The Footlights Murder (Esther & Jack Enright Mystery Book 12) by David Field

Author:David Field [Field, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2025-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

‘It’s been an interesting week for me,’ Percy observed, once Beattie had left the room in order to supervise the children washing their hands ahead of Sunday lunch in the Watford house. ‘But before I go into that, what can the rest of you tell me?’

‘Well,’ Esther began, ‘I think I’m about to be introduced to Florence Bannister, thanks to Simon Abelman swallowing my bait.’

Jack gave a low growl. ‘Patronising bastard that he is! He seems to think that he knows all there is to know about women’s rights as well as acting. And from what I could tell, his acting’s not of the finest either.’

‘Unless you want to play Hamlet yourself,’ Lucy replied firmly, ‘I strongly advise against antagonising him to the point at which he walks out on us. You’re constantly complaining about having to learn your lines — which, incidentally, you seem to have mastered very well — but the part of Hamlet would test anyone’s memory, so give him some sympathy and play to his ego.’

‘Anyone else?’ Percy asked. The others shook their heads, so he puffed out his cheeks in self-congratulation as he announced, ‘Well, I can add something to our general knowledge. Something that only Jack knows at present.’

‘Joe Banks prefers the company of men,’ said Jack, ‘and after our Thursday evening meeting, Percy followed him to a molly house.’

‘Translation, please,’ Lucy requested, ‘for the benefit of those of us not familiar with the more mysterious side of London life.’

‘A molly house is where homosexual men meet,’ said Percy. ‘Jack in particular became very familiar with at least one of those some years ago, when we were tasked with enquiring into the private life of a man who was one of England’s most admired playwrights at that time. Lucy at least will have heard of Oscar Wilde.’

‘Indeed I have,’ said Lucy. ‘We successfully staged his Lady Windermere’s Fan a few years ago. But didn’t he go to prison for something or other?’

‘The “something or other” was his sexual orientation,’ Percy told her.

‘Are you telling us that Joe Banks is similarly inclined?’ Lucy asked.

‘Why else would he be visiting a molly house?’ Percy replied.

‘It would, of course, partly explain why he hasn’t fallen for the blandishments of Miss Bennett,’ Jack added.

‘You mean because he’s otherwise inclined?’ Teddy asked.

Jack nodded, adding, ‘That, plus the fact that she’s a bit lumpy and drab.’

Esther hissed quietly. ‘Is that how women are destined to be judged, solely by their looks?’ she demanded. ‘How about their personalities and their abilities? Alice strikes me as the perfect life companion for the right man, given her warmth, her sincerity, and her willingness to undertake mundane tasks while others enjoy the spotlight.’

‘Save your sermon for Simon Abelman’s soapbox,’ Jack replied hotly.

Percy raised a hand in order to regain everyone’s attention. ‘I’d like to make a suggestion or two about how we proceed with what we have so far. I think that my sensitive nose just detected an increased aroma of roast beef,

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