‘Could she be a culprit?’ Philip asked.

  ‘I can’t imagine it. But it’s not impossible. She said she left the stage early because her shoes were hurting her feet. I don’t know exactly when she left the stage and whether that gave her much time to attack Lola. Even if she had the opportunity to harm her, I have no idea what her motive could have been at this stage. I suppose she has to be a suspect. I feel bad suggesting it because she’s Lady Hereford’s great niece.’

  ‘At this stage I think everyone who was involved with the show has to be suspected,’ said Philip. ‘I wonder how Joyce will get on with it.’

  ‘I thought he handled Daphne very well. And I was grateful to him for asking me to be involved in the interview with her.’

  ‘It sounds like he needed you. Did you meet Vivien Kingsley?’

  ‘No. Lady Hereford’s niece pointed her out before the show. And then she came onto the stage for the final part of the show to receive everyone’s applause. She was the last person to arrive onto the stage at the end. That means she would have been alone in the changing rooms with Lola for a minute or two while everyone else was on the stage. I’m not sure Miss Kingsley had enough time to attack her, but she could have been angry with Lola for not joining in with the final part of the show.’

  ‘Kingsley would have to have a shocking temper if she murdered Lola for that,’ said Philip.

  ‘I agree. And as I didn’t meet her, I really couldn’t say if she’s prone to temper tantrums or not.’

  Philip sipped his tea as he thought. ‘How many models were there?’

  ‘About thirty.’

  ‘And did you see Daphne among them when they were all on the stage at the end?’

  ‘I think so…’ Augusta tried to picture them in her mind. ‘I can’t be completely sure. I remember she was wearing a silver evening gown, and she must have been there. But I can’t specifically remember. Isn’t memory frustrating sometimes? Maybe Lady Hereford will recall. She has more interest in Daphne because she’s a member of her family.’

  ‘It’s possible Lady Hereford remembers seeing her. Or maybe Daphne remained in the changing rooms and didn’t go out onto the stage at all.’

  ‘No, that couldn’t have happened. One of the other models or Miss Kingsley would have seen her there.’

  ‘Good point.’

  ‘But perhaps Daphne hid somewhere,’ said Augusta. ‘That’s a possibility. And if she did, why did she want to harm Lola?’

  Chapter 12

  Vivien Kingsley had a headache. And the small airless office she was sitting in didn’t help.

  She closed her eyes and massaged her temples with her fingertips.

  ‘Are you alright, Miss Kingsley?’ asked the young detective from Scotland Yard.

  ‘I’m fine.’ She opened her eyes to give him and the police sergeant a sharp stare. She needed to get back to her hotel suite and have a lie down. But instead, she had to face the police.

  Months of preparation for the show, and this was how it had ended. No one was talking about her latest collection. Instead, they were all talking about the murder.

  What a foolish girl Lola had been.

  Vivien noticed her hands trembling as she lit a cigarette. If only she could wind back time and start the day again. She longed to live it again with everything going perfectly. She had worked hard to make her show a success. Why had it gone so horrifically wrong?

  ‘How long did you know Lola Parker for?’ asked Detective Sergeant Joyce.

  ‘She worked for me for about six months.’

  ‘And how did that come about?’

  ‘I noticed her walking along Kensington High Street and she looked the part. I approached her and asked her if she would like to work as one of my models.’

  And what a mistake that had been. She had been attracted to Lola’s beauty. The girl had been taller and prettier than all the other girls who worked for her. Before she met Lola, Vivien had employed the daughters of friends as models. All she had looked for was good deportment and an even temperament. But Lola had been different. She looked like one of those sophisticated Parisian girls. From the moment she first set eyes on her, Vivien knew Lola could sell her clothes.

  ‘She’d never modelled clothes before, so there was quite a bit of training involved,’ she said to the detective. ‘But she was elegant and knew how to carry herself with poise.’

  ‘How many girls do you employ, Miss Kingsley?’

