Shades of Earl Grey Read online

  “Ease off,” Theodosia commanded Earl Grey.

  Panting heavily, pink tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, Earl Grey gazed at Theodosia, hungry for approval.

  She reached down, patted him on the head. “Good dog. Verrry good dog.”

  “What’d you do?” wailed Aerin Linley. “I can’t move my head! Help me, oh please, you’ve got to help me!”

  The whoop whoop of the police siren was much closer now. It sounded a block away. Now it was directly in front of Drayton’s house.

  “Help!” Theodosia yelled. She ran to the side fence, boosted herself up as best she could, and waved frantically, trying to capture their attention. “We’re in back!” she hollered. “Come quickly!”

  CHAPTER 25

  “ANY INJURIES?” DETECTIVE Burt Tidwell cocked an eye at the paramedic in his navy jumpsuit.

  The paramedic, whose name tag read BENTLEY, shook his head, but the corners of his mouth kept twitching upward. It was obvious he was trying to remain professional. In other words, not burst out laughing completely.

  “Slight puncture wounds,” responded Bentley. “Nothing that requires any serious medical treatment, even though your perp is complaining bitterly about what she refers to as dog bites.”

  “The woman does seem quite unhinged,” offered Drayton. He had arrived home just minutes after the police cruiser arrived.

  The police, at Theodosia’s urging, had contacted Detective Tidwell. And Drayton, of course, had immediately phoned Haley, who’d been trying to call Theodosia at home and was frantic to know what was going on. Not one to miss out on excitement, she immediately came dashing over.

  Now they were all gathered in a conversational knot on the front walk of Drayton’s house, a few steps from where Burt Tidwell’s burgundy-colored Crown Victoria was parked at the curb.

  “You say she’s unhinged,” said Tidwell to Drayton. “What a quaint assessment. So very Dr. Watson.”

  “Hey,” piped up Haley as she stroked Earl Grey’s head. “Drayton is Dr. Watson. To Theodosia’s Sherlock, that is. Haven’t you figured that out by now?”

  Tidwell smiled tolerantly.

  “Your suspect’s hair condition is what’s really causing the problem,” continued the paramedic, Bentley. His eyes sought out Theodosia’s. “I don’t know what you squirted on her, lady, but it sure as heck is permanent. My partner and the other two officers are still trying to cut her off the pavement.”

  Drayton’s eyes widened. “Cut her?”

  “Well, her hair, anyway,” explained Bentley as he packed a roll of gauze and bottle of antiseptic back into his bag. “Looks like she’s gonna get a whole new look. Kind of patchy and choppy. That glue or whatever it was is pretty mean stuff.”

  This time Drayton threw back his head and howled. “Don’t tell me you superglued Aerin Linley’s hair to my patio!” he exclaimed.

  “How else could I subdue her?” said Theodosia. “She was thrashing around like a crazy woman. I certainly didn’t want to see Earl Grey get hurt.”

  “God forbid,” said Tidwell as he rolled his eyes skyward. “And pray tell, while we’re on the subject, why exactly did you stage this elaborate little charade without benefit of any backup?”

  Theodosia threw him a look that was pure innocence. “But I did have backup, Detective Tidwell. I had you. I always have you.”

  “What she means is it’s comforting to know we can always count on our law enforcement professionals,” said Drayton, jumping into the fray and trying to derail Tidwell’s anger. “Thank you so very much, Detective Tidwell.”

  Tidwell shook his head in bewilderment and gazed down at Earl Grey, who was sitting on his haunches and yawning contently, looking as though he’d just been through a typical, uneventful doggy evening. “I’m afraid the mayor doesn’t award certificates of appreciation to canines,” said Tidwell. “At least he hasn’t up until now. We’ll have to find some other way to honor the crime-fighting Earl Grey.”

  “How about a free cup of Earl Grey tea to all our customers this week,” piped up Haley. “And we can put up his photo. With a big thank-you banner.”

  “The dog that helped catch a cat burglar,” said Tidwell, and even he couldn’t resist a snicker.

  “I’ve got a better idea,” said Theodosia. “Let’s all go in and have a cup of Earl Grey right now, instead of standing around shivering in the dark.”

  “When you put it that way,” said Tidwell, “it sounds very inviting. The night is rather chilly.”

  “Tea does sound nice,” said the paramedic, Bentley.

  “You have Earl Grey in the house, don’t you?” Theodosia asked Drayton. “The tea, I mean, not the dog.”

  “Of course,” said Drayton as he started for the door. “And some nice molasses spice cookies, too.” He glanced over at Bentley. “Does your partner drink tea?”

  “I guess so,” said Bentley. “And we were due to go on break,” he said, suddenly showing genuine enthusiasm.

  “By all means invite him in then,” said Drayton. “The other officers, too.”

  “Hey, aren’t they still working on Aerin?” asked Haley.

  “She’s not going anywhere for a while,” said Theodosia with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

  “That’s right,” chuckled Tidwell. “Let her wait. Let her wait.”

