The Missing Party-Girl: A Rags-to-Riches Cozy Mystery Romance by Nhys Glover (read after .txt) 📗

Harry shook his head, a wry expression on his face. “Don’t believe a word of it. That was the argument she used on me to justify the cost of all that dog food. But it was really her kind heart at work. My wife is one of the kindest people I’ve ever known. That’s why I fell for her as a lad, and it’s why I still love her to this day.”

Adie beamed, loving the obvious affection the couple shared.

“Then you’ll get on well with Adie. She’s also a very kind person. It’s why I agreed to help her out. Kind people balance out the wrong in the world,” Cage said, speaking up for the first time since his rant.

His declaration surprised her. Yes, she knew what he thought of her, but he’d never put it in exactly this way before. She wasn’t sure how honest he was being, though. As far as she was concerned, he was doing the job because it paid well, not because he was helping out a friend. But then, the truth wouldn’t be something to share with the locals, would it? They were obviously playacting again, in much the way they’d played a couple in Soho. The thought depressed her.

“That’s a good way to put it, young man. Kindness balancing out the wrong in the world. I totally agree!” Harry offered Cage a cautious smile.

At last Cage’s treatment of Jayne was being put aside, just as she’d been hoping for. Cage was a very intimidating man, Adie would be the first to acknowledge, but he was also a good man. And that was something the villagers had to discover for themselves. If he let them.

“We’ll be seeing you at Gillian Watson’s place for dinner,” Mary said to Adie, smiling shyly.

Frowning in confusion, Adie looked at Cage to see if he knew what the woman was talking about.

“The vicar’s wife. She said they’d invited you for dinner when you have the time. Gillian thought you might like to meet a few more of your neighbors, so she invited us and another couple you should like. Sadie and her husband Martin. Sadie is the postmistress. Martin is a retired engine driver.”

“Oh, of course. I met Michael Watson the other day. Then we went off to London on a task for Minerva and I forgot about it. My bad,” Adie rushed to say.

“Nothing to worry yourself about. Gillian understands, as do we all. Minerva was a bit of an eccentric, and she’s not making inheriting her property easy. We know all about the competition and that odious man who tried to poison Jig. Harry and I made a point of keeping an eye on your place while you were away. Men like that nephew of hers should go to jail for their crimes!”

“I couldn’t agree more!” Adie said, a little louder than she’d been aiming for.

But a sudden loll in the conversations around them had left her the only one speaking. Her words rang out across the room. The belligerent Jayne looked her way with a sneer. The rest of the room seemed much more friendly.

“Anything we can do to help, just say the word,” Harry offered staunchly.

“Thank you. I may do just that,” Adie said with a grateful smile.

Chapter 12

“And that is me knowing nothing about winning friends and influencing people,” Cage grumbled in exaggerated grumpiness she knew was an act.

Adie laughed, relieved to be out of the noise and heat of the pub and wandering back along the quiet road towards home. “You shouldn’t have ticked off that woman. If she’s the daughter of the tea shop lady, I think she might be vindictive. And the other villagers only saw you having a go at one of their own.”

“Yeah, but luckily you saved the day for me. My hero!” Cage teased, his mood mellow and playful now, thanks to the two beers he’d drunk.

“Batgirl to the rescue. But thanks for what you did. I didn’t think you noticed how she was snubbing me. I’m used to girls like her acting as if I don’t exist. Guys don’t usually notice.”

“Those guys can’t see past their cocks. Or they think it’s normal for pretty girls to take what they want. I don’t agree, as you know well enough.”

“I do. And, it was nice. But it was probably unwise. But thank you, all the same,” she leaned in to press a hug into his arm as they walked.

“Thank you for rescuing the situation. You’re a lot better with people than you give yourself credit for.” He linked their arms as if they were an old married couple.

“It was easier than I expected, I must admit. I think it helps that Minerva was so popular around here, and Dave has cleared the way for us. Jayne’s was the only unpleasant look we got tonight. It is nothing like back home. Nothing at all!”

“And you’re nothing like the woman you were back in Hicksville US of A. I don’t think you see the changes in yourself. It’s more than losing weight. It’s the way you carry yourself and the confident way you meet people’s gazes now. I bet old Chad wouldn’t have been so fast to throw you over if he’d met this version of Adie Reynolds.”

She felt the warmth spread up her neck and into her cheeks. It felt good to hear the compliment and to know it was the truth. She had changed a lot in the few months she’d known Cage.

“Chad wouldn’t have looked twice at this me. He wanted someone he could browbeat and demean. I’m not that girl. And I’d never let someone like him anywhere near me again, anyway. Fool me once and all that. In retrospect, I was lucky he got bored