Free Next Door to Murder by Anthea Fraser

seen with Julian at the London restaurant. Here we go! Rona thought resignedly.
    â€˜I certainly know of you both,’ Julian was saying, ‘and I’ve a feeling Rona and I met once, many years ago.’
    â€˜That’s right,’ she said. ‘I think it was at the tennis club.’
    And he’d changed surprisingly little, she thought, as she sat down at Patrick’s invitation and took the glass he handed her. He was still tall and thin, with a lean, clever-looking face and deep-set eyes. Only his hair was different. Fair and fine, it had flopped over his face in his youth; now it had receded, leaving him with a high and bony forehead.
    Felicity Willow leaned forward with a smile. ‘I’ve read some of your biographies,’ she said to Rona, ‘and enjoyed them very much. Have you any others in the pipeline?’
    Max laughed. ‘A leading question!’
    Rona flushed, aware this could lead to the subject she’d hoped to postpone till later in the evening. Georgia came to her rescue.
    â€˜I loved the one about Sarah Siddons. What a life that woman had!’
    The conversation turned to a discussion on the theatre, but Rona had barely relaxed when another potentially delicate subject arose, and again, to her annoyance, it was Max who precipitated it.
    â€˜It’s ages since I saw a West End show,’ Hilary was remarking. ‘What’s on at the moment?’
    And Max replied, ‘ The Sound of Music, for a start. We saw it on Saturday.’
    â€˜Of course – it was Rona’s birthday. Did you get my card?’
    â€˜Yes; thanks very much.’
    â€˜And how was the show?’
    â€˜Very good; it was lovely to hear all those songs again.’ Rona caught Max’s eye, willing him not to mention their theatre supper, and thankfully he subsided.
    In the event, it was Julian himself who raised the matter of the articles. Georgia had seated him next to Rona at dinner, so that she could, if she wished, bring up the subject, and it was as they were starting their dessert that he said without preamble, ‘I’ve been enjoying your series in Chiltern Life . Someone said the Curzons have also received the treatment?’
    â€˜That’s right,’ Rona answered carefully, ‘but we’re holding publication to coincide with their anniversary.’
    â€˜That family tree must have been hell to work through. We go back further, but our lineage is much simpler – father to son right down the line.’
    â€˜Actually—’ Rona began, and broke off, seeing the twinkle in his eye. ‘You know what I’m going to ask, don’t you?’
    â€˜I’ve a pretty good idea. I was wondering when you’d get round to us.’
    â€˜Would you mind?’
    â€˜I’d be honoured. We’ve lots of family documents, all filed chronologically and more or less on your doorstep. Though no doubt you’ll want to go to Yorkshire at some stage, when you come to Lady Araminta.’
    Lady Araminta, Rona noted. Not just ‘Honourable’, then; Georgia had demoted her.
    â€˜And you predate the Curzons?’ she prompted.
    â€˜Yes, by nearly fifty years. But as I said, we’ve had the good sense to have only one son per generation, which has spared us a lot of hassle.’
    No doubt, like the Curzons, the Willow women had taken no interest in the business. Rona hoped they’d nonetheless received their due desserts.
    Felicity, sitting opposite them, smiled across. ‘Are you boring Rona with stories of the family?’ she asked. ‘I should warn you, Rona, once started, there’s no stopping him.’
    â€˜We have received the accolade, darling,’ Julian informed her. ‘She wants to write us up for her series.’
    â€˜No doubt it was you who suggested it!’
    â€˜I might have nudged her a little.’
    â€˜Really,’ Rona assured her, ‘I was intending to ask