“I asked Bertie Straub about the Hinklemeyer family, but Bertie didn’t know them. I was about to move on, but then Bertie told me some really interesting gossip. She said Mrs. Bascomb thinks the mayor met Brandi on his last trip to Vegas. Bertie heard then arguing about it. I think it’s true, Hannah. They’re sitting about as far apart as two people can get at the same table.”

“You didn’t try to talk to them?”

“No, I thought I should wait and tell you.”

“A wise decision,” Hannah said. “And while you’re a lot more tactful than I am, I think this is a job for Mother.”

“Mother?” Michelle sounded shocked.

“Yes, Mother. She used to babysit for Mayor Bascomb, and she’ll get the truth out of him.”

“You’re going to sic Mother on him,” Michelle said, looking pleased. “I admire you for thinking of it, Hannah. That’s completely diabolical.”

<14>

Hannah approached the table with reluctance. She really wasn’t looking forward to dealing with Winthrop again, but perhaps she could spirit her mother away for a private talk. “Mother?”

“Why, hello!” Delores called out, greeting Hannah and then reaching out to take Winthrop’s hand. “This is quite an experience for Winthrop. He’s never been stuck in a blizzard before.”

“Right, dear girl.” Winthrop patted her hand and then pulled his away. Either he’d read the disapproval in Hannah’s eyes, or he was of the opinion that holding hands in public was tacky.

Hannah resisted the urge to tell him that the only way to experience a blizzard was to get out there alone and walk a couple of blocks, and she turned to her mother instead. “Could I see your for a moment, Mother?”

“Of course. Sit down, dear.”

“No. I mean … I need to see your privately.”

Delores frowned slightly. “Whatever it is, you can talk about it in front of Winthrop. We have no secrets from each other.”

“Maybe you don’t have any secrets from Winthrop, but I do.”

“That’s only as it should be,” Winthrop said, and then he turned to Delores. “Go have a little coze with your daughter, dear girl. I’ll be perfectly fine here.”

“Coze?” Hannah repeated, as her mother got up and followed her to an unpopulated spot near the Christmas tree that Andrea had decorated.

“Comfy coze. I know they used the term in Regency England, and I assume it’s still in use today. It means an intimate chat. Oh, dear!”

Hannah glanced in the direction her mother was gazing and had all she could do to keep from grinning. The moment Delores had left the table with Hannah, three women had converged on Winthrop. Carrie Rhodes was now seated on one side of him, Bertie Straub was on the other, and Florence Evans had taken the chair directly across from the British lord.