Antidote To Murder

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Book: Antidote To Murder Read Online Free PDF
Author: Felicity Young
Tags: Fiction, Historical
I noticed he was here yesterday, too.”
    “He has been watching her since we arrived in London, sending her notes and flowers, giving me money to allow him to sit in on the rehearsals. He has already reserved a box for the first few nights of the performance.”
    “I wouldn’t worry. I’m sure Margaretha can take care of herself.”
    Klassen gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “
Ach
. One lovesick admirer does not matter. It is not unusual; she attracts them wherever she goes. It’s everything else that worries me. I told her we should never have changed the show, it’s causing nothing but trouble.”
    “Our London fathers are still making a fuss over the Dance of the Seven Veils?”
    “Indeed they are. Don’t they realise how much we are compromising? This is nothing like the original; it’s just a small portion of it. Nothing more risqué than any of the other acts she has danced countless times before on the London stage. But someone must have got to the musical director and frightened him off. He left me a note—his aunt is ill or some-such; he can no longer do the job—and the musicians are expected tomorrow.” Klassen threw up his hands. “Englishmen and their scruples.”
    Pike headed for the stage steps, showing with his turned back that the manager’s problems were of no concern of his. “Tomorrow you owe me a week’s pay.”
    Klassen followed him. “Captain, wait and tell me this: what were you doing when I came across you in the tavern?”
    Pike regarded him over his shoulder. “I was out of a job. I was about to ask the publican if he needed a piano player, but you got to me first.”
    “Yes, yes. And what will you do next week, when the orchestra starts, when we have no more need for an accompanist for rehearsals? Will you start whoring yourself in the public houses again?”
    “I take each day as it comes.” Pike’s footsteps rang on the steps at the edge of the stairs. He knew what Klassen was getting at—sensed what was coming next. He wondered how many of the hollow steps he would take before Klassen called him back: one . . . two . . . three . . .
    “Wait there, Captain. I have something more to ask you.” Klassen jumped like a dancer from the stage. “Margaretha and I, we both admire you greatly . . .” He licked dry lips.
    “Yes?” Pike wondered when he had picked up the habit of making people so nervous. It was a handy skill for the interrogation room, but it seemed to happen these days whether it was his intention or not.
    “We, that is, Margaretha and myself, were hoping you might take the musical director’s place. You are obviously a talented musician. You are well acquainted with the score and we will pay handsomely.”
    Pike rubbed his chin and made a show of raising his eyes to the damp-stained