  ‘About thirty. It’s rapidly becoming a popular occupation for young, attractive women. I’ve even had ladies calling on me recently asking if I have any positions available. I have to turn many of them down. I can afford to be choosy these days. A Kingsley girl has to have a certain look about her. And I know it when I see it.’

  ‘What was Miss Parker like to work with?’

  Vivien inhaled on her cigarette, choosing her words carefully. ‘Spirited,’ she said. ‘I shan’t lie to you, Detective. She was the argumentative sort. However, she was young and not particularly well-bred. She had a lot to learn. In the six months she worked for me, her attitude improved remarkably. It can take a girl a while to realise what standards are expected of her. Lola was getting there.’

  ‘Did she fall out with people?’

  ‘There were disagreements. Lola had strong opinions and that could create discord. I had to have words with her now and again, but I had a soft spot for her. I like people with spirit. Just as long as they do what I say.’

  ‘Did Miss Parker always do what you said?’

  The detective seemed quite astute for someone so young. She had to tread carefully. ‘Most of the time.’

  ‘And how did Miss Parker get on with the rest of the girls who worked for you?’

  ‘Very well, most of the time. There could be a bit of jealousy now and again.’

  ‘Miss Parker was jealous of the other girls?’

  ‘Jealousy is something which plagues us all. And when everyone’s wearing beautiful clothes for shows and photographic sessions, there’s always going to be someone envious of someone else.’

  ‘Can you think of anyone who disliked Miss Parker?’

  ‘No. I encouraged the girls to get along with each other and that’s what they did most of the time.’

  ‘So you don’t know of anyone who could have wished to harm her?’

  ‘No! Absolutely not. And even if one of the girls had disliked her, she certainly wouldn’t have strangled her with her scarf. It’s unimaginable to picture what sort of monster would have done that to Lola. It certainly would never have been one of the girls. You can rule them all out immediately, Detective.’

  ‘I’ve heard there was a disagreement between Miss Parker and another girl before the final part of the show.’

  Vivien sighed. Who had told the detective that? ‘Yes. And that wasn’t unusual. It was because I made Lola and another girl swap outfits. Sometimes I like to make changes during the show. I’m a perfectionist. And if something doesn’t look quite right, then I change it. I simply asked Lola and Sylvia to swap their outfits because I thought they would look better. Had I known Lola was refusing to go onto the stage, I would have had a strong word with her about it but...’

  ‘But she was murdered?’

  ‘Exactly. The most tragic thing imaginable.’

  She inhaled on her cigarette and flicked a speck of stray ash from her black velvet sleeve. It was difficult to believe Lola was dead. She couldn’t get the image out of her mind. Her long limbs bent at uncomfortable angles as she lay on the floor.

  ‘When did you find out Lola was refusing to go onto the stage?’ asked the detective.

  ‘After she was found.’

  ‘After she died, you mean?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Detective Sergeant Joyce sat back in his chair and frowned. Vivien didn’t like it. What was he thinking about?

  ‘All the models went onto the stage for the end of the show,’ he said. ‘Am I right?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘You followed them onto the stage?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘So you were the last person left in the changing rooms?’

  ‘For a brief moment.’

  ‘Miss Parker was also in the changing rooms, wasn’t she? She didn’t go out onto the stage for the final part of the show.’

  She calmly met his gaze before she spoke. ‘I didn’t see her.’

  He leant forward. ‘You didn’t see her?’

  ‘No. I had no idea she was still in the changing rooms.’

  ‘But surely you saw her there?’

  ‘No, Detective. I didn’t.’

  He exchanged a glance with the sergeant which suggested he didn’t believe her. Vivien pursed her lips and stared at him.

  ‘Why didn’t you see Miss Parker in the changing rooms?’ he asked.

  ‘Did you look in there?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then you would have seen all the boxes, mirrors and racks of clothes there. It was impossible for anyone to have a clear view of the room. I waited by the door for a few moments and then went out to join the girls on stage. Perhaps Miss Parker visited the bathroom while I was waiting. The bathroom is at the far end of the changing rooms, away from the door. Or perhaps she hid from my view, possibly worried I would spot her there.’

