Murder, Murder, Little Star

by Marian Babson

  'Not really,' Simon declined to back her. 'If Mother doesn't want to - '

  'It's not that I don't want to,' Frances lied, in the interests of maintaining an amicable relationship with her daughter-in-law. The days when she had wished to be invited to Amanda's dinner-parties seemed almost beyond recall. She now felt that they would be as dull as ... as Amanda herself.

  'I honestly wouldn't be able to contribute anything to a dinner-party, dear,' she said, letting Amanda know that she realized that she would be expected to be the star turn. 'We aren't supposed to talk about the case until it comes to trial. We've been warned about that.'

  'You always have some excuse,' Amanda wailed. 'It all happened months ago. And by the time it comes to trial, you'll be working again on the next production. You said so yourself.'

  'Well, yes,' Frances admitted complacently. She didn't feel that she ought to admit how much she was looking forward to it.

  'I don't see why you can't.' Amanda looked around mistrustfully. Ever since the Unit had returned to California, her mother-in-law's home had been suspiciously full of hothouse roses, citrus fruits and various exotic American delicacies. (Mr Herkimer did not give up easily. And Frances was not absolutely certain that she wanted him to.)

  'Excuse me, dear.' Frances dodged round her plaintive daughter-in-law as the telephone rang. She was delighted to hear the voice at the other end.

  'Good evening, Dame Cecile.' She felt Amanda snap to attention behind her. 'I was so pleased to see your name in the Honours List - '

  'Thank you for your sweet note,' Dame Cecile said regally. 'Please do continue calling me Cecile. Such a bore, all this Honours nonsense, but one must accept it on behalf of the Profession, however little it means to one personally.'

  'I understand,' Frances murmured.

  'My niece,' Dame Cecile continued, 'Julian's younger sister, is rather high-strung. She must fly back to her Swiss finishing school the day after tomorrow, and we thought it better if she had a companion for the journey. I remembered how marvellous you were with Twinkle and - '

  'I suppose I could,' Frances said, trying not to sound too thankful. There was probably a hidden snag, but at least it would mean escape from Amanda's relentless dinner-party. 'By the way, did you get a wedding photograph? Didn't Twinkle make a charming bridesmaid?'

  'Charming,' Dame Cecile said frostily. Her voice warmed. ' I shall be playing her mother, the Duchess of Suffolk, in the new production.'

  'I'm so glad,' Frances said, adding hastily, 'You'll be marvellous in the role.'

  'She is one of the Tudor ladies I've never essayed before,' Dame Cecile said modestly. 'However, I must tell you that I was mentioning you to a friend and she wondered if, after you've delivered Juliet to her finishing school, you might do an errand for her? It would just be a matter of popping down to Rome and collecting her eight-year-old son from his father and bringing him back to London with you - as you'd be over on the Continent already.'

  'I suppose I could . . .'

  'Splendid! Meet me for lunch tomorrow and I'll give you your tickets and expenses money. Of course, you understand, no expense is to be spared. If you need more at any time, you're to wire for it - '

  'Lunch tomorrow, Dame Cecile.' Frances spoke loudly and clearly for the benefit of Amanda. 'I'll look forward to it.'

  She listened to Cecile Savoy's parting instructions as to time and place. Part of her mind was busy tasting and testing the new realization that had just been borne upon her. Whatever happened eventually with Mr Herkimer, she would not be discarded and forgotten after the next film. She had been gathered into the theatrical world and was now enmeshed in it, part of it, from now on. She replaced the receiver and turned to face her son and daughter-in-law.

  'I'm so sorry, darlings,' she lilted. 'But the dinner party is definitely out. I've just been called on a new assignment. . .'