Aunt Bessie Decides (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 4)

by Diana Xarissa

  Scott ran his hand down her back and squeezed her bottom. “I couldn’t possibly take you away from the company,” he said in a sad voice. “Things would fall apart without you.”

  Sienna laughed harshly. “It’s too late for that,” she retorted. “We haven’t had a decent performance since you left. William has auditioned and cast half a dozen different shows and then cancelled them, usually after just the read-through. When it became clear we had to get something ready for the shows here, Adam threw this mess together and we literally rehearsed it on the ferry. I think this fortnight will be our last time together as a theatre troupe.”

  “It can’t be that bad,” Scott said. “Will’s Comedy/Tragedy Players were one of the best travelling Shakespearean performance troupes ever. I only ever played small parts. William and Adam were the geniuses behind its success. We toured the entire US, remember? Maybe taking the company across the ocean was a mistake,” Scott conceded. “We should have known things would be different in the UK, and we didn’t plan as well as we should have. But that’s all in the past. You guys can have a brilliant future together. You just have to work as a team.”

  “The problem is, you deserted the team,” Sienna told him. “We all used to feel like a family and then, one day, Candy starts acting like an agent. Suddenly there’s a casting director in the audience and, like magic, you’ve landed the opportunity of a lifetime and the rest of us are left with nothing.”

  “You’ve still got each other,” Scott said.

  “Yeah, except now we’re all trying to figure out how to get our own big break. We’ve all seen what’s possible and we all want to follow in your footsteps, not hang around changing costumes in tiny tents on small islands in the middle of nowhere.”

  Scott shook his head. “I didn’t mean to break up the group,” he said sadly. “But I couldn’t very well turn down my big break, could I?”

  “Why couldn’t you have taken us with you?” Sienna asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

  “Before we left the US, you barely even knew my name,” Scott replied. “I was just another member of the troupe and Adam was one of the stars. Now you’re prepared to dump him and run off with me, because I’m a little bit famous?”

  “Yeah,” Sienna shrugged. “Is that a problem?”

  Scott and Candy both laughed.

  “My dear girl,” Candy said, taking Sienna’s arm. “You and I need to talk. I think I could be a big help to you. In fact, I’m sure I can make you a star.”

  Sienna’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

  Candy shrugged. “You’re pretty and you’re ruthlessly ambitious. I like that. I suppose you have to finish tonight’s show, but we’re leaving in the morning for London. That won’t be a problem, will it?”

  Sienna made a face. “Everyone will fuss if I leave in the middle of the run here,” she said. “I guess I just won’t tell them. They’ll figure it out by lunchtime tomorrow.”

  Scott shook his head. “Don’t you feel any loyalty to the troupe?” he asked. “I gave William a week’s notice before I went.”

  “Except once you told him you were going, he threw you out on the spot,” Sienna laughed. “I think I’d rather just sneak away. They’ll be fine without me. Anyone can do my part.”

  “What about Adam?” Scott asked.

  “He and William can fight over Penny,” Sienna replied. “Or he can go after some pretty little thing in the chorus who can’t actually act. He’ll be fine.”

  “These people’s real lives are more interesting than what happens on Market Square,” Doona whispered to Bessie.

  “I think it’s all terribly sad and I’m glad the inspector’s children aren’t here to witness it,” Bessie replied. “I’ve half a mind to sit that girl down and have a serious talk with her.”

  “I rather think you’d be wasting your breath,” Doona told her friend. “She’s far too self-absorbed to pay any attention to you.”

  “Sienna? Where the devil are you?” the voice boomed out from the small tent, causing Sienna to giggle nervously.

  “I guess I’d better get back to it,” she said with a sigh.

  “Catch me after the show and we’ll figure out exactly where and when to meet tomorrow,” Candy told her. “I’ll sort out your plane ticket and you can repay me from your first proper pay cheque.”

  “Oh, thank you.” Sienna gave the older woman a huge hug and then threw her arms around Scott. “Thank you as well,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him.

