She gave me a sideways look. “There was not a word before. I have discovered that he can be quite mischievous at times. I have come to the conclusion that he likes to play tricks on me.”
“Oh my,” I commented. “A bit of discord from the spirit world?”
“You know it’s true. He has been helpful from time to time in your inquiry cases.”
That was open to question. However, the timing of those two particular incidents did make me wonder about the truth of it.
“Has he been well?” Templeton then asked.
I assumed it was not Sir William she was inquiring about.
“You might ask him yourself,” I suggested as we joined my great-aunt, Lily, and Mr. Munro.
“This is verra exciting,” Lily exclaimed as she grabbed me by the hand.
I thought that rather an understatement as I saw the looks that passed between Mr. Munro and my friend.
Explosivemight have been a word to describe it, or possiblycataclysmic, as there was a violent crash of thunder overhead. The sky opened at that exact moment, and what had been a steady drizzle turned into a downpour just as we entered the theater.
The cabaret performance was an enormous success, if response from the audience was any indication, including Lily.
There was music, a troupe of dancers, short theatrical performances played for humor, and a bit of scandalous teasing among the characters of a pantomime, along with a bit of magic performed, and a daring burlesque that I thought might set proper London society on its ear.
Throughout, my great-aunt hooted with laughter and exchanged looks with me, and Lily was rarely in her seat as she clapped and cheered the performers along with a good many in the audience.
I thought of Brodie. I do believe that he would have enjoyed it, quite different from opera or the usual stage performances in London theaters.
More than once, I caught the stolen glances between Templeton and Munro, along with bits and pieces of conversation impossible to hear over the music and singing.
I had thought everything quite finished between them some months earlier over some matter that might have had to do with Ziggy, her iguana.
Yet, apparently not by the heated glances that passed between them. Byheated, it was by no means angry, but more of the smoldering sort that I had written about in one of my novels.
I suppose it did one good to smolder from time to time. I thought of Brodie again, and wondered if it ever went away, that feeling that was almost like a longing.
I wished that for my friend, who in the time I had known her, had entertained thecompanyof others, including the Prince of Wales, if rumors were to be believed. And then simply left, never looking back, according to what she had once told me. Tonight she had looked back, several times.
I returned to Sussex Square with Lily and my great-aunt. Upon arriving, Mr. Symons informed me that a courier had brought round a message.
I opened the note from Sir Laughton.
Through my clerk’s efforts I have learned that John Mortimer Esq. was the attorney for Simon Harris, and still is for the Harris estate, including the Harris Trust.
Through somewhat creative negotiations, I have acquired the trust late this evening. I look forward to you calling on the office in the morning.
Somewhat creative negotiations? I could only imagine what that might mean.
Still, it was good news, and I was hopeful the details of the trust might reveal something important to our inquiry case.
I looked up from my aunt’s desk in the library of Sussex Square at a sound and discovered Lily peering tentatively around the edge of the door.
It was late when we returned and my great-aunt had immediately gone up to her rooms.
“So much excitement this evening!” she had exclaimed. “I do wonder if we might have such a performance for Linnie and James’s reception after the wedding.”
Oh, my. That could be most exciting.
My sister had declined to attend the evening with the excuse there were too many details of the forthcoming wedding to see to. I had my own suspicions, of course.
