Page 98 (1/2)

"Oh, that," laughed Pina, never totally appreciating how close it came every class

Twenty minutes later the class was over, after a last Tai Chi ood thing she adored Pina and needed the class

Toweling off and rolling up her mat, Clara wandered over to the cluster of women who’d formed in the et the conversation around to where she wanted it

"Did you see Inspector Beauvoir’s back in the village?" she asked, nonchalantly, dabbing at a trickle of sweat down her neck

"Poor guy," said Hanna Parra "Still, he seems better"

"I think he’s kinda cute," said The Wife Her eyes were large, expressive and without guile An earth mother, h "He’s too skinny"

"I’d fatten hi about that Inspector I want to save him," said Hanna "Heal hih this conversation wasn’t exactly going as she’d hoped and she hadn’t helped by just taking it off into outer space "The Vulcan?" she explained when a few of the women looked perplexed "Oh, for God’s sake, you can’t tell me you don’t know Star Trek? Everyone had a crush on Mr Spock because he was so cool and distant They wanted to be the one to break down his reserve, to get into that heart"

"It’s not his heart ant to get into," said Hanna and everyone laughed

They put on their coats and ran across the snowy road to the inn and spa for the regular post-exercise tea and scones

Clara was still a it as the cru old Hadley house before Doht it Now their hostess sat relaxed and elegant, s tea

Had Dominique killed the Her honest, the o, and the most likely one still, was Marc Gilbert Doht the conversation around to one alrant cup of tea from Dominique Out theshe could see the clear blue day, always the coldest Snow caught up in a ind swirled by the , lass

Inside the inn and spa it was peaceful The room was filled with antiques, not cumbersome Victorian oak, but simple pine and cherry pieces The walls were painted pastel shades and felt restful, serene A fire was lit and the place smelled delicately of maple wood smoke, moisturizers and tisanes Cha woman arrived with a plate of warm scones, clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam This was Clara’s favorite part of exercise class

"How’s Olivier doing?" The Wife asked