Death in the Spotlight: A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery 07 (A Murder Most Unladylike Mystery, 7)

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I thought that they might perhaps be in love, and I saw from Daisy’s scowl and narrowed eyes that she did too, but then they began to chatter away to each other about people I didn’t know, leaning their heads together just like our schoolmates Kitty and Beanie, and I realized that they were simply very good friends. If Martita had chosen this friendly looking person as her ally, then she really might be quite kind.

Inigo caught me, and I was fanned and patted and talked to like a baby – which ought to have been infuriating, but was in fact quite gratifying. I had faked a faint, just like Daisy! Perhaps I wasn’t such a bad actress after all.I’m glad you’re with the girls again this week,’ he said. ‘They need a steady influence. The very word aunt sounds sensible. I’m sure you’ve become more staid since you became one, Lucy dear.’ He winked at her over his kipper. Do you think that tiara is a little much, though?’ asked Rose thoughtfully. ‘I’m sure it’s not, but—’ But, when we ran into the dressing room, we found Rose perfectly all right, and only bleeding from a long, deep cut on her right heel. Annie rushed to get the medical kit from Wardrobe, dabbed Rose’s foot with brown iodine and wrapped it tightly in soft white gauze. Much to my surprise, Daisy, the girl who never does a thing she does not think important, was more useful than all the rest of them. After the third time I found her dragging a heavy crate through the Rue’s corridors on Friday afternoon, I had to say something.

You certainly do,’ said Miss Crompton. ‘And I agree with you on it.’ She frowned. ‘Actors have got in the habit of declaiming Shakespeare as though they’re speaking nonsense poetry and not simply talking to one another. We won’t have any of that in this production.’

Of course, as soon as she mentioned the well, I realized she was correct. I felt rather foolish not to have thought of it. Perhaps I am still not as good a detective as Daisy. Perhaps … I came to be a star, of course,’ said Martita. ‘And Portugal isn’t such a good place at the moment. Have you heard about it?’ Suit yourself,’ said Daisy, rolling her eyes. ‘I like it here. It really would make the perfect place to commit a murder, wouldn’t it?’

It was at breakfast on Monday morning, the eleventh of May, that we first heard of it. The maid, Bridget, had just brought in the toast and a pile of cryptic telegrams, neatly decoded in Bridget’s clear handwriting. In Uncle Felix and Aunt Lucy’s house, everyone seems to have an interesting and secretive life, and Bridget is an interesting and secretive maid who does far more than just the cooking and the cleaning. Well then,’ said Aunt Lucy, ‘I think I have found the perfect solution for everyone. There’s a girl at work whose aunt is Frances Crompton, the owner of the Rue Theatre. Frances is putting on a new production of Romeo and Juliet, but with the flu that’s going round this spring she keeps on losing actors. All the usual bit-part players have been snapped up by other theatres – they can afford to pay better, and poor Frances is in a bit of a bind financially at the moment. Under the circumstances, I thought she might not mind looking after two temporary cast members – for a small fee, of course. And she agreed.’I could feel myself gaping. Daisy was frozen with indignation, and tinges of pink had appeared high up on her cheeks. She does not like to be called a child. And then, on Monday, when Daisy and I had been members of the Rue for just under a week, a great bunch of hothouse flowers arrived for Rose. They were huge deep blooms the colour of the Rue’s seats and quite as plush-looking. The card with them only said: This is Rose’s fault,’ hissed Martita furiously, and she actually stamped her foot. ‘She takes my part, she takes my dressing room and now I have to look after children!’ They did indeed!’ he cried. ‘And it is dreadful, Rose. Of course it is! But you must have heard that there is no such thing as bad publicity? These playbills are intriguing. Perhaps they may draw more of an audience.’