Poisoned Brandy

A rich amber liquid poured into a delicate wine glass atop a lace-trimmed doily, its aroma masking subtle bitterness. Mrs. Pritchard presents it with practiced deference, watching with unreadable eyes as Reverend Matthews lifts the glass toward his lips, never suspecting the concoction’s true purpose. The brandy catches the drawing room’s dim afternoon light, the lace embroidery trembling slightly as Josiah’s polite mask cracks under the weight of his control.