Entertaining Death

by Lesley Cookman

  ‘I am Juliana, Lady Willis.’

  ‘And I am Lady Violet Dance.’

  ‘And your father?’

  ‘Sir Harold Washington.’

  ‘And you believe his widow to be here. Why is that? Who told you?’

  Both mouths snapped shut.

  Dorinda turned to gaze out of the window. Carelessly, she said, ‘I met somebody only yesterday who was also looking for someone here. What a coincidence. He, however, actually was wanted by the police.’

  There was a strangled gasp from the other side of the desk. Dorinda wished she already had that telephone.

  She swung back to face her unwanted guests. ‘I shall make a point of informing my Scotland Yard contact in the police, who just happens to be down here on business, of your interest in both Sir Harold’s widow and the other person searching for someone. Where can he find you if he wishes to speak to you?’

  Juliana stood up. When she spoke her voice was shaking. ‘We shall not be staying here. We shall return immediately to London.’

  Dorinda nodded. ‘That would be best. And of course, your London residences will be known to the police.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Violet in a shrill tone.

  ‘Aren’t the houses of the minor aristocracy always known by the police?’ Dorinda delicately raised her eyebrows. ‘Goodbye, ladies.’

  For a moment, she thought they weren’t going to go, and she refused to stand to see them out. Besides, her legs were shaking so much she didn’t think she could stand.

  Maude opened the office door a minute later and Dorinda saw the two women slowly climbing the slope.

  ‘Gave them what for, did you?’

  ‘I tried.’ Dorinda drew a shaky breath. ‘I’m pretty sure they’re behind that nasty little pest from yesterday. I need to send the Inspector a message, quickly. Who runs fastest?’

  ‘Algy,’ said Maude. ‘You write a message, I’ll go and fetch him.’

  ‘I only hope,’ said Dorinda, pulling paper and pen towards her, ‘that he’s still at the Mansion House talking to Amy. Tell Algy to explain to the hotel exactly who he’s looking for.’

  ‘What I don’t understand,’ she said a few minutes later, as she and Maude watched Algy run up the slope to Victoria Place, ‘is what they intended to do if they found her. As far as they know the police aren’t investigating murder.’

  ‘Unless the Inspector told them yesterday, like he told you.’

  ‘But if they had employed the Tybalt man, they couldn’t have known then. He was down here in the morning. They had to have given him his orders before yesterday.’

  ‘Perhaps it weren’t them as employed him, then,’ said Maude. ‘After all, they didn’t exactly say so, did they?’

  ‘Well, let’s hope the Inspector can find out,’ said Dorinda. ‘And that he hasn’t taken Amy into custody.’

  Chapter Twelve

  But Amy, slightly pale, and Mariah arrived half an hour later. Maude, as instructed, showed them straight into Dorinda’s office.

  ‘What happened?’ Dorinda asked, as Maude thoughtfully came in with a second chair for Mariah.

  ‘You knew he was coming,’ was Mariah’s first accusatory statement.

  Dorinda nodded. ‘I did.’

  ‘Do you know why?’ asked Amy.

  ‘I think so. What did he tell you?’

  ‘Harry was murdered.’ Amy’s voice broke.

  Dorinda nodded again. ‘Yes, he told me that. What I don’t understand is how they’ve only just discovered it over a year after it happened.’

  ‘I don’t know exactly. Something about the doctor.’ Amy frowned.

  ‘Hargreaves, wasn’t it? Has he given new evidence?’

  ‘’e’s ill,’ said Amy, looking at Dorinda with hopeless eyes. ‘I didn’t understand what he was saying.’

  ‘Doctor Hargreaves is ill?’ asked Dorinda, perplexed. ‘Why does that change anything?’

  Amy shook her head. ‘All I know is he went over everything that ’appened that day and the day before. And asked about the bedding again. And about what medicines we had in the house.’

  ‘And what did he ask you, Mariah?’

  ‘The same. He had no right.’ Mariah was obviously furious. Dorinda could almost see steam coming out of her ears.

  ‘Oh, I think he has the right if he’s investigating a murder,’ said Dorinda. ‘I know it’s unpleasant, but it’s necessary. If Sir Harold was killed, you don’t want his killer to get away with it, do you?’

  Mariah just glared at the floor.

