‘Open it,’ said Mrs Lim, smiling in anticipation.
Breathlessly, Sophie prised open the lid of the box. She didn’t really know what she had expected to find inside but it certainly was not a small stack of notebooks, the covers faded and stained from much use. She picked up the top one. On the cover was handwritten in black ink: Alice Grayson – Diary 1881.
She stared up at Mei and Song in delight. ‘This belonged to my mother!’ she exclaimed. She flicked open the pages, which were dense with writing.
Mei beamed. ‘They’re diaries. That’s what your father wanted Granddad to keep safe for you.’
They could have stayed there talking everything over in the cosy office all afternoon. Yet at last, one by one, their guests began to drift away. Veronica, Phyllis, Mr Pendleton and Mr Devereaux left to dress for the Countess of Alconborough’s supper party that evening, and Inspector Worth was needed back at Scotland Yard. The Lims set out on their way back to Limehouse, Mr Lim looping his arm over Mei’s shoulder, and Song flashing a smile over his shoulder as they went.
Leo and Tilly were next to go, and went off chattering happily. They had had a long and interesting conversation with Mr Sinclair, and were going to investigate classes in mechanics and science that Tilly might be able to take: Connie had suggested that Mrs St James might be able to help make arrangements. Of course, they’d already decided that they wouldn’t be mentioning anything about that to Lady Fitzgerald, Cook or Mrs Dawes.
Jack followed them. ‘1910 is looking rather exciting already, isn’t it?’ he said as he departed. Then he grinned cheekily at Sophie. ‘Perhaps this year I’ll finally be able to get you to come with me for that coffee at the Café Royal – what do you think?’
‘Oh – perhaps!’ said Sophie, with a smile.
Mr McDermott nodded at them all before he left. ‘I’ll drop in and see you tomorrow,’ he said to Sophie, patting her gently on the shoulder.
And then at last it was just the four of them – Sophie and Lil and Billy and Joe – and the two dogs, Daisy and Lucky, of course – all sitting together in the office.
‘Well,’ said Joe.
‘Well,’ said Lil.
Billy closed his notebook with a contented sigh. ‘That was a million times better than any Montgomery Baxter mystery. Do you know, I think I might start writing mystery stories myself. I bet I’ve got enough material for at least a dozen.’
‘And I reckon we’ll have enough for a dozen more for you too, before very long,’ said Joe. ‘The Baron might be gone – but I don’t think we’ve seen the back of mysteries just yet.’
‘Of course we haven’t!’ exclaimed Lil indignantly. ‘We’re a detective agency! Mysteries are our business.’
Joe grinned and got to his feet. ‘Well, on that note, it’s back to business for me. I reckon we’d better take these dogs out – coming, Bill?’
Billy nodded and scrambled up too. ‘I think I’ll call the first one The Mystery of the Stolen Jewels . . .’ Sophie could hear him saying as they went out of the door. ‘Or no – wait – maybe that’s not exciting enough. How about The Curious Case of the Missing Musical Box . . .’
Lil got up too. ‘I’m awfully sorry, but I’ve got to go as well. I’m supposed to go over to the theatre and talk to Mr Mountville. He’s talking about giving me a much better part in the play than silly old Daphne De Vere, after my turn in the Midnight Extravaganza. Maybe I’ll even be allowed to survive all the way through to the third act!’ She beamed at Sophie as she put on her hat and then said in a careless voice: ‘So I s’pose I’ll see you back here tomorrow.’
‘Yes, you will,’ Sophie replied decidedly. ‘And make sure you’re not late. We’ve got lots of work to do. Mr McDermott is coming to see us – and remember, we’re going to the Lims’ later on.’
Lil grinned. ‘As if I could forget the very first meeting of the new Loyal Order of Lions!’ she said. ‘I say, I’m jolly excited about it all.’ She paused for a moment, and they looked at each other and smiled. Then: ‘Goodnight, Sophie!’
‘Goodnight, Lil!’
Alone now, Sophie went over to the window, and settled down at her desk again. It had begun to snow once more, and for a few minutes she paused and stared out at the falling flakes as they spiralled down on to Piccadilly. Even in the January twilight, she could see that people were still surging up the steps and through the great doors of Sinclair’s, or pausing to admire the golden windows, spilling out colour and brightness.
She smiled contentedly, and turned back to look down at the diaries, spread out across her desk in the warm pool of lamplight. She gently touched the blue cover of the first one, and her heart swelled. Then, with very careful fingers, she opened it to the first page, and began to read:
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Readers of the Sinclair’s Mysteries will know that whilst the places and people that appear in the series are fictional, some of them are inspired by real-life history. In particular, Sinclair’s itself owes much to London’s real Edwardian department stores – most of all, Selfridges, which also opened its doors for the first time in 1909.
In this story, César Chevalier is partly inspired by a real French designer, Paul Poiret, whose incredible designs made him one of the most important and influential fashion designers of the 1910s and 1920s. His famous Mille et Deuxième Nuit (Thousand and Second Night) party in Paris in 1911, to celebrate the launch of his scent Parfums de Rosine, helped to inspire the Midnight Peacock Ball.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It has been a joy to work with Egmont on the Sinclair’s Mysteries. Huge thanks to everyone in the Egmont team – but most especially to brilliant Ali Dougal, who understood Sinclair’s from the very beginning, right down to the bluebell-scented perfume.
Special thanks to Laura Bird and the design team for creating such a beautiful book and many, many thanks to super-talented magician Karl James Mountford for the stunning artwork – it’s been a privilege working with you.
Enormous thanks to my agent and dear friend Louise Lamont – source of endless wise advice, pillar of support in the face of emergency root canals, and all-round Jolly Good Sort.
Thank you to all my brilliant and supportive colleagues and friends – most especially Claire Shanahan, Nina Douglas, Katherine Webber and Melissa Cox – as well as my amazing fellow children’s and YA authors. I feel very lucky to be part of such an incredible community.
Thank you to my wonderful friends and family, in particular my husband, Duncan, who outdid himself by inventing a character for this book (Miss Pickering!) and to the whole Hay clan for all their support. Thanks most of all – and very much love – to my mum and dad, who are always my biggest fans.
Huge thanks to all the booksellers, librarians, teachers and bloggers who have so enthusiastically championed the Sinclair’s Mysteries – it is enormously appreciated.
Special thanks to all the young readers who have read and enjoyed the series. I hope you’ve had as much fun reading about Sophie, Lil and the gang as I have had writing about them. Most of all, I hope their adventures will act as a reminder that there are many ways – large and small – in which young people can make a difference in the world.
The Midnight Peacock (The Sinclair’s Mysteries) Page 23