustered when someone complimented me, and that made me mad. Should I say something? I couldn’t think of a snappy comeback, so I focused on keeping my eyes straight ahead while I walked away.

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Outside the library, the weather had turned downright gloomy. Dark clouds hung overhead and the air had turned chilly. The street was dry, but it smelled like rain.

I had a few minutes to kill before Lavinia’s service, so I decided to pop in and visit Pepper at The Tea Room.

The smell of herbal tea and cookies hit me as soon as I opened the door to Pepper’s shop. The color scheme of light greens, pink and turquoise brightened the room, making me forget about the dismal weather outside. The scroll designs of the white cafe tables and chairs added whimsy to the old-fashioned setting. Petite chandeliers glittered from the ceiling, dazzling the room with soft light. The tables boasted crisp white tablecloths and napkins made from vintage fabric.

Pepper stood behind the counter at the far end of the shop. Behind her, a wide, tall shelf was stacked with various jars and bags, adorned with ribbons and filled with herbal tea.

Pepper greeted me with a smile and I started toward her, doing a double take when the person she’d been waiting on turned around.

Ophelia Withington.

I hesitated. Did I really want to talk to Ophelia? Pepper and Ophelia both stared at me expectantly and I realized I didn’t have much choice. I slowed my pace, not so eager to get to the counter anymore.

“Hi, Willa,” Pepper greeted me cheerfully.

Ophelia smiled at me. “Willa, so nice to see you again.”

I raised a brow at her. It was?

The two other ladies turned their attention back to the purchase Ophelia was making. My gut twinged as I noticed they were laughing it up like old friends. Pepper put the purchase, which looked like a bunch of dried up leaves, twigs and sticks, into a crisp white paper bag stamped with the gold logo of The Tea Room and handed it across the counter to Ophelia, who grabbed the two sturdy twine handles and turned to leave.

“You girls take care, now.” Ophelia waved at us graciously as she sashayed out of the shop.

“What’s up with her?” I frowned at Pepper.

“She wanted to buy some of the tea we brought to her the other day.”