  Dorinda sat and contemplated both women, wondering if she should say anything about Lady Willis and Lady Violet. She didn’t have to.

  ‘Anyway, just as we thought he was going on for ever, there’s a knock on the door,’ said Amy, ‘and someone gives him a piece of paper. And he asks if I knew my stepdaughters were in town.’ Amy turned even paler. ‘And I says no.’ Her accent was slipping again.

  ‘They came here looking for you.’

  Amy nodded and shrugged. ‘What did you say?’

  ‘Nothing. I sent them packing, but I sent a note round to the Inspector telling him they were going to get a train back to London.’

  Amy sighed heavily. ‘That’s why he left, then. Said we could go.’

  ‘I expect so. I hope he caught them. They were most unpleasant.’

  ‘Nasty cats,’ said Mariah.

  ‘They are. They tried to intimidate me, Maude and the whole company.’

  Maude, who had stayed unnoticed in the doorway, piped up. ‘You should’ve heard her, Amy! Put ’em right in their place, she did. I thought the fat one was going to go off in a fit.’

  A smile lit up Amy’s face. ‘Juliana! Did she go red? And was she in all black?’

  ‘Yes to both,’ said Dorinda with an answering smile. ‘I assumed she was a widow.’

  ‘Oh, no. It’s supposed to be mourning for my Harry.’

  ‘Good heavens!’

  After a moment’s hesitation, Amy said ‘Do you still want me, Dolly? In the show?’

  ‘Of course!’ Dorinda was surprised. ‘Why would I not? You’re very good.’

  Amy looked relieved. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I’m so pleased to be here.’

  ‘Off you go then. I’ve got work to do.’ Dorinda watched the three women go, then turned to look out of the window. Just what was going on she didn’t know, but whatever it was, it involved Amy, and therefore involved her and The Alexandria. She was as sure as she could be that Amy had done nothing wrong, other than marry Sir Harold in the first place, perhaps, but it seemed that someone was determined to imply that she had. Of course, Sir Harold’s daughters were the immediately obvious suspects, but try as she might, she couldn’t really imagine them seriously accusing their stepmother of murder.

  And what of the suspiciously named Eugene Tybalt? Although the mention of him had caused a reaction in the sisters, it need not have been because they knew about him or had employed him. It could have simply been Dorinda’s coupling of them with a criminal. And if the sisters weren’t employing him, who was? Could he conceivably have a reason of his own?

  She returned to the reason for the sisters’ visit. What did they hope to achieve? That they hoped to intimidate Dorinda into producing poor Amy was clear, but to what end? They could hardly force her to go with them. Perhaps, thought Dorinda, they hoped to inform the police that she was there, not realising that the police already knew. Which argued that they knew there was now evidence that Sir Harold had been murdered. How? And what evidence? What was this about Doctor Hargreaves being ill?

  Dorinda sighed and stood up. Whatever was going on, it was not up to her to find out. All she had to do was to keep her company as calm as possible and provide good entertainment for Nethergate’s holidaymakers. With this in mind, she made her way to the backstage area to call an impromptu rehearsal of a new set piece she intended to include in the evening performance.

  For the rest of the day, things rema
ined quiet. The audiences were pleased, the company worked well and Dorinda began to relax. It wasn’t until after the evening performance that Maude told her who had been in the audience.

  ‘I didn’t tell you before because I thought – well – I thought –’ Maude took a deep breath. ‘I thought it might cause a scene.’

  ‘What might cause a scene?’ Dorinda was behind the screen in her office changing out of her pierrot costume.

  ‘Them women. They was in the audience.’

  Dorinda’s head came round the screen, eyes wide in astonishment. ‘The sisters? They were in the audience? Oh, glory. Amy didn’t see them, did she?’

  ‘No. They just marched in and sat right at the back. Ignored me. If you ask me, they was in disguise. Didn’t look like they did this morning. The fat one didn’t have no veil.’

  ‘Well, well.’ Dorinda emerged from behind the screen and Maude obligingly went to help put up her hair in a semblance of respectability. ‘So they didn’t go back to London after all.’ She frowned down at her desk. ‘I wonder if they’re intending to ambush her.’

  ‘Ambush …?’

  ‘If they stayed at the Mansion House. Amy hasn’t been back there all day, so they might be hoping to catch her.’