  ‘Why would she have worried about that?’

  ‘Because I would have been angry with her.’

  ‘You would have lost your temper with her?’

  Vivien thought carefully again before she replied. ‘I don’t lose my temper, Detective. But I have strong words with people when they’re insubordinate.’

  Her jaw felt tight with anger. Never before had one of her girls refused to walk out onto the stage! Lola had been rude, disrespectful and completely ungrateful for the opportunity Vivien had given her.

  She took in a slow breath through her nose and calmed herself. ‘So it’s just as well I didn’t notice her before I went out onto the stage.’

  ‘Just as well? What do you mean by that?’

  ‘I would have said some sharp words to her, and that situation was avoided. Anyway, I went out to greet the audience, and they thanked me.’

  She smiled as she recalled the adulation. There was no better feeling. Everybody had enjoyed the clothes and the show. At that moment, Vivien had felt sure she would receive a lot of orders from it.

  But Lola had ruined it. The girl had sulked and refused to do her job. That decision had cost Lola her life. It had also ruined Vivien’s show.

  ‘If Miss Parker had still been alive when you returned to the changing rooms after the show, would you have punished her for her actions?’

  ‘I would have fired her, Detective. A girl only ever disobeys me once. I know it sounds awful saying it because poor Lola is dead now. I’m dreadfully sorry for her family and friends. But I’ve been affected too, you know. And at this moment, I’m terribly worried about the effect this dreadful murder will have on the reputation of my fashion house.’

  Chapter 13

  ‘This has to be the worst day of my life!’ said Vivien Kingsley as she strode into her suite at the Ritz Hotel. She pulled off her hat and flung it onto a velvet-covered chair. She dropped her handbag onto an occasional table, flopped onto the chaise longue, and kicked off her shoes.

  ‘I must look a mess,’ she said. ‘Pass me my handbag, would you, darling?’

  Nikolai did so, and she took her pocket mirror from it. As soon as she flipped it open, she wanted to close it again. Her makeup had sunk into the lines of her face, emphasising them even more. Her cheeks were flushed and her nose was shiny. She pulled a lipstick from her bag and smeared a layer of crimson over her thin lips. Dissatisfied with the result she saw in the mirror, she folded it and tossed it with the lipstick onto the deep pile carpet.

  Nikolai offered her a cigarette.

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Champagne?’ he said as he lit her cigarette.

  ‘Why would I drink champagne at a time like this? Champagne is for celebrating, Nikolai. What have I got to celebrate?’

  The Russian duke walked over to the mirrored drinks cabinet.

  ‘Do they have brandy there, darling?’ she asked.

  He nodded and poured her drink.

  ‘That poor girl,’ she said, once the drink was in her hand. Nikolai sat in a brocade armchair and crossed one long leg over the other. ‘I just keep seeing her there, lying on the floor,’ Vivien continued. ‘I’ll never be able to get the image out of my mind.’

  ‘You will.’

  ‘No, I won’t! It’s not the sort of thing you ever expect to see. And it’s all people are going to talk about now. No one’s going to remember my show.’

  ‘Of course they will remember it,’ said Nikolai. ‘It was one of your best shows.’

  ‘That’s what I thought. But everyone’s going to remember it for the girl who was murdered backstage.’

  ‘They’ll catch the murderer soon.’

  ‘How can you be so sure? And anyway, it couldn’t have been a man. How could a man get into the changing rooms without being seen? It must have been one of the other girls. Although I refuse to believe one of the girls could have done something like that. I just can’t fathom out who else could have done it.’

  ‘Did you see Lola with anyone?’

  ‘No, I didn’t. The detective kept asking me the same thing. Why are you asking me questions like a detective, Nikolai?’

  ‘I was only interested to find out if you saw anyone suspicious.’

