Chapter 35

When Miss Eloise had left, Sarah swung around to Betsy giving her a panicked look. "Wedding dress!?" she mouthed, "and who in heavens name and I getting married to?" Betsy shrugged while Miss Marple rolled her eyes. Miss Eloise stumbled back into the front room balancing several tea trays on her arms. "I've never had quite a unique set of guests here for a wedding dress search.""Don't mind them," Miss Marple replied, "they're just along for the fun of it."Sarah was the one to roll her eyes this time. Miss Eloise prodded Sarah measured her up and down and walked into the back room to pick a selection of dresses. "I don't have anyone to marry!" Sarah whispered frantically to Betsy, "I don't even want to get married yet!""It's just to get to the bottom of the case," Betsy whispered back, "Calm down.""Don't tell me to calm down!" Sarah hissed a little louder than she meant, "You calm down! Why can't it be you pretending to get married though? I HATE shopping!" She wasn't so angry though when she saw the selection that Miss Eloise brought back though. "Now," said Miss Marple, "While those are all very lovely; Do you think that you could sew a custom gown?" "Of course," replied Miss Eloise a little indignantly, "I can sew anything you can dream up" (Miss Eloise is French so all of that was in a french accent). "Oh wonderful," sighed Miss Marple, "I was hoping you would say that. And you really mean anything?" "Yes!" Miss Eloise pushed, "I can make skinny women look fat and fat women look skinny. I can make yards of fabric vanish and stretch a couple of yards into a ball gown fit for a queen!" Betsy was wide eyed and Miss Marple was beaming. "I think she has just fit the final pieces together," muttered Betsy to herself.

Chapter 34

The shop truly was a very quaint little thing, with a sitting room in front for a nice tea if you were a little tired after shopping and the proprietress was a rather plump, kindly middle-aged woman named Eloise. Eloise was very confused to see the group of a dozen people tramp into her shop. Upon seeing the butler in shackles she grew even more confused and a little worried, it was common knowledge in town that they rather fancied each other. "Welcome!" said Miss Eloise trying to be a good hostess despite her surprise. "I'm a bit baffled at you all here today. What is the occasion?" "Oh, dear," said Miss Marple. "I do suppose that we look quite a sight with all these people; a beaver, the Sultry Scot back from the dead, a strange woodsman, and the poor butler in shackles. But do not fear my dear! We have simply come for a spot of tea and to look for a new dress for dearest Sarah. You do sell wedding dresses don't you?" and with that Miss Marple sat down on the nearest overstuffed couch, took out her knitting and stared blithely around. Miss Eloise tried to regain her composure, invited everyone to take a seat and bustled off to the kitchen to get some tea.