  ‘And do what?’

  ‘They could lock her in their rooms, couldn’t they?’ Dorinda stared out of the office window. ‘Threaten to hand her over to the police.’

  ‘But the police already know about her,’ said Maude, puzzled.

  ‘Perhaps they intend to do her harm. I don’t know – make her disappear. To make her look guilty.’

  Maude gasped. ‘Surely they wouldn’t? What good would that do them?’

  ‘They could get their hands on her inheritance?’

  Maude shook her head. ‘Not without she was proved guilty in court. Or she died.’ She shuddered.

  ‘You’re right.’ Dorinda sighed. ‘I can’t believe they would be as wicked as to contrive her death.’

  ‘They could,’ said Maude, a faraway look in her eyes, ‘lock her in until she gives up everything. Make her sign a paper.’

  ‘You’ve been reading too many romances,’ said Dorinda with a smile. ‘Those papers you buy. How many episodes of those stories are there?’

  Maude blushed. ‘They’re exciting.’

  ‘I know.’ Dorinda patted her arm. ‘And how do we know the sisters don’t read them in secret and get ideas from them?’

  Maude’s blush grew deeper. ‘Now, Dolly, don’t you make fun of me!’

  ‘Of course not!’ Dorinda smiled. ‘But just in case, I suggest we escort Amy and Mariah back to their hotel.’

  Patsy and Betty were just leaving with Maisie trailing in their wake, while Amy and Mariah were just coming through the auditorium.

  ‘Will you wait, Amy?’ asked Dorinda, putting out a hand. ‘We’ll walk with you.’

  ‘What for?’ Mariah looked suspiciously at Maude. ‘What’s she been saying?’

  ‘Just telling me that Sir Harold’s daughters were in the audience this evening.’

  ‘What?’ Amy’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘But you said …’

  ‘That they’d gone back to London. That’s what they told me. But they hadn’t. So, in case they’re waiting for you at the Mansion House, we’ll come with you.’

  Mariah bristled. ‘We don’t need no help.’

  Amy turned to her. ‘Yes, we do, Mariah. All the help we can get.’

  Ten minutes later, with an escort of Ted, Algy and Will, along with Maude and Dorinda, Amy and Mariah walked up the slope to Victoria Place, and along the promenade to the Mansion House Hotel.

  ‘M’lady.’ The porter bowed as Amy swept through the doors and raised his eyebrows a fraction as the Alexandrians swept in after her.

  ‘There’s another staircase,’ said Amy, indicating the back of the foyer.

  ‘Ted, Algy – will you go up the back stairs?’ asked Dorinda.

  ‘It’s the Royal Suite on the second floor,’ said Amy. ‘Ever so nice.’

  Dorinda cast a surreptitious glance round the spacious foyer as they crossed towards the stairs. She saw nothing and no one to arouse suspicion.

  Algy and Ted were waiting outside the Royal Suite.

  ‘Nothing,’ said Algy. ‘No one on the back stairs.’

  Will walked up and down the corridor and pronounced it empty of everyone except themselves.

  ‘Go on, then, Mariah,’ said Amy. ‘Open up. Don’t look as though anyone was trying to jump on me!’

  Mariah took the large key and opened the suite door. Dorinda and the rest of the Alexandrians followed her into a large and well-appointed room and Amy looked round triumphantly and beamed.

  ‘There! See? Safe here.’ She crossed the room to the bedroom door at the far end, opened it and screamed.

  Dorinda, who had been half expecting them, thought the sisters were considerably more startled then any of the Alexandrians. For a long moment there was silence, as though nobody knew quite what to say or do. Dorinda took a deep breath and stepped forward.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Amy – were you expecting your stepdaughters?’

  Juliana emitted her familiar hissing sound, less muffled now she wore no veil.

  Amy, pulling herself upright, entered into the spirit of Dorinda’s question. ‘No, I’m so sorry, Juliana and Violet. Was I expecting you? Can I ring for something for you?’

  Lady Violet pushed in front of her sister. ‘You can come with us right now, you trollop.’

  Amy suddenly transformed into Amelia, Lady Washington. ‘I beg your pardon? To whom were you referring?’ She turned to the company ranged behind her. ‘I believe I should have these – persons – removed from the premises. Could I trouble you, Mr Beddowes?’

