By the time the show finished with the performers parading round the ring for their final bows, he was exhausted, but the crowd was enraptured. Even without the lion tamer and the circus’s lead juggler, the show had been every bit as amazing as the posters had promised, and as we all made our way out into the warm summer’s night, everyone was buzzing with the excitement of it all.
It was rather late by the time we got home and Lady Hardcastle had said that she had no intention of getting up at her usual hour and that a lie-in would be very much in order.
As is always the way when licensed slugabeddery has been offered, I was up with, if not the lark, then at least the lark’s more lackadaisical cousin. Many a long-put-off chore had finally been completed and at least one cake baked by the time Lady Hardcastle rang from her bedroom.
I took her a tray with tea, crumpets and the morning post and soon afterwards she arrived downstairs in her dressing gown, still yawning, holding a letter in her hand.
‘Harry has written,’ she said. ‘Ehrlichmann hasn’t been seen in London for a few days, but his sources say that say he’s been spotted in Portsmouth, probably trying to catch a boat back to the Continent.’
‘So we shouldn’t worry?’ I asked.
‘So Harry thinks.’
‘I must say, it’s something of a relief. Perhaps it’s all over.’
‘Perhaps, perhaps. But what’s not over is this blessed business at the circus.’
‘No. It was almost possible to forget about it for a while last evening, though, wasn’t it. Tell me you didn’t have the most marvellous time.’
‘I confess it was rather more enjoyable than I had expected,’ she said. ‘Although I must say that slightly more enjoyable was your reaction to it all. I had no idea you were so keen on circuses.’
‘Ever since I was little,’ I said. ‘I’ve not been keeping it a secret, it’s just never come up before. What was your favourite part?’
She laughed. ‘I enjoyed it all, but if I’m completely honest my favourite part was when the Chinese acrobat told that filthy joke in Mandarin.’
I grinned. ‘Lady Farley-Stroud wondered what he was saying and I briefly considered translating for her, just to see which part of her exploded first.’
‘You made a wise choice not to, I think. Although I do wonder if she’d have known what it all meant even if he’d told it in English. She doesn’t look the type to go in for all that nasty, messy business, somehow.’
It was my turn to laugh.
‘I think perhaps we ought to give some more thought to the murders, though,’ she said. ‘Perhaps more tea and crumpets and a look at the board, do you think? I’ll get dressed while you ready the sustaining comestibles.’
A quarter of an hour later we were in the dining room revising the crime board.
‘There just doesn’t seem to be any reason for it all,’ said Lady Hardcastle. ‘I mean to say, what had those two men got in common aside from their membership of this inner circus circle? There must be some connection, don’t you think? Or does that mean it must be someone from outside the group?’
‘There’s nothing I can see, my lady. I can see a reason for Noakes to kill Parvin, and for Bernbaum to kill Noakes. But Bernbaum was nowhere near the circus when he died and anyway that would mean two killers instead of one.’
‘Hmm. How about–’
The doorbell rang.
It was one of the stable lads from the circus with a note from Colonel Dawlish. I gave the lad a ha’penny and took the note through to Lady Hardcastle who was still sitting in the dining room, staring at the board.
‘He says, “Dearest Ems...” I do wish he’d not call me that. Emily’s quite an easy name to say. Persephone, now that’s quite tricky. I knew a Persephone when I was young. We called her Percy. Quite an unfortunately hairy girl. Married a clergyman, I believe...’
‘“Dearest Ems”,’ I repeated, trying to get her back on track.
‘Quite so, dear. “Dearest Ems...” Do you know, it’s not like he’s always done it. It’s not like it’s an old pet name from when we were younger. He’s only started recently...’
‘“Dearest Ems”,’ I said, slightly more firmly than perhaps I should.
‘All right, pet, don’t get agitated. “Dearest Ems, Thank you so much for coming last night and bringing such an enthusiastic local crowd with you. Box Office takings were our highest ever for an opening night and we’ve sold out for the rest of the week. I do hope you enjoyed yourselves. Would you both care to come over for elevenses and we can discuss your progress with the case before the rozzers start to get too overwrought? Shall we say eleven o’clock? That’s when we usually have our elevenses. Perhaps that’s why they’re called that. There shall be coffee. And cake. Or perhaps biscuits. I’ll speak to Babble. See you soon, love Georgie.” There, now, you see, “Georgie”, that’s what I used to call him. I just don’t know where Ems has come from.’
I looked at the clock on the mantel. ‘It’s a quarter-to already, my lady.’
‘So it is. He doesn’t give a lady much notice with his invitations, does he? Heigh-ho. Hats, gloves, and best feet forwards. I wish I hadn’t had that extra crumpet now, I rather like Babble’s cakes. It seems to be drizzling. Umbrellas will be needed.’
‘Lady Hardcastle...’
‘...and Miss Armstrong. How absolutely...’
‘...lovely to see you...’
‘...both.’
Milly and Molly were already working in the box office. I could just about see through the window that they were each doing something beneath the counter and went in for a closer look. They were knitting.
‘Good morning, ladies,’ I said. ‘What are you knitting?’
‘Baby...’ said Milly.
‘...bootees,’ finished Molly.
‘One each. It gets so...’
‘...boring to have to knit...’
‘...two of them.’
‘They’re for our...’
‘...grand niece. She’s expecting her...’
‘...first in a few...’
‘...months.’
Please pass on my best wishes,’ I said. ‘She’s lucky to have such delightful aunts.’
‘Great aunts,’ they said together.
‘Great indeed,’ I said with a laugh.
‘Colonel Dawlish is...’ began Molly.
‘...expecting you, he said...’
‘...you know the way to...’
‘...his tent.’
‘We do, thank you,’ I said. ‘Enjoy your day, and try not to get too bored of your knitting.’
‘We shall...’ said Milly.
‘...and we shan’t,’ finished Molly. It took me a second or two to work out what they meant, but they were clearly sharper than I gave them credit for.
We walked through the camp. Most of the performers and crew were still asleep so it was much quieter than we’d seen it thus far, but a few were beginning to stir and waved to us in greeting as we passed.
Colonel Dawlish was in fine spirits when we reached his tent and was already pouring coffee into tin mugs as we approached. He had tied back the flaps of the tent and everything within was in perfect military order.
Lady Hardcastle rapped on the tent pole with the handle of her umbrella.
‘Come on in, Ems darling. Tent’s open.’
‘Thank you, dear.’
We ducked under the tent flap and sat in the comfortable canvas chairs he had waved us to. He brought the coffee and offered delicious-looking oatmeal biscuits from an enamelled tin plate.