  RECIPES FROM THE INDIGO TEA SHOP

  Chicken Perloo

  1 tsp. olive oil

  4-5 pieces of chicken, skin removed

  2 slices bacon (cut in ¼” pieces) or 2 oz. diced salt pork

  1 large onion, sliced

  ½ green bell pepper, chopped

  1 cup long-grain white rice

  1 can chicken broth (1 ¾ cups)

  ¼ tsp. salt

  ¼ tsp. pepper

  2 Tbsp. minced parsley

  Heat oil over medium-high heat using nonstick 12-inch fry pan. Add chicken and cook about 8 minutes or until golden, turning over once. Transfer chicken to plate. Reduce heat to medium and add bacon or salt pork, cooking for 4 minutes until browned. Remove bacon or salt pork with slotted spoon to small bowl. Discard all but 2 tsp. bacon fat from skillet.

  Add onion and green pepper to same skillet and cook, covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add rice and stir until evenly coated. Stir in bacon, broth, salt, pepper and ½ cup water. Return chicken to skillet; heat to boiling over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, covered, 10 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Yields 4 servings.

  Tea-Marinated Prawns

  2 Tbsp. Lapsang Souchong tea

  2 cups water

  1 Tbsp. lemon juice

  1 lb. shrimp or prawns

  Steep tea in boiling water to desired strength, then strain. Add lemon juice to the tea. Cool tea to room temperature. Marinate shrimp or prawns in tea for at least 30 minutes, then grill or stir-fry as usual.

  Tea Smoothie

  2 bags of Apple Cinnamon Tea

  2 cups vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt

  ¼ tsp. cinnamon (optional)

  Cut open tea bags and mix tea with ice cream and cinnamon in a blender until fully blended. Pour into a tall glass, garnish with whipped cream. Makes 1 serving.

  Hot and Sour Green Tea Soup

  3 Tbsp. lite soy sauce

  1 ½ Tbsp. rice wine

  1 Tbsp. minced fresh ginger

  ½ tsp. sesame oil

  ¾ lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

  ½ lb. soba noodles

  3 cups brewed green tea

  ¼ lb. snow peas, cut into thin strips

  1 medium leek, thinly sliced

  2 Tbsp. umeboshi vinegar

  2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

  Combine soy sauce, rice wine, ginger, and sesame oil in a medium bowl. Add chicken strips, tossing to coat, and let marinate for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cook noodles in boiling, salted water in a large saucepan for 10 minutes. Drain, transfer to bowl containing chicken mixture and cover.
Using the same saucepan, bring the tea to a simmer. Add the chicken mixture, snow peas, and leek and cook over low heat until the chicken is just cooked through, about 3 minutes. Stir in vinegar and cilantro and ladle into bowls. Yields 4 servings.

  Pear and Stilton Tea Sandwiches

  4 very thin slices honey-oat bread

  1 Tbsp. butter

  1 ripe pear, halved and thinly sliced

  Lemon juice

  2 Tbsp. crumbled Stilton cheese (about ½ oz.)

  Spread each bread slice with softened butter. Sprinkle pear slices with lemon juice. Place ½ of the pear slices in a single layer on one slice of bread. Top with half of the crumbled cheese and the second bread slice. Make a second sandwich the same way. Slice off crusts. Cut each into 4 finger-sized sandwiches. Yields 8 tea sandwiches.

  Easy Cream Scones

  ¼ cup butter

  1 cup flour

  3 tsp. baking powder

  ½ tsp. salt

  2 Tbsp. sugar

  2 beaten eggs

  ½ cup cream

  Sift flour, then add baking powder and salt and cut butter into dry mixture. Combine eggs and cream and add to dry mixture. Pat to ¾-inch thick. Cut in squares or triangles, sprinkle with sugar and bake at 375 degrees until lightly brown, about 20 minutes. Serve hot with jam or preserves.

  Haley’s Lemon Curd

  3 large lemons

  5 eggs

  1 cup granulated sugar

  8 Tbsp. unsalted butter

  Grate the lemon rind and set aside. Squeeze the juice and put into a blender or food processor. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth. Pour the mixture into the top half of a double boiler. Stir in the lemon rind and cook over simmering water for about 10 minutes, until thickened. Stir the mixture with a wire whisk if it appears lumpy. Chill the lemon curd before serving (it thickens as it cools). Spread on scones, crumpets, muffins, or toast.

  Green Beans with Garlic and Tea

  1 lb. fresh green beans, trimmed

  2 cloves garlic, minced

  1 tsp. canola oil

  2 Tbsp. Keemun tea leaves brewed in 2 cups of spring water

  Toasted almond slices

  Steam green beans in water. While beans are steaming, sauté minced garlic in canola oil until opaque. Add brewed tea and simmer with garlic for 2 minutes. Remove beans from steamer and put in large bowl. Pour tea marinade over drained beans. Garnish with toasted almond slices, and serve as a side dish.

  Stress-Relief Chamomile Tea

  1 cup water

  1 tsp. dried chamomile flowers

  Lemon juice

  Honey

  Bring water to boil in saucepan. Sprinkle flowers onto water and boil for about 30 seconds with the lid on. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 minute. Serve with honey and lemon juice.

  Tub Tea (For relaxing in the bathtub!)