  Will, Algy and Ted moved forward.

  ‘I shall call the police!’ hissed Juliana.

  ‘So shall I,’ said Dorinda pleasantly, ‘unless you explain what you were doing here tonight. You informed me earlier that you were returning to London.’

  Juliana and Violet were silent, though Violet’s eyes were darting around the room as if looking for a way of escape.

  ‘If you intended to surprise Lady Washington it was rather foolish of you to attend our performance this evening. You should have known you would be recognised.’

  ‘I told you!’ Juliana gave her sister a sharp nudge. ‘Should have stayed here.’

  ‘And just how did you get in here?’ asked Maude. ‘It ain’t your room.’

  ‘Be quiet!’ snapped Violet. ‘Why shouldn’t we be here? This is our father’s widow.’

  ‘Whom you have no wish to acknowledge,’ said Dorinda. ‘Come now. What did you intend to do?’

  Once again, the women were silent. Amy turned to Dorinda. ‘What do we do now?’

  ‘I think we should let them leave. I assume they have rooms in this hotel?’ Dorinda sent the sisters an enquiring glance. Not deigning to answer, they moved hesitantly forward. Amy stepped aside, as did the three men, and Dorinda, Maude and Mariah moved out of their path to the door. When they reached it, Juliana turned round.

  ‘You have not heard the last of this,’ she said, the words full of venom.

  ‘Last of what?’ asked Dorinda, hastily stepping forward and grasping the door handle. Juliana looked confused.

  ‘Last of what?’ repeated Dorinda. ‘The fact that you somehow gained access to Lady Washington’s suite without her knowledge? That you threatened her? Oh, yes, Lady Willis. You can be sure you haven’t heard the last of this.’ She removed her hand from the handle and allowed Violet to wrench open the door.

  ‘Ladies,’ said Inspector Colyer politely.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Dorinda wasn’t sure who was more taken aback, the unfortunate sisters or the rest of the company, although Will, Ted and Algy were all grinning broadly. Lady Violet began to splutter.

  ‘If you would care to accompany me?’ Colyer was politeness itself. ‘The carriage you ordered is waiting
below, and an officer will ride with you to the station. Fortunately, you have not missed the London train.’

  The sisters were taken inexorably out of the room and down the corridor, accompanied, Dorinda was surprised to see, by a uniformed officer as well as Inspector Colyer.

  ‘Well!’ said Amy, collapsing suddenly into a chair. Mariah hurried forward, having stayed in the background during most of the preceding scene.

  ‘Did you know he’d be here, Dolly?’ asked Ted.

  ‘Of course not. I assumed he’d gone back to London.’

  ‘I expect,’ said Maude wisely, ‘if he realised them women hadn’t gone, he stayed to keep an eye on them.’

  ‘Thank goodness he did,’ said Amy.

  ‘But the carriage.’ Dorinda was frowning. ‘They’d ordered a carriage. And it sounded as if they had already made plans to take the London train.’

  ‘And me with them,’ said Amy in a hollow voice. ‘I’d give a day’s wages on that.’

  ‘They couldn’t make you,’ said Mariah. ‘They’d have me to deal with first.’

  ‘It’s very peculiar,’ said Dorinda. ‘But Inspector Colyer seems to know what they intended. Perhaps we should wait until he can tell us. Or tell you, Amy.’

  ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you, Dolly.’ Amy shook her head. ‘You were wonderful.’

  Dorinda surprised a scowl on Mariah’s face.

  ‘She’s a good girl to have on your side,’ said Maude, patting Dorinda’s arm. ‘And now we ought to let you get to bed. It’s time we was all getting to our beds an’all.’

  The company took their leave of Amy and Mariah and went down to the grand foyer. Dorinda was unsurprised to find Inspector Colyer waiting for them.

  ‘Could I have a word, miss?’ he asked, unexpectedly obsequious.

  ‘You go on,’ Dorinda said tiredly to the others. ‘I’m sure the Inspector will make sure I get home safely.’

  Maude showed a distinct disinclination to allow this, so she and Will were sent to sit in a corner of the foyer, while Ted and Algy left.

  ‘Sit down, Miss Alexander.’ Colyer indicated the two chairs beside a small table on which sat a coffee pot and two cups. ‘May I pour you a cup?’