Free Murder at the Mikado by Julianna Deering Page B

needs us. Not just the ones we particularly like.”
    “Maybe.” He smiled. “No, not maybe. I’m certain of it.”
    She nestled closer to him. “I’m sorry I was mad at you.”
    “I’m sorry you were too, darling. Sorry you have to deal with any of this just now actually. I expect all you want to do is enjoy being a bride and everything that comes with it.”
    They said nothing more until they were almost at the door to the dining room. He stopped her before they went in.
    “You needn’t be involved in this case at all if you’d rather not. I’m just going to see what I can find out. I expect Nick will lend a hand when he’s not enmeshed in estate business or figuring out what to do about Barbie Chalfont. I’m certain, for the little bit I plan on doing, I won’t really need him.”
    “Oh, no. You’re not doing anything on this case withoutme. The more help you have, the quicker you’ll be done with the whole thing.”
    He beamed at her. “Then you’ll help me?”
    “Of course I will,” she said, but without even a hint of her usual cheekiness. “Try and stop me.”
    He brought her hand to his lips. “Wouldn’t dream of it, darling. Wouldn’t dream of it.”
    “So where do we start?”
    He thought for a moment as he settled her in a chair. “I suppose the scene of the crime is the recommended place.” He sat down beside her and put his napkin in his lap. “What did that article in the newspaper say? The Tivoli?”
    “The Tivoli?” Nick said as he came into the room. “The Ravenswood murder, isn’t it? Oh, I say, Drew, you are going to let me come along too, aren’t you?”
    Drew nodded. “Provided you can tear yourself away from estate business for the afternoon. We’d better get this all resolved before the other little maids from school arrive.”
    Madeline gave him a reluctant smile. “That’s not for another two weeks.”
    “Plenty of time,” Drew assured her. “If not, I would say bring Miss Holland along, but then I suppose Miss Brower would have to be asked too, and then we’d look rather like a touring party.”
    “I adore the girl, you know,” Nick said, leaning against the doorframe, “but when it comes to fussing about with murder investigations, I’m sure Miss Holland would be most grateful to be spared. I know Barbie wouldn’t hear of being part of so pedestrian a pastime.”
    “More than likely. Not every girl is as suited to sleuthing as mine. Have you and Barbie patched things up?”
    “Ah.” Nick winced just the slightest bit. “Not as such.”
    “Well, perhaps Miss Holland would be a better match anyway.” Drew stood and tucked Madeline’s arm into his. “What do you say, darling? Shall we see what secrets are hidden behind the stage curtain?”

    The Tivoli was a rather small theater located on Jewry Street in Winchester. Bright posters advertised The Mikado by Gilbert and Sullivan, with John Sullivan Ravenswood written in bold letters at the top. But the word CLOSED had been pasted across each of the posters. The marquee was blank, and there was a handwritten sign in the ticket window:
    Due to the recent tragedy, the Tivoli’s presentation of The Mikado has been canceled. Refunds for unused tickets will be given between the hours of two and four o’clock in the afternoon, Sundays and Mondays excepted.
    The Management
    “Not much of a place,” Nick observed, looking up at the bland white-brick front. “Looks more like a hotel than a theater. Ever been inside?”
    “A time or two.” Drew shrugged. “I brought Daphne Pomphrey-Hughes here three or four years ago. She cried all through The Pirates of Penzance .”
    “Was the production that bad?” Madeline asked.
    “Not at all,” Drew said. “Quite good actually. She said she just felt very, very sorry for all those orphans.”
    “Orphans? The pirates? They ended up all right, didn’t they?”
    “True enough, but she was of the opinion that even if they were all noblemen who had gone wrong,