  “You can thank me properly later,” he said with a lascivious chuckle.

  “Oh, I will,” Sienna promised with a wink.

  “Oh, please,” Doona muttered to Bessie.

  Rockwell stepped over to stand behind the two. “They should have written some of this drama into the play,” he whispered. “Although the characters certainly aren’t very likable.”

  “Scott’s not bad,” Doona protested. Bessie looked at her for a long minute before Doona blushed.

  “Okay, Scott’s gorgeous and I think I could forgive him anything,” she giggled.

  Rockwell shook his head. “I think I should go and find my kids,” he said grumpily.

  “Maybe we should just sit back down and finish the wine,” Doona suggested to Bessie.

  “I do hope you two lovely ladies aren’t whispering about me,” Scott said. Sienna had disappeared into the tent, and he now turned his attention back to the others in the VIP section.

  “Of course not,” Doona said, blushing. “We were just talking about finishing our bottle of wine.”

  “That’s a lovely idea,” Scott said with an engaging smile. “I think I’ll join you. But no worries, I’ll bring my own bottle.”

  Bessie and Doona exchanged looks, with Bessie trying to telegraph her dislike for the man to her friend. Whatever they both thought, though, they were both too polite to tell the man he wasn’t welcome.

  Bessie headed back to her spot on the blankets and picked up her bag. She pulled out the light jacket she had packed. It was getting late and it was definitely getting cooler. She was about to sit down, but she was interrupted.

  “Oh no, I saw how hard it was for you to get up,” Scott said with an ingratiating smile. “Take my chair, please.”

  Bessie protested for a moment, but Doona quickly joined in the argument, and together they persuaded Bessie to join Candy on the other side of the small enclosure. Doona brought Bessie’s wine glass over to her and then filled it to the brim.

  “Do you want me to move the chair over to our side?” she asked Bessie, as Bessie took a sip.

  “Oh, don’t do that,” Candy said with a grin. “I’d love a chance to talk to Bessie about the island.”

  Bessie gave Doona a dubious look, but responded politely. “I’ll stay here with Ms. Sparkles, then,” she told her friend.

  Doona raised an eyebrow, but took the handful of steps she needed to get back to her own corner of their blankets. Scott grinned up at her from where he’d already stretched himself out, a full bottle of wine within easy reach.

  “Come join me, then,” he coaxed Doona. “Tell me all about your beautiful self.”

  Doona sat down on the ground, grabbed her glass and emptied its contents. Scott was quick to refill it before the pair began their chat.

  “So, have you lived on the island your entire life, then?” Candy asked Bessie.

  “No,” Bessie answered politely. “I was born here, and then my family moved to the US. We lived there through my teen years and then moved back here when I was seventeen.”

  “Really? That’s fascinating,” the other woman replied.

  “Do you really think so?” Bessie asked. “Or are you just being polite?”

  Candy laughed so hard that she had a coughing fit. Finally she drank a healthy swallow of wine and regained control. “Sorry, I smoked for so many years that I’m always just a tickle away from a coughing spell,” she told Bessie. “And if I’m honest, I guess I’m not really that interested in y
our life.” Candy shrugged. “It’s all ancient history anyway. The present is so much more interesting than the past.”

  Bessie grinned at her. “As an historian, I think I might have to disagree with you.”

  Candy laughed again. “My goodness, we’ve absolutely nothing in common, have we? Whatever will we talk about?”

  Bessie glanced over at Doona and Scott. Doona was staring at the man as he talked, and she seemed to be hanging on his every word. “You did say you’re leaving in the morning, right?” Bessie asked.

  Candy let out yet another stream of laughter. “Don’t like Scott playing up to your friend? Can’t say as I blame you for that. He’s too good-looking and he knows it. Women throw themselves at him and he is quick to catch as many of them as he can.”

  Bessie frowned. “Doona has had a rough time lately,” she told Candy. “I’d rather he didn’t play games with her emotions.”

