Faustus, the B&B’s resident Maine coon cat, was a lovely large beast. He was covered in black fur except for a faint frosting of gray across his face, which gave him quite the dignified look. We did lose some business from visitors with allergies, but that was the price of beauty I suppose.

“I’m sure his highness will survive,” Nora said before shooting up to a seated position. “You have got to be kidding me!”

A half second later a bell tinkled upstairs.

“That woman is insufferable!”

A loud crack sounded from the fireplace as flames surged up the chimney.

“Calm down. Calm down,” Izzy said, getting to her feet. “I forgot I said I’d bring her up some chamomile tea. I’ll go get it. You get the door. It’s almost nine o’clock. I wonder who it could be?”

Before the words had left Izzy’s mouth, the doorbell rang.

Nora swept to her feet as Izzy headed for the kitchen.

“I’ve finally got it,” Nora said, pointing a finger in the air while reaching with the other hand for the door. “I could shove that bell down Constance’s throat. Wouldn’t that be poetic? Oh, it’s you.”

“That’s a fine way to open the door. Who are you trying to kill now?”

I stifled a laugh as a cold little wind rushed through the door along with Williams, our neighbor from across the street.

Now, I really liked Williams. I found her to be super stylish, not unlike Nora, supremely intelligent, and incredibly interesting. She had moved in ten years ago when she started teaching music history at the university—although Nora still referred to her as the new neighbor—and since that time she had become a valued member of Evenfall’s town council. I knew Izzy felt the same way about our neighbor as I did, but the rapport between Nora and Williams was a touch more contentious. Like most neighbor relationships we did have the occasional issue to work out, and Nora, unfortunately, was willing to fight to the death over each and every one them. Once a branch from one of the B&B’s many trees was blocking light to Williams’s azaleas, and she requested we prune it back. Nora was horrified. They had argued about it in the street for nearly three straight hours before Izzy was able to negotiate a peace treaty. In all honesty, though, I think both women liked sparring.

That being said, Williams’s latest complaint was proving a touch more difficult to resolve.

“I’m sorry,” Nora said, moving to shut the door, “but we’re very busy discussing how to murder one of our guests right now, so if you’ve come to complain about Dog, we’ll have to discuss your murder at a later date.”

“Nora!” Izzy said, sweeping in from the dining room with a silver tea platter. “I can’t leave you alone for a second. Is that any way to greet a guest? Come in, Williams, please. The nights are getting chilly, aren’t they?”

Williams raised a finely sculpted eyebrow at Nora before stepping past her.