Page 75 of Death on a Scottish Train

“We only have one more box to open, I’ll do that now while you shop.”

Mara and I gathered several outfits each. I picked some long gowns, one of which was an emerald color, that I prayed fit. In the dressing room, I put it on first.

The tag read Tadashi Shoji. I didn’t know the designer, but as I slid on the crepe sheath, I was more than pleased with the fit. The V-neck emerald dress had long bell-shaped sleeves, and the front gathered into a flower of sorts made of the same material. The way it hung was quite flattering to my figure.

“I found a winner,” I said to Mara, who was in the dressing room next to me.

“Already? Let me see.”

I stepped out and she pulled her curtain to the side. She wore a bright yellow frilly dress that was definitely not her.

“Oh, that is pretty,” she said. “I can’t believe you found something with the first try-on.”

“It was the color.”

She snorted.

“What’s so funny?”

“Well, I thought I could wear yellow, but not this sunshine version. It makes me look sallow and the ruffles seem like I’m playing dress up with my mum’s clothes.”

“I have a silver kitten heel that will look perfect with that, Doc,” Lulu said. “Minerva, get her a size eight. They are to your right behind the door in the back.”

Minerva nodded.

“And you, young lady, that is not your color,” she said to Mara.

“Moving on,” Mara said.

Finding the second dress took a bit longer, but I found a peacock blue tea-length that would be perfect for the dance on Saturday. The event was for the whole town, and jeans and a top would be fine, but sometimes it was fun to dress up.

Mara and I had been so busy trying things on, we hadn’t noticed the other customers coming in. One of whom, was the possible mistress of Mr. Burns.

She was at the counter with a pile of clothes and gifts.

“I’ll need your ID,” Lulu said.

The woman handed it to her.

“It doesn’t have the same name as the card, this is a gentleman’s card,” Lulu said.

The mistress pointed a finger. “Stop messing about. He gave me the card to buy myself some things.”

“I’ve no way of knowing that do I?” Lulu held her ground. “You could have stolen it.”

The woman huffed. She pulled her cell phone. “Jeremy, this old woman at the store is giving me a hard time with your card.”

Lulu’s eyebrows went up. No one who knew her would dare to call her old.

The woman handed her the cell phone.

“Hello?” Lulu said.

She seemed to listen for a few minutes.

“Right. Well, enough. Except, I have the right to kick out customers when they are rude, and that will be happening, Mr. Burns. You might mention to your lady friend that in the future she is not welcome in my shop.”

She handed the woman the phone. “Out.” She pointed a finger toward the door.