  “Scott, you behave,” Candy called over to the man who had just placed his hand over Doona’s.

  Scott flushed and then pulled his hand back. “We’re just talking,” he said crossly.

  “Just make sure it stays that way,” Candy said. “Doona’s way too good for the likes of you.”

  “No doubt,” Scott replied. “I’ll behave.”

  “Better?” Candy asked Bessie.

  “Yes, thanks,” Bessie answered.

  “Should I tell you about my life as a porn star?” Candy asked.

  “Do you feel the need to talk about it?” Bessie asked.

  Candy chuckled. “You’re perfect,” she told Bessie. “Here I am, trying to shock you, and you’re way cooler than I am. No, I don’t especially need to talk about it. I had a terrible childhood and I started taking care of myself when I was sixteen. Making movies was a way to make money, nothing more. Once I’d made as much as I could, I got out of it and started doing other things. And now I’m finally making decent money managing an actor who’s never even been naked on camera. It’s a weird old world.”

  “It is at that,” Bessie agreed, feeling rather as if she were in the middle of a very strange dream. Certainly the cast of characters was completely unlike any people she’d ever met before.

  A moment later Hugh and Grace returned.

  “It’s getting on towards sunset,” Hugh said as they sank down on the blankets near Doona and Scott. “I thought it was meant to be a short interval, but it’s been nearly an hour now.”

  “A lot of people have left,” Grace added.

  Bessie looked around and shook her head. The small crowd of maybe a hundred people who had been present for the first half of the show seemed to have shrunk by at least half.

  “I think your friends are going to have trouble selling tickets for the rest of the fortnight,” Doona told Scott.

  “It’s a shame,” Scott replied. “There’s a lot of talent in that little group, but Adam is no writer. I can’t imagine what they were thinking, trying to put together an original show.”

  Rockwell and his children now appeared outside the ropes. Thomas jumped over and Amy was quick to follow while their father took the time to unhook one of the ropes from its post and walk through.

  “Did we miss anything?” Rockwell asked the group, as he looked over the VIP area.

  “We were just wondering why they haven’t started back up again,” Doona answered, standing up and taking a step towards her boss.

  “That’s a great question,” Rockwell said. “The sun is going down and it’s going to get dark soon. I’m not sure it would hurt the performance if it’s too dark to see it, but it won’t be safe for the actors moving around the stage if they can’t see where they’re walking.”

  “Let me go and see what’s going on,” Scott said, rising to his feet. He crossed to the little tent and shouted into it. “Hey, William? It’s show time, you need to get on with things.”

  A long silence followed Scott’s words, and then the tent flap was pulled back. Penny’s face appeared in the opening.

  “We’re just about ready,” she said. She quickly disappeared, pulling the flap shut again behind her.

  Bessie spotted Henry pacing anxiously near the stage. She got up and crossed to him. “Henry, what’s going on?” she asked.

  Henry jumped. “Oh, I didn’t see you there,” he muttered. “Sorry, Bessie, but this is just craziness. The show should have finished by now, or nearly, and they haven’t even started the second act. We’ve got some floodlights in place, just in case they ran over, or whatever, but it looks like we’re going to need them for the whole second act. I worry about everyone trying to get out of here once the show is over, though. The castle grounds will be pitch black and there’s so much to trip over.”

  “At least there aren’t that many people here,” Bessie reminded him.

  “True,” Henry said, his face brightening slightly. “I suppose we can take them all out in small groups with our torches.”

  “Anyway, I think they’re almost ready,” she said.

  “I certainly hope so,” Henry replied. “Some of us have to work again in the morning.”

  Bessie crossed back to her little group. They were just getting settled in for the second act.

  “Oh, no, Bessie, you keep the chair,” Scott said, as Bessie started to sit back on the ground. “Here, I’ll move it over for you near your friends.”

  Bessie tried to protest, but first Scott and then everyone else overruled her objections. Scott set the chair up in the middle of the blankets and then headed over to his own side of the section. He flopped down on the ground on the far side of Candy, almost in the doorway to the small tent. His two bodyguards took up their positions behind him.

