Read Never Laugh as a Hearse Goes By: A Penny Brannigan Mystery for Free Online Page A

women, who smiled at each other.
    “No, I don’t think I have. So nice,” Minty said. “I know Reverend Evans from his name on the Llanelen records and reports, of course. Mind you, I haven’t been to Llanelen in years. Is the tea shop still there, just beside the bridge? Lovely scones, as I recall.”
    As Bronwyn was about to reply, the conversation level dropped and died away as two men entered the room. All heads turned toward them. One, a tall man in his early sixties with thinning grey hair that looked as if it had missed its shampoo date two or three days ago and wearing a clerical collar, looked around the room with cheerful confidence bordering on arrogance. The heavyset man by his side seemed much younger.
    “Oh no, he hasn’t,” muttered Minty. “I distinctly informed Reverend Shipton that the bishop had forbidden him to bring his, er, friend. Companion. Partner. Whatever.” The bishop, who was deeper down the room toward the fireplace, looked up from his conversation with Warden Graham Fletcher and seeing the two men, broke off abruptly and walked toward them. A small cluster of throbbing veins appeared at his left temple.
    “Reverend Shipton,” he said with an arctic edge to his voice.
    The taller of the two men smiled at him. “Yes, good evening, Bishop, and I’d like to introduce my partner.” He grinned at the man standing next to him. “This is Azumi Odogwu.” Mr. Odogwu smiled shyly at the bishop, revealing very large, gleaming white teeth set in a shiny, very dark face.
    The bishop did not offer to shake hands. He turned and looked around the crowd until he saw who he was looking for, standing beside Thomas and Bronwyn.
    “I did tell him, Bishop,” Minty said in a low voice a few moments later. “I made it very clear that it was compulsory that he attend but that you had forbidden his male partner to accompany him. I told him his partner would not be welcome.” The bishop scowled.
    “Well, Minty, you will just have to tell him again and this time, in a way that leaves no doubt I mean what I say and that I expect him to respect my wishes.” He reached into the inside pocket of his jacket. “And now I must make my welcoming speech.”
    “Oh, but tell him now … in front of all these people? I don’t think I would feel comfortable doing that, Bishop. Could we not wait until after the reception and then I could have a quiet word with him? Do you not think that would be much better? We wouldn’t want to make a scene and spoil the occasion for everyone else. The conference is just getting started.”
    “Very well. But his friend is not to spend the night here.” Minty could hear the quotation marks framing the word friend . “That would be unthinkable. And make sure Nigel Shipton has been assigned a single room. Single, if you understand my meaning.”
    He strode off and resumed his position in front of the fireplace, commanding the room. All eyes turned toward him and everyone listened attentively as he made his opening remarks.
    When he had finished, Bronwyn gave Minty a kind, sympathetic look. “If you’d like, Miss Russell, I’d be glad to help you find the right phrases to use for this unpleasant task. I borrowed a magazine recently from the library and there was an article in it on how to defuse a difficult situation with thoughtful words. How you can say what you need to say tactfully and kindly, without harshness or in a way that could cause hurt.”
    “Please, Bronwyn, do call me Minty. And yes, I’d be very interested in hearing what the article had to say.” She smiled gratefully and as the party chatter resumed around them, a server approached carrying a tray. She lowered it so the little group could examine its contents.
    “Oh, yes please. Prawns!” said Bronwyn. “I love them. How about you, Minty? Will you have one?”
    Minty shook her head and held up her hands, waving them slightly.
    “No, I couldn’t possibly. I have the most dreadful allergy to shellfish.