  ‘No, I saw nothing. I didn’t even realise Lola was in there! Isn’t that ridiculous? I was too busy worrying about how the show had gone and hoping and praying I would receive some applause when I went out onto the stage.’

  Nikolai gave a nod but said nothing more. It frustrated her he didn’t know how to comfort her at a time like this. It seemed few men did. Perhaps she was expecting too much from him.

  ‘I really don’t know what to do now,’ she said. ‘We need to start work on the next season, but it looks disrespectful just to carry on, doesn’t it? I suppose I shall have to close the business for a few days as a mark of respect. It seems quite ridiculous when you consider Lola was never grateful to me for the job I gave her. In fact, I think she even resented it a little. Such a waste. She was easily the prettiest of the girls, but she was the most difficult. And now look where it’s got her. If you’re going to be a difficult person, then I’m afraid these things can happen to you.’

  ‘It is sad,’ said Nikolai.

  ‘If only Lola had been less disagreeable,’ continued Vivien. ‘She would have had the world at her feet. She would have been able to do anything she wanted. Beautiful people attract attention, and they can get their own way very easily if they’re charming too. But if you’re difficult, then people will dislike you very quickly indeed. They’ll resent you. It really is possible for a woman to be too much, you know, Nikolai.’

  He nodded. ‘Yes, it certainly is.’

  ‘I’m not saying I’m perfect, Nikolai. I know I can be difficult. But then I’m not beautiful, am I? I make the best of what I have. But when people meet me, they know what to expect. They don’t have other expectations of me.’

  ‘You have to be a determined and clever woman to be a success at what you do.’

  ‘Yes, that’s right, Nikolai. And I learned that determination at a young age. I don’t bore the girls with my story, but most of them don’t have half an idea of what I’ve been through. I wouldn’t change a thing, of course. It made me the woman I am today. But when I see these pampered young things in tears when they’ve broken a nail…’ She shook her head in dismay.

  Nikolai was irritating her. He was very handsome, but he was also annoyingly impassive.

  ‘How are you feeling about all this, Nikolai?’

  ‘I think it is very tragic,’ he said. ‘It’s terrible that something bad can happen in a place which you think is safe.’

  ‘Agreed. I’m worried the girls won’t want to do any more shows after this. They’re going to be terrified, the poor things. I really don’t know what to think about it all, my mind’s all over the place. And yet your calmness astonishes me, Nikolai. Aren’t you at least appalled?’

  ‘Appalled? Yes, I am appalled. It is dreadful. But I didn’t know the girl, so I can only feel sad for her.’

  ‘I suppose I know what you’re saying, Nikolai. It’s just your manner absolutely astonishes me sometimes. I don’t know how you do it. I wish I could be like you. Actually, I don’t. I like to feel things. I like to express things. You have to be able to do those things in order to create.’

  He nodded and inhaled on his cigarette. The man was infuriatingly nonchalant.

  ‘Would you be a dear and run me a bath?’ she said. ‘I need to do something. I can’t just sit here watching you nod your head like a loyal dog.’

  Chapter 14

  Augusta caught up on her book repairs the following day. She examined a copy of The Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900. The flyleaf stated the poems had been chosen and edited by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch. The front cover was almost detached from the spine and some pages at the back were coming loose. Augusta estimated it would take a day to repair, and much of that time would be spent checking all the pages were present.

  She found herself reading a few pages. She had almost finished Sir Arthur’s preface when there was a knock at the door of her workshop.

  ‘Come in!’

  It was Philip. ‘I hope I’m not disturbing you, Augusta.’

  ‘No, not at all. Do you know any Greek proverbs?’

  ‘Greek proverbs? Goodness me, no. Why do you ask?’

  ‘Sir Arthur has included some Greek proverbs in his preface. They’re written in Greek with no translation. I can work out what the letters are, but I don’t understand the actual meaning.’

  ‘What book is that?’

  ‘A book of poems. The Oxford Book of English Verse.’

 

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