Last Act by Jane Aiken Hodge

Author:Jane Aiken Hodge
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 1979-08-20T04:00:00+00:00

10

Next day’s rehearsal went almost too quietly. Everyone seemed subdued, listless … It was a stage Anne recognised, when they were beginning to know their parts but were not yet quite into them, but also, she thought, everyone was tired. Gertrud and Hilde both had dark circles under their eyes, while John Fare was white as a sheet and shook a little. Even Carl, who had so far managed to seem a tower of confident strength, looked tired and anxious, and Anne wondered all over again at the change in him. She thought she preferred the shaggy Bohemian she remembered, so sure of himself and his music. It was that confidence that had infuriated poor Robin. And since when had she been thinking of her dead husband as poor Robin?

It was a relief when the rehearsal ended without disaster and they separated to dress for the Princess’ dinner. Twisting her Woolworth chain in the neck of the green velvet dress Mrs Riley had made for her, Anne thought for a moment of Prince Rudolf and his jeweller’s box. Did she actually regret not having looked inside? Ashamed of herself, she reached for the telephone to call Hilde and suggest a drink, but as she did so it rang.

It was Josef. “Your escort is here.”

“He’s early,” said Anne.

“He suggests a drink.” Michael’s voice.

“Lovely. Oh, I am so glad it’s you, Michael!” But how absurd. Picking up her coat to hurry down and join him, she felt all her old doubts creeping back. While he had been so mysteriously absent, she had simply missed him. Now that he had returned, she could not help wondering what he had been doing. Helping the police—or hindering them? Searching, perhaps, or pretending to search, for himself? Because—she made herself face it, now she was thinking again—his complicity might help to explain the curious cover up of the murders. He had friends, powerful friends, in Lissenberg. Might they not be trying to protect him? She shook the doubts out of her mind and hurried downstairs.

“Stunning!” He was waiting at the lift door and led the way into Josef’s office. “I thought we’d hide peacefully in here.” He pulled out a chair for her and poured slivovitz. And then, drinking to her, “I’ve missed you.”

“You’ve kept very quiet about it.” It came out more sharply than she had intended.

“I’ve been … busy.” He paused for a moment, as if that was all he was going to say, then went on. “Away part of the time. An errand for Winkler.”

“About which you don’t intend to tell me.” But then, think of all the things she probably would not ask him.

“Quite right.” His smile was teasing. “Anyway, I achieved nothing.”

“But you’re still working for the police?” Surely, if Winkler trusted him, so could she.

“Off and on. Here and there. Escort duty tonight. We’re taking no chances with our prima donna. Hence the trip through Rudolf’s folly.”

“Rudolf’s—”

“—Folly. You’ve no idea what it added to the expense of the whole opera project.

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