Chapter 23
The town theatre had a discreet frontage with modest pillars either side of a square facade, an early example of a building by a now famous Art Deco designer. Everything about the building was neat, elegant and symmetrical and Lara thought Hercule Poirot would have approved of it.
The foyer was panelled in walnut wood, interspersed with mirrors.
It had a cream and gold tiled floor and was lit by a cluster of teardrop lamps that hung from a carved ceiling.
Lara looked for signs to the Dress Circle Bar where she had arranged to meet Sarah.
She had decided to wear a simple black dress with three-quarter length sleeves and a pencil skirt.
She hoped that Sarah would think it appropriate.
She had worn flat black pumps as she imagined she would be standing for some time, and her feet were already aching from a day in the shop.
On the other side of Sarah was Kate. She, however, looked absolutely furious. ‘We only have to wear fancy dress,’ she barked at Lara.
‘And the problem is?’ Lara said, looking enviously at Sarah’s dress.
‘Oh no, you and I don’t get to dress like that. We have to use the waitress outfits from the costume department,’ Kate informed her.
‘I am so sorry Lara, I had no idea this is what they had in mind. But I feel I can’t refuse. It’s a really important job for me.’ Sarah looked helplessly at them.
‘How bad is it?’ Lara wanted to know, directing the question at Kate, who she thought would give her a straight answer.
‘Well, there were some outfits that weren’t too bad. A bit seventies farce, you know… “more tea Vicar”. But the young girls who are helping got here first and nabbed those.’
‘And ours?’ Lara asked with a sinking heart.
‘Nineteen twenties, shapeless sacks with very frilly aprons and fecking caps,’ Kate informed her.
The parlour maid laughed in a manner that Lara thought was unbecoming to her station, and had they been alone she would have had no hesitation in telling her so.
Sarah looked at Lara and Kate pleadingly.
In unison they said, ‘We’re not wearing the caps.’
Sarah looked enormously relieved and embraced them in a comprehensive hug. ‘I’ll make it up to you,’ she promised.
When Kate and Lara emerged from the dressing room five minutes later, even Sarah struggled to know what to say.
Their dresses were far too big for them and hung in unbecoming folds to six inches above the floor.
The fussy aprons had large frills that stuck out at the sides and made them both look about two dress sizes larger.
‘Oh my word,’ the pristine parlour maid said, adjusting her crisp white cap.
Sarah set about placating the two women, promising them endless supplies of food and drink and her undying gratitude.
She then briefed them quickly on the evening.
The main drinks and canapés were to be served in the bar, and then they were to circulate through the theatre topping up glasses.
Guests were expected to wander around seeing the various displays and all be gone by 10. 30pm.
Lara then brought them up to date with what she had found out since they last met.
She told them about her visit to Gillmore House, confirming that the china tea service would make a full set along with the items that Jason Honeybourne seemed to have – although she could shed no more light on how he had got his hands on these.
She explained how Dr Patil had known the family for years, and a bit more about his legacy of paintings, but she did not mention the discovery of the secret room.
She implied she had come across some old sleeping pills by chance but omitted any mention of Joe’s proposed legacy.
However, she did tell them about the flowers on the grave and the ‘Forgive me’ message and they spent some time speculating on who ‘M’ could be.
‘What’s Dr Patil’s first name?’ Sarah pondered.
‘I think it’s… Vishnu,’ Kate recalled, ‘not sure how I know that.’
‘Oh,’ Lara and Sarah said in joint disappointment.
‘Who else could it be?’ Lara wondered aloud. The others looked blank.
After a hurried discussion – time was getting short – it was agreed Lara would talk to Dr Patil to see if he knew more about Lady Porter’s background and if he could throw any light on who ‘M’ might be.
Lara silently added blackmail and the secret room to the impossibly long list of things she had to investigate.
‘Apart from that, I guess we should just keep our eyes and ears open. You said Richard and Pinky are coming?’ Kate looked at Sarah.
‘Yes, all the great and the good will be here,’ she confirmed.
‘I do hope Joe isn’t a theatre aficionado,’ Abby commented, looking meaningfully at Lara’s outfit. For once Lara was in total agreement with her.
By 7.30pm the Dress Circle Bar was buzzing with conversation and laughter.
