31st December 1929
Dear Aunt Clara,
Thank you so much for letting us stay with you at Christmas and for letting Father Christmas know where we were. I just love Cuthbear. Grandmama likes him too and has been quite kind. Well more kind than she usually is. George and Henry are still playing with the trains. The train journey down was long and we all got very hungry and a bit grumpy. Daddy met us at the station. Mummy was very pleased to see him. I know now that Mummy and Daddy and Grandpa and Grandmama have lost lots of money. They don’t think I know but I do. And I listen to them talking. Is that naughty, Auntie Clara? I hope not. But if it is I shall say sorry to God in my prayers.
We have a new Nanny and I asked her to post this for me. She’s very nice and kind. I hope she stays longer than old Nanny. We are staying for a while with my other grandparents. Daddy’s mummy and daddy. They seem very cross with Daddy, but they are not cross with me or the boys. Mummy says we will have to stay here because someone else might live in our house. She says Daddy and Grandpapa are trying to sort it all out. Grandpapa sold those two paintings, but it’s not enough she said. So maybe Aunt Clara we might be coming to stay with you again. I do hope so. I love you, Aunt Clara. I love you very much. And now I must go. Daddy has just come home and I can hear loud voices. I’ll write to you again when I can.
Your niece,
Rosalind
Clara put the letter back in the envelope with a sigh. Poor little Rosalind. Things didn’t sound as if they were entirely back on an even keel. She hoped to high heaven it wouldn’t mean she’d have to put them all up again. She wouldn’t mind Rosalind – it would be nice to get to know the little girl more, and, who knows, perhaps they could develop the type of relationship she had with her Uncle Bob. But the rest of them? She shuddered at the thought.
‘Come on, Clara! It’s nearly midnight!’ Juju stuck her head into the library where Clara had shut herself away. ‘We can’t see the new year in without our host!’
Clara smiled at her friend and accompanied her back to the drawing room. Juju had insisted they have a little New Year’s Eve party to celebrate the end of Clara’s case and to see in the new decade. But, apparently, the Levine house was too small. So, before Clara knew it, she was hosting a party. Juju hired some temporary staff to cater and arranged all the invitations. Gathered in the drawing room around the gramophone were Stan Ridpath and his wife, Edith. Just that morning she’d signed the purchase papers for the Lemington houses and Stan informed her that it looked like her finances would be safe – for now – against whatever turbulence might hit Britain’s shores from the crash in America.
With the Ridpaths was Mr Carlton and his wife from Fenwick’s. Clara and Mr Carlton had already had a few words and he’d informed her that he’d spoken to the board and they’d decided to keep it all in-house. Howie Best had been interviewed – and sacked. The good news, as far as Mr Carlton was concerned, was that Howie had not implicated Jack Danskin in any way. So once again, Clara’s suspicion of him had turned out to be misplaced. Which was exactly what Juju had said when Clara balked at inviting him to the New Year’s party. She was of course grateful for his help in detaining Bessy Jones – who was now in a police cell – but gratitude ought only to go so far. However, there he was, standing beside her fireplace, in her house, drinking her expensive cognac. He saw her looking at him and raised his glass, bestowing on her one of his most charming smiles. Goodness me, he’s attractive … Clara averted her eyes.
A trill of laughter caught her ear and she saw Peggy Rose, dressed to the nines in full flapper finery, sharing a joke with Tubby Brown. Unfortunately, the Leeds run of Cinderella had been cancelled, with too many cast members either dead or arrested. A good half dozen others had resigned, claiming they didn’t want to be associated with the scandal – or be the next murder victim. Theatre folk were a superstitious lot and there was talk of a curse on the Starlight Players. So that was the end of the tour. Tubby was philosophical about it and vowed to rebuild the company again. He and Peggy clinked their glasses of champagne.
Bella was there too, with young Sophia Smith – or Sophia Langford as she said she now wanted to be known. Bella said she couldn’t abide the thought of the girl staying in North Shields and went to get her. Her grandmother didn’t complain when the girl packed her bags. She was now staying with Bella until she decided what to do next. Juju had said she might need an apprentice and that they’d be willing to take the girl on. Clara thought she should first finish school. Conversations were still ongoing, but for now, Sybil Langford’s daughter was safe.
Jonny, Charlie Malone and Sandy Hawkes – the three bachelors – were enjoying cigars in front of the fire. Inspector Hawkes caught her eye and smiled. Clara was beginning to wonder if he had any intentions towards her. Andrew was still in the convalescent home. She hadn’t had a chance to see him, but had spoken to him on the telephone, filling him in with as much as she could about her latest case. He’d been shocked to hear she’d nearly died in the river, although she’d tried to play it down. He was going to be released next week and would come home to Newcastle. She wondered if they’d be able to pick up their romance where they’d left it back in August; she honestly wasn’t sure.
But one thing she was sure of: she was going to carry on with this detection business. And as the guests gathered round to count down to midnight, they raised a toast to acquaintances – old and new – who ought never to be forgot.
‘Happy New Year, Clara,’ said someone at her shoulder. She turned around to see who had spoken … but there was no one there. She could have sworn it sounded just like Uncle Bob.
The END
If you loved all the twists and turns in this festive murder mystery, then don’t miss The Picture House Murders, the first Golden Age Mystery featuring Miss Clara Vale. Available now!