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

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Of course!’ cried Inigo, not ruffled at all. ‘For the benefit of the new arrivals: this theatre, of course, belongs to Frances. But the production is mine. I am bringing the Bard’s great romance, Romeo and Juliet, to life at the Rue in only two weeks. I have a vision!’ But the Detective Society is never far away from danger, and it's clear there's trouble afoot at the Rue. What’s here?’ she cried. ‘A cup, closed in my true love’s hand? Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end … I will kiss thy lips!’ Inigo’s a stupid old man,’ I heard Rose say to Annie one morning as she was being fitted for her day dress. ‘Just because he used to be a big star – now he’s an old has-been. He can’t stand to see me succeed! I hate him!’ Of course it does!’ said Daisy. ‘Why would Martita call up and give her own name if she was behind it? No, someone pretended to be Martita on that second telephone call! As you know, it’s terribly hard to hear anything properly on the telephone – all you have to go on most of the time is the name the other person gives. We’re surrounded by actors, too – anyone at the Rue might have faked it, even one of the men. The person at the printer’s thought it was a woman they spoke to, but they weren’t terribly sure. Honestly, the general public are so unobservant.’

Now, Hazel, I have to tell you something important. I looked at that sign-in sheet and I believe I’ve seen who’s playing Juliet. Rose Tree! Not her real name, of course, a rather silly stage one – but she’s famous! She only left RADA last year, but all London’s going wild for her already. Bertie went to see her in Happy Families at the Lyric, and he raved about her in a letter. Ooh, and she’s got a fascinating past too. She lost her parents when she was only thirteen! Fancy, what bliss.’ She was NOT!’ said Daisy. ‘Think about it. Rose tells you that I’m wearing too much jewellery. She knows you’ll tell me, and she knows I listen to you far more closely than I do to anyone else. I’m more likely to take off the tiara if you tell me to, and if I take off the tiara I’ll look less glamorous. Which means that she’ll look better when she comes on.’ Whatever is it, Rose dear?’ asked Miss Crompton, while Theresa knelt down and began to tidy up efficiently. Martita, behind her, snorted and turned away. While Uncle Felix was gone, we were left with Aunt Lucy. ‘I shall be your governess,’ she told us, mouth set firmly. ‘I have had practice, after all, and work is … quiet at the moment.’ Aunt Lucy’s work is as important as Uncle Felix’s, and quite as secret.To go on the stage!’ cried Daisy rapturously, all her confusion and suspicion forgotten in a moment. ‘Goodness, how marvellous! Isn’t it marvellous, Hazel?’ My theatre, Inigo darling,’ said Miss Crompton, patting his shoulder. ‘Mine and Theresa’s. Your play.’

Of course it wasn’t me, you madwoman!’ cried Lysander. ‘You’re quite desperately unhinged, I tell you. No one left anything in your room.’ We’re talking about how awful parents are. Did you hate your parents too?’ asked Martita, laughing.They were there when we arrived at the Rue on Tuesday morning, and the first we heard about them was Rose’s shouts from her dressing room. The whole company converged on her (Daisy, of course, in the lead) and found her room filled with the scent of roses. Some of their petals had fluttered to the floor, and I thought for one horrid moment that their red splashes were blood. What are you doing in my dressing room?’ she asked. Her accent was subtle, not quite English, and I couldn’t place it. The others helped, in their way – or rather, Simon good-naturedly fetched and carried whenever Martita asked, Lysander declaimed about cooperation in villages in Russia and then did nothing at all, and Rose only helped when people were looking at her.

Oh really? I think parents are a tragedy,’ said Daisy, looking up from her book. I could feel my heart racing. Somehow the conversation had ended up in a place that Daisy and I usually avoid more than anything. ‘Families are simply dreadful.’ That’s good of you, Simon darling,’ said Miss Crompton. ‘But I was in fact wondering whether Martita could help me while Theresa is away. She knows the theatre well, and she has seen us both work.’ The workers ought to rise up,’ said Lysander, his face flushing. ‘That’s what this country needs. A revolution!’ Rose narrowed her pretty eyes at him a little and pouted. ‘I was busy,’ she said. ‘I’m here now, aren’t I? What does it matter?’ Do you think that tiara is a little much, though?’ asked Rose thoughtfully. ‘I’m sure it’s not, but—’

Well, it is. I put them here, Martita darling,’ said Miss Crompton. ‘They’re the newest members of the company, and they need a dressing room. They also need someone to help them adjust to the theatre, and I thought you could do that.’ You wouldn’t know if you met me on the street!’ said the old lady in Daisy’s voice. ‘I do grant you the shoes, though. Bother.’ That’s Inigo Leontes!’ hissed Daisy like a prompter in my ear. ‘He’s a terribly famous tragic actor! He’s played Othello, of course, and Macbeth and Hamlet, all at the Rue, and now he’s Miss Crompton’s director, and the principal investor too. He’s put lots of his own money into the Rue, so really it’s almost as much his as Miss Crompton’s.’