Lara and Kate were kept busy with trays of canapés and drinks, and Lara began to wonder if they would have time to investigate anything that evening.
Despite this, she was fascinated by how many people assumed that as a waitress she was stone deaf.
She had already discovered an illicit affair between a local councillor and the head teacher of the primary school.
Abby was also flitting around the room happily eavesdropping and would occasionally look across and wave airily at her.
Lara was just loading another tray with cocktails when she saw Richard Porter push his way into the bar.
He looked around uncertainly for a moment and then catching sight of Lara, frowned and appeared to hesitate.
Lara continued to circulate with drinks trying to keep half an eye on him as she did so.
As if he had made his mind up, Richard suddenly walked purposefully towards her.
‘We won’t be using you for the flowers for my wife’s exhibition,’ he said without preamble.
He continued to watch Lara as if he wanted to say more.
After her strange behaviour in their house, Lara was not surprised about not getting the job and it crossed her mind that Penny might have mentioned finding Archie unexpectedly stuck in his office during her visit.
As if reading her thoughts Richard Porter continued, ‘So, there will be no reason, whatsoever,’ he said with emphasis, ‘for you to be in our house.’ He made a hmphing noise and catching sight of his wife entering the bar, patted the sides of his well-groomed hair and headed over to her.
Lara had not said a word. She reflected that the Honourable Richard must have spent some considerable time with the hair dryer and wondered what volumising mousse he used.
His bouffant hair certainly added several centimetres to his diminutive height.
‘That man needs to keep away from naked flames,’ Kate muttered, rushing past with a number of drinks perilously balanced on her tray. ‘That much product in his hair and he’d go up like a firework.’
Lara grinned as she studied Richard Porter, who now had his hand in the air waving to his wife. ‘Pinky, I say, Pinky!’
Pinky watched her husband approach without smiling or acknowledging him. Behind her shoulder Lara could see Abby smiling encouragingly at Richard Porter. Within minutes of Richard reaching his wife’s side the three figures had disappeared from view.
It was some moments later that Lara heard the unmistakable sounds of Sebastian and Jessica proclaiming their entrance, calling across the bar to ‘Julian’.
Lara flinched and retreated to the safety of the kitchen.
She had not seen Julian arrive and had no desire for him to see her wearing this outfit.
As she busied herself restocking her tray, Kate came through the archway to the kitchen area. ‘Are you okay?’ she asked, seeing the look on Lara’s face.
‘Can we have some drinks here! NOW!’ came a loud call from the bar area. Sebastian was making his wishes known.
Kate took another quick look at Lara and without pausing grabbed a new tray of drinks.
‘I’m on it,’ she called to Sarah who was glancing over in their direction.
Lara stepped out of the kitchen into the coolness of the passage that ran around the back of the bar.
Abby was nowhere to be seen. Lara rested her head against the faded paintwork of the wall and closed her eyes.
When she opened them she was looking down at her appalling dress and she could have cried.
It was one thing talking about Julian with Sarah and Kate and believing she could brush him aside.
It was another thing seeing him in the glorious flesh.
She could feel her heart hammering somewhere under her ribs.
Then she remembered her friend, Lady Porter (who thought Julian Armstrong was a wanker).
She took a deep breath and headed back to work.
Meanwhile, Abby had returned from eavesdropping on Richard and Pinky and was happily perched on the edge of the bar, legs gently swinging from side to side.
She was feeling decidedly pleased with herself.
She watched as Kate made her way over to Sebastian, Julian and friends.
Kate held the circular tray by the edge, rather like it was a discus that she might at any moment decide to hurl across the room.
Abby was reminded of a painting she had once seen of a Celtic warrior heading into battle.
Julian caught sight of Kate approaching and became noticeably quieter, choosing not to catch her eye as she distributed the cocktails.
‘So, we’re all okay then?’ Kate said. ‘No need for any more shouting,’ she said pointedly and turned around and pushed her way back through the crush.
Abby smiled down on Kate’s retreating figure.
She really did remind her of her friend Emma.
She sighed. Then pulling herself together, perused the crowded bar.
In the distance by the doorway she spotted Dr Patil who was standing motionless watching the crowd gathered around Julian.
He was wearing a long coat in indigo velvet and slim fitting navy trousers.
