“Fair?” Mrs. Sanderson scoffed. “It’s not fair you left the burden on these girls.”
She gestured loosely to Cathy, who blanched.
“Francesca, take care,” the cook warned softly.
The housekeeper huffed and waved him off.
Franky drew himself up straight. “Francesca Sanderson, if you’re accusing this girl over the events of last night, let me be the first to tell you that it was afamilymatter that sent her home early.”
That had the witch pulling up short.
Ah….So she knew what manner of creature she served.
I rubbed my cheek, gleefully enjoying the spectacle. What would she say if I admitted that I was complicit in murder? Right under her nose. During a lavish party.
“If you have an issue, you need to take it up with the boss.” Franky pushed the mixing bowl to Cathy, who was too busy gawking to begin rolling the dinner rolls into balls for their final proofing.
“Signor Grimaldi doesn’t allowfamilybusiness at his parties,” the housekeeper said triumphantly.
“No, but shit happens.” Franky turned to the stove and began to pour coffee from the stovetop espresso maker. “And I didn’t mean the don. I meant Dominico.”
Sanderson’s face twisted into an ugly sneer. “He’s not the boss.”
Franky slammed the metal Bialetti back on the burner. “Drop this.”
The housekeeper chewed on her gums. “Fine. But consider this a warning, Magnolia. I’m going to have you fired.”
The moment she left, the bad stench of doom dissipated rapidly.
“I’m up a creek.” I sank onto a stool on the back of the island.
Franky gave me a funny look but didn’t ask me to explain the quirky turn of phrase.
Cathy blew out a long breath and began to scoop out balls of dough, rolling them on the floured board, before popping them into the small ramekins. Four small balls made the best pull apart dinner rolls, buttery and pillow soft.
“Yeah, she never liked you in the first place,” Cathy admitted. “While nepotism is generally how things work around here, she took a distinct dislike to Theo hiring you in the first place.”
“That was before she met you and realized you work harder than these two combined,” Franky said lightly.
Cathy let out a squeak of protest. “Hey! I don’t have to help with the baking, stronzo!”
He only winked at her.
I dropped my head on the island with a groan. “It’s going to be so much worse now.”
“It is.” Franky slid the tazzina of coffee to me. “Cheers.”
“Cheers,” I responded through clenched teeth.
***
There was nothing interesting in the bathroom. While Arabella had some odd vitamins and supplements, I was more interested in pilfering some night creams or extra tubes of fancy makeup. What was I going to do with high doses of calcium, niacin, and L-arginine? There were some homemade tinctures made up in dark glass containers, but when I opened them, they didn’t smell rejuvenating. I pulled a bottle of concentrated caffeine out and shrugged. Maybe a few of those wouldcome in handy. I shook some into my palm before tucking the bottle behind the container of bitter orange.
Why she had them was beyond me.
I picked up the small bag of trash and left the bathroom as the bedroom door opened.
“Just leave them in the hall, thank you, AJ,” Arabella said.