  From your local co-op or herb store, get about 1 cup of each:

  Rosemary

  Lavender

  Chamomile

  Peppermint

  Rose petals

  Calendula petals

  Mix together in a large bowl. Sew small squares of muslin or cotton on three sides. Scoop in herb mixture; sew the fourth side closed. Toss a fresh one into your bath each time you want a relaxing soak.

  Teatime Entertaining Ideas

  You don’t have to travel to Charleston and the

  Indigo Tea Shop in order to enjoy a specialty tea.

  Simply invite a few friends in and be creative.

  Choose a “theme” for your tea.

  Try a Garden Tea in the out-of-doors when flowers are blooming and breezes wafting. Serve tiny triangles of chicken salad, cucumber sandwiches, deviled eggs, and date nut bread. For dessert don’t forget tarts topped with the season’s fresh berries. A Darjeeling is ideal, although on hot days, nothing refreshes like iced tea. Invite all your guests to wear floppy straw hats.

  A Valentine Tea is a grand excuse to nibble an assortment of chocolate cookies, bars, truffles, and bonbons. To complement the chocolate, serve teas that offer blends of orange, vanilla, and spices. Put a white lace tablecloth over red fabric for extra punch and dress up the table with roses!

  Quiche, blinis with sour cream, Eggs Benedict, or fruit compotes make a Brunch Tea extra special. If you have a chafing dish, this is the time to use it. Assam tea, with its rich, refined flavor is a delightful complement.

  A Midnight Christmas Tea is perfect at this most special time of the year. Serve brioche, roasted chestnuts, and crepes in front of the fireplace. Cardamom and cinnamon teas warm the heart.

  A Mystery Tea can mean a rousing game of Clue, reading tea leaves, or enjoying a mystery book discussion. Break out the candles, douse the lights, and serve steaming cups of Lapsang Souchong, the traditional tea of mystery.

  If you have a group of friends who enjoy doing crafts together, why not have a Quilters Tea or Scrapbookers Tea? Don’t bother to match teacups with plates; just jumble all your patterns together for a creative look. Jasmine tea or an Indian chai would be lovely.

  DON’T MISS THE OTHER TEA SHOP MYSTERIES

  The English Breakfast Murder

  Dawn is about to break at South Carolina’s Halliehurst Beach and the members of Charleston’s Sea Turtle Protection League are taking part in the annual “turtle crawl.” As they help hundreds of tiny green loggerheads tumble safely into the surf, the dedicated volunteers congratulate themselves with a well-earned shore breakfast. But as the tea steeps and the gumbo simmers, a strange mass is spotted floating off-shore. Donning mask and swim fins, Theodosia paddles out to investigate, only to discover a dead body bobbing in the waves. The hapless victim turns out to be Harper Fisk, a prominent Charleston art dealer and passionate collector of Civil War antiquities. Rumors of sunken treasure and gold bullion have abounded, yet nothing has ever been found near Halliehurst Beach. But now Theodosia begins to wonder—did Harper Fisk finally stumble upon something? And was he killed because of it?

  Praise for the other books in the Tea Shop Mystery Series

  Gunpowder Green

  Named an Editor’s Choice Exclusive by

  the Mystery Guild Book Club

  Highly Recommended by the Ladies’ Tea Guild

  “Brilliantly weaving suspense and tea knowledge, this is a true gem.”

  —In the Library Reviews

  “A charming mystery . . . as brisk and refreshing as any brew!”

  —Romantic Times Magazine

  “There is real gunpowder in the air . . . not just in the name of the tea.”

  —Deadly Pleasures

  “Joins the growing trend of cozies that give food depictions and recipes a close second billing to the mysteries.”

  —I Love a Mystery

  “Keeps the reader guessing until the last pages!”

  —The TeaTime Gazette

  Death by Darjeeling

  Named a 2001 New Discovery Award Winner by the

  Mystery Guild Book Club

  #1 on the Paperback Bestseller List of the Independent

  Mystery Bookstores

  “Any fan of Agatha Christie would enjoy this as well.”

  —Tea Time World Wide

  “We are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at running a tea shop, as well as solid tea information.”

  —The Tea Shop

  Find out more about the author,

  her Tea Shop Mystery Series,

  and her Scrapbook Mystery Series

  at www.laurachilds.com

  COMING IN MAY 2003 FROM LAURA CHILDS AND BERKLEY PRIME CRIME

  KEEPSAKE CRIMES

  The first book in the Scrapbook Mystery Series

  As the bawdy Pluvius parade rolls through the streets of New Orleans, something goes very wrong atop the giant sea serpent float. Carmela Bertrand, owner of Memory Mine, a scrapbooking shop in the French Quarter, is shocked when a body is suddenly handed down—a dead body! If that isn’t bizarre enough, her soon-to-be-ex-husband, Shamus
Meechum, quickly comes under fire as the number one suspect! As Carmela kicks off a new round of scrapbooking classes and designs a commemorative scrapbook for St. Cyril’s aboveground cemetery, Shamus pleads for her help. And Carmela uncovers an important clue in a very unlikely place—a customer’s scrapbook!