Abby thought he looked very elegant. She could not read the look on the doctor’s face but she would have given much to know what he was thinking.
By the time Lara got to Abby’s side (and downed a lone cocktail that had been left untouched on the bar), the place was beginning to clear. Abby noticed that Sebastian was one of the first out of the door. Dr Patil followed shortly afterwards.
Lara was just about to enquire about Richard and Penny when Sarah appeared by her side. ‘Have you seen Kate?’ she asked.
‘Call for an angel and you will hear the flutter of their wings,’ Kate said in a broad Irish brogue appearing beside them.
She looked over her shoulder at the retreating crowd and leant towards them.
‘Oh, I meant to say. I did mention Dr Death to Rod. He says there had been a few questions about ten years ago but nothing could be proved. There was something about misplaced notes, but he couldn’t remember the rest. He said there certainly wasn’t anything to justify a full investigation. ’ Kate shrugged.
Lara grabbed two bottles of wine from the bar. ‘I’ll go and top up glasses and see if I can find him. I’m not quite sure what I’m going to say…’
‘You’ll think of something,’ the pristine parlour maid assured her.
It didn’t take her long to spot the doctor, who was standing on the sweeping staircase watching the crowd gathered in the foyer.
A small group of dancers was enacting a 1950s jive there.
Ron the landlord from the Wentworth Arms was a prominent figure in the group and Lara was startled to see what a swift and agile dancer he was.
‘Ron is really good,’ Lara exclaimed, as she reached the doctor’s side.
‘Hidden talents,’ said Dr Patil smiling.
Then remembering her role as a waitress, she held out the bottle to top up Dr Patil’s empty glass. ‘Or maybe you don’t drink?’ she said, wondering about his religion, and not wanting to be insensitive. ‘Can I get you something else?’
Dr Patil smiled. ‘No, I’m a Buddhist who likes a drink. There are some among us that say alcohol is harmful to mindfulness, but I’m not one of them.’ He held out his glass.
Lara asked, ‘Do Buddhists put flowers on graves? I know the custom varies with different religions.’
Dr Patil looked at her curiously. ‘Is there a reason you ask this, Lara? I may call you, Lara?’ he added.
Lara nodded. She decided she was too tired to beat about the bush. ‘Someone has been putting flowers on Lady Porter’s grave and I was just interested who it might be.’
‘And why is that?’ Dr Patil asked.
‘Because there was a note apologising for something and I was intrigued,’ Lara explained.
She was aware of the figure stiffening beside her.
‘And this note was with some flowers you say?’
‘Yes.’
‘And you thought I had a reason to say I was sorry to my friend?’ Dr Patil sounded strained and Lara sensed she had stepped over an invisible line. There was also a suppressed anger emanating from the figure beside her.
‘No,’ she said quickly, ‘I didn’t think it was from you. Someone mentioned that your name is Vishnu…’ Dr Patil nodded, ‘…but I was curious. It was just signed “M”. You don’t know who that could be?’
Dr Patil was silent for a while watching the dancers below.
He sipped his wine. Eventually he turned to her.
‘I’m a drinking Buddhist, but I’m also a Buddhist who doesn’t like to pick living things.
An inconsistency I know.’ He shook his head.
‘I don’t know who the “M” is who puts flowers on our friend’s grave.
I would certainly not pick a bloom or buy a cut flower.
However, if you ever find a white magnolia flower that has fallen from a tree resting there then, Lara, you may assume it is from me.
’ He gave her a sad smile. As he turned to leave Lara wondered how on earth she was ever going to broach the subject of the secret room and blackmail with this man.
He was a couple of steps below her on the stairs when he turned around. ‘The thing you will find with names, is that they may not always tell you what you want to know.’
Lara suddenly thought of Elizabeth Porter who Mrs M called ‘Lily’ (or had it been Lizzie?).
‘As you’ve been informed, my name is Vishnu. But my middle name is Mohandas. My friends call me Mo. I would be honoured if you would do so too.’
Lara was left staring after him. She felt the same mix of emotions she had when Abigail Rossmore (deceased) had asked her to call her Abby.
She earnestly hoped that this ‘M’ was not a murderer.
But for some reason she no longer had any problem imagining him shouting and swearing at his son, the younger Dr Patil.