Page 87 of The Tartan Trap

They stared at each other for several moments while the others discussed the possibility of Margaret having killed Lord Lawrence.

Lord Lawrence finally broke their silent tête-à-tête when he said, “This is excellent soup. Very well worth the wait. You can tell it’s a quality soup because I dare say it’s just as delicious cold as it must have been hot.”

“I hope you don’t mind that we asked you to lie on the floor for half of the party,” Margaret said, suddenly chagrined.

“Not at all,” Lord Lawrence said. “My position there helped build the suspense twofold. One, in service of the fictional murder. And two, it helped me look forward to all the wonderful things now at my plate.”

It was true—they had eaten four dishes without Lord Lawrence. He went back and forth between them now, from soup to fish to roast beef to rack of lamb, humming his appreciation with every bite.

“Besides,” he said, “I was so happy to be included. Mother will be delighted that I spent an evening with such wonderful people. Doubtless, she’ll be waiting up to hear all about it.”

Margaret smiled at him. He was a kind person, if a bit awkward, and she determined then and there to enfold Lord Lawrence permanently in their grouping. Margaret would much rather have a straightforward, kind friend than a more intelligent one who used social maneuverings like the sharp edge of a knife.

After all, Lord Lawrence had never hurt anyone. That could not be said of some of the gentlemen who were esteemed far above him.

“Well, we are quite glad that you’re here,” Margaret said. On impulse, she added, “And you will have to come back next Wednesday evening, as I am throwing another dinner party.”

“Indeed?” Lord Lawrence’s eyebrows rose as he smiled. “How wonderful.”

Margaret flushed a little when she realized that she had gained the attention of the entire table. “Of course, you’re all invited to return,” she said. “We have to finish figuring out who murdered Lord Lawrence.”

“I thought we had decided it was you,” Ettrick said.

“Do you not wish to come back to dinner on Wednesday?” Margaret asked primly, her eyebrow raised.

He gave a slow smile that she felt in her stomach. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I think you’ll find that I’m not put off by the difficulty of a task. When I set my mind to something, I’m determined to work at it, no matter how long it takes.”

Some time later, the aforementioned plum pudding was finally served, and Margaret had to admit that it might have been well worth the dinner party all on its own. Lord Lawrence seemed to concur, giving a contented little hum as he sopped up some of the brandy sauce.

Only Lily seemed to disagree. When she cut into the center of hers and a red-purple center oozed out, she moaned and pushed her plate back.

“I forgot that our cook adds poached plums to the middle,” Margaret said, trying to hide her smile.

“It looks too much like the beets,” Lily admitted.

“If you don’t want yours, pass it down, please,” Rachel said.

“I’d advise against it,” Lord Shaw said. “Plums are much like gunpowder. A little is excellent, but more isn’t always better.”

Lord Lawrence grinned. “What is it they say on the battlefield?”

Ellis thumped the table. “Give fire!”

“In case you gentlemen have forgotten, there are ladies present,” Callum said, his eyes twinkling.

“We’re eating with a reanimated corpse at the table,” Lord Shaw said in a dry tone. “I think we can speak of battle cries.”

“Oh, I wasn’t just talking of warfare,” Lord Lawrence said. “I was speaking of the sometimes incendiary nature of too many plums.”

“I daresay we understood the joke. It was the nature of the joke that was the issue,” Callum said, smiling.

“What on earth could be more appropriate than speaking of fruit during dessert?” Margaret teased.

“In case I didn’t sound so, I was serious when I suggested passing your plate, Lily,” Rachel said. “I dearly love plum pudding.”

Lily obligingly passed it to Lord Shaw, who held on to the plate even as Beatrice took hold of the other side.

“Are you sure?” he asked Rachel.