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

good care of him, I’m sure. It’s just that…”
    “You’ll miss him so much,” Penny said. “But the four days will go quickly, you’ll see. And two of them are travel days so they don’t really count. If you look at it that way, it’s more like two days. Going somewhere nice?”
    “Yes, we are, actually,” Bronwyn replied. “Thomas has a conference to go to, and the wives, well, spouses, are invited. I say, invited, but it’s been made very clear that we’re expected to go so there’s not much choice. I’m not sure what we’re meant to be doing while the men, well, mostly men but there are one or two lady rectors, are busy discussing important church matters. The bishop’s wife is arranging a program for us and she’s asked me to help. I had rather hoped we’d just be left to our own devices and then everyone would meet up at dinner. I’m bringing some books that have been gathering dust on my night table, and I’d like to catch up on my reading. The venue will be perfect for that.” She thought for a moment. “Bringing books to a library. Coals to Newcastle.”
    “So it’s a conference for clergy, then, is it?” Penny asked.
    “Well, yes, rectors and officials from the Church in Wales,” said Bronwyn. “At first I wasn’t too keen on going because of Robbie, but Thomas helped me see things in a different light. Once I understood how much it means to him, I was happy to support him. Funny how changing your attitude toward something can make a change for the better. Now I’m quite looking forward to the break. Thomas says the venue is beautiful and perfectly suited to this type of conference. He’s been wanting to go back there for years.”
    “Oh, it sounds lovely,” said Penny. “And where is it you’re going?”
    “Gladstone’s Library. It used to be called St. Deiniol’s, but the name was changed a few years ago to Gladstone’s Library.”
    “Oh, I see,” said Penny, her eyes widening. “A conference at the Library. Well, that’s interesting. Gladstone’s Library. That’s in … where is it?”
    “A town called Hawarden.” She spelled it out. “But pronounced Harden. In North East Wales, near the border. Not far from Chester. The Library is a stunning example of late Victorian architecture.”
    “Oh, right. Come to think of it, I have heard of it. And when is it, exactly, this conference?”
    “It’s the Tuesday to Friday right after Easter. We’re to arrive Tuesday afternoon and leave after breakfast on Friday.”
    Bronwyn thought for a moment and then touched her friend’s arm. “I wonder, Penny, if you would consider coming along and giving the ladies a sketching lesson? Perhaps we could sketch the building? I could see about getting the materials if you told us what would be needed. Or it doesn’t have to be a sketching class. Maybe you could give a talk on Victorian stained glass. Or church art? You could do anything along those lines, with an artistic Victorian theme. It’s just that the bishop’s wife, Mrs. Blaine she’s called, asked me to sort out the programming for the ladies. She gave me a lot of flannel about how she’d heard I was so good at organizing things and would really value my help … but never mind about all that. I’d take it as a great personal favour if you’d agree to do something for us. I know so few people who have the kind of creative talent you do.”
    “Now who’s flannelling who?” Penny started to laugh and after a moment, Bronwyn joined in good-naturedly.
    Penny had arrived in North Wales twenty-five years earlier as a young Canadian backpacker touring the British Isles. She’d fallen in love with the market town of Llanelen, and the one or two nights that she intended to stay had stretched into years as she’d made friends, started a small business, and contributed to the life of the community. She had a degree in fine arts from a distinguished Canadian university, and although she now earned a good living from her