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“All we can do is try,” the man said.
Theodosia turned back to Cole and said in a low voice, “Have the police been talking to Ted Juniper?”
“I know they’ve questioned him a couple of times.” Cole narrowed his eyes, suddenly looking interested. “What’s popping in that brain of yours? You think Juniper’s the guy?”
“I don’t know,” Theodosia said. Still, she was curious about Juniper. And since he was staying at the Saracen Inn, maybe he’d been the one prowling the halls and stairways last night. Maybe there was more to Ted Juniper than met the eye. Maybe.
“No, no, no.” Joe Adler came flying into the parlor, followed by a small, harried-looking woman who was dragging a long dress behind her. “I distinctly ordered the gown to be faded, to have an almost antique look.”
“We’ve done that,” the woman said, unfurling a long lace gown with a high collar and billowing sleeves.
Adler grabbed a handful of fabric and shook it in her face. “It looks drab, I’ll give you that. But not antiqued. This dress has to look authentic!”
“I don’t know what you want me to do,” the woman said, nearly in tears. “We’ve tried everything.”
“Keep trying!” Adler shouted.
“Tea dyeing,” Theodosia said.
Adler spun on his heels. “What’d you say?”
“When you dip-dye fabric or lace in a large pot of tea you can usually achieve a warm, antiqued look,” Theodosia said. “Because of all the tannins.”
Adler squinted at his wardrobe lady. “How come you don’t know about this?”
The wardrobe lady looked fearful. “Because I don’t?”
Adler turned back to Theodosia. “You’re the tea lady, aren’t you? Did you bring my coffee cake?”
Theodosia couldn’t help chuckling. “A double order.”
“Cinnamon?”
“Yes.” My, we are the hotshot demanding director, aren’t we?
“And could you fix this dress? Can you do this fancy tea-dyeing technique you mentioned?”
“I could give it a shot,” Theodosia said.
“Good,” Adler said. “Call if there’s a problem.” Then he turned to the wardrobe lady and said, “Give her the dress. And pray that our tea lady comes through for you.”
“Yes, sir,” said the wardrobe lady, thrusting the dress into Theodosia’s hands, happy to be rid of it.
* * *
Theodosia stuffed the dress into her bag, did a final check-in with Beth Ann, and hurried back to the Indigo Tea Shop. She found Miss Dimple taking orders, pouring tea, and serving morning scones and tea bread. Obviously, things worked like clockwork when left in Miss Dimple’s capable hands.
Drayton was behind the counter, brewing tea and beaming at Miss Dimple’s efficiency.
“I just hope I have that much energy when I reach her age,” he said to Theodosia.
“I wish I had her energy now,” Theodosia shot back.
“You’re in a funny mood,” Drayton said.
“I ran into a few problems last night.”
“Trouble with Riley?”