  Bessie settled in to the borrowed chair with Doona on one side of her and Hugh on the other.

  “Are you sure you can all see around me?” she asked.

  “I don’t want to see anyway,” Thomas told her, lounging across the blanket behind her seat.

  “Sit up and watch,” Rockwell told his son. “The second half might be better.”

  Bessie bit back the laugh that bubbled up inside of her after that remark. From what she’d seen and heard during the interval, the second half was going to be just as tragic as the first.

  A few moments later the group of robed actors and actresses were back, making their way towards the stage. Bessie sat back and sipped her wine, letting their words wash over her without giving them much attention. Various quotations from a myriad of Shakespeare’s plays were mixed in a seemingly random fashion with lines from old movies and books. Bessie began to amuse herself by trying to guess whether lines were from Shakespeare, borrowed from some other play, or simply the product of Adam’s seemingly unusual imagination.

  Doona made one or two muttered comments, but Bessie was far to polite to engage in a conversation during the show, especially as they were essentially sitting in the front row. About halfway through the act, the floodlights were switched on. Now, actors leaving the stage to head for the small tent were essentially blinded as they left the bright lights of the stage for the total darkness that surrounded it. Henry was busy passing out torches to them to help them find their way back to the small tent, but the torches didn’t provide nearly enough light for them to change by. It became increasingly amusing to everyone in the VIP section as they watched and listened to the various people tripping and stumbling on their way into the dressing room tent and within it as well.

  More than once the action on stage had to pause as everyone waited for an actor to emerge from the unlit tent. William stomped out once with his shirt on back to front and no one on stage was brave enough to mention it until Penny managed to slide up to him and whisper in his ear. More than one of the actors stumbled in the tent entrance next to Scott, and Bessie was sure she heard Penny stop to have a chat with him at one point.

  “They should have just done A Comedy of Errors,” Doona hissed as Sienna made her way onto the stage in a pair of shoes that didn’t match, the tiara on her h
ead askew, wearing crooked lipstick.

  Bessie was torn between feeling sorry for the troupe and feeling angry with them. She’d paid good money for a professional theatrical performance and she certainly wasn’t getting it.

  As the show wound down to its unbelievably confused and contrived ending, Bessie sighed with relief. She couldn’t wait to get home and go to bed. By tomorrow, she was sure, everything that had happened would feel much funnier.

  The show finally ended around half ten. At first the audience was slow to applaud, perhaps not entirely sure that the play was actually finished. Once the actors began to take their bows, Bessie and her friends clapped as loudly as they could, trying to make it sound as if they were a crowd. Bessie wasn’t certain, but she had a feeling that many of the remaining audience members had slipped out during the interminable second act.

  Now Bessie and her friends began to try to gather up their things in the darkness. Bessie could hear hurried discussions between Henry and Bob, and then one of the large floodlights that had illuminated the stage was turned towards the audience to enable people to find their belongings.

  Bessie looked over at Candy and Scott. Candy looked to have fallen fast asleep in her chair, and Scott was still stretched out on the ground beside her. The two security guards, still wearing their dark glasses, hadn’t moved from their posts.

  Bessie rose from the chair and looked at it, wondering exactly how it folded up. She was too tired to experiment with it and risk pinching her fingers.

  She crossed over to Candy and put a hand on her arm. “Candy? The show’s over,” she said to the other woman.

  Candy shrieked and jumped in her seat. “What, huh, what?” she said.

  “The show’s over,” Bessie repeated impatiently. “Thank you for letting me use the chair, but you can have it back now.”

  Candy blinked several times. The lighting cast odd shadows around the VIP section. Candy rubbed her eyes as she shook her head. “I was fast asleep,” she told Bessie. “I’m sure I drank too much wine.”

  “I think Mr. Carson did as well,” Bessie replied, nodding towards Scott, who hadn’t moved.