There was no one else in the foyer, no attendant that early in the afternoon. Only that statue...as I was saying, but who was I to doubt her.
She looped her arm through mine as we walked together toward the adjacent hallway that led to her dressing room.
“I thought it might be Lily at first,” she continued. “I decided that couldn’t be, as she is undoubtedly at her studies most of the day. The girl is quite marvelous. She has spoken of becoming an actress?”
In addition to her musical skills and solving codes.
Templeton leaned in and whispered. “Wills thinks she is quite marvelous as well. He has a particular play in mind for her. I did explain that she is quite young and that you might have a say in it.”
“I do appreciate that,” I replied.
“And what is this nasty business about Brodie?” she asked.
She was not in the habit of reading the dailies or keeping company with officers of the MET.
“You’ve spoken with Munro?” I asked.
They had a history, as they say, and had spent a great deal of time together—that was probably the most discreet way of describing it. And that had included Templeton being accused of murder, along with a rather graphic piece of artwork.
There had been a‘separation,’as she called it, when she left for performances in France and Italy, Munro declaring that she was impossible, unpredictable, and he would not take place in line with other rumored lovers.
“I haven’t seen him,” she replied with something that could have been a bit of sadness in someone I had never known to have regrets over a man.
“He is being quite impossible, unpredictable, and there is that whole Scottish thing. He can be stubborn, domineering, and he does have a temper.”
All things that I recognized from first-hand experience.
“It was Wills who told me the news,” she said then. “And he is most distressed about it. That is the reason he knew you would be coming to see me.”
Of course.
“So, tell me, what is to be done to assist Brodie?”
I did feel a bit likeAlice, who had fallen down a rabbit hole. I then explained how I thought best to go about investigating the situation.
Templeton nodded. “Yes, a costume is in order. We must simply find the right one for you. There are dozens upon dozens in the costume room. I’m certain that we will be able to find something.
“This is going to be such fun!” she announced as we reached her dressing room and she explained to Mrs. Finch what was needed.
The adventure began in the room in the theater where the costumes of her fellow actors were kept. She went among the rows of racks hung with costumes as if shopping at Harrods, emerging with several items of clothing over her arm.
“We’ll start with these,” she said as we returned to her dressing room.
I had to admit that the transformation was quite amazing in spite of the fact that I had declined both the wig and makeup.
When finished, I thought it might be best to disguise myself as a man particularly due to my height, with trousers, a threadbare jacket, stained shirt, and a cap with my hair tucked up.
The entire ensemble made me look like a character from one of Mr. Dickens’ novels, and I wasn’t certain that I would have recognized myself.
“Some smudge to the face and it will be perfect!” Templeton announced where she sat at her dressing table. Then a much different expression crossed her face.
“No one will recognize you, and Wills agrees,” she announced. “Still, he cautions that you must be very careful and not forget the weapon you always carry.”
Of course he would know about that.
“Oh, I do wish that I was going with you.”
That might very well have included Ziggy, and I wasn’t at all certain that the streets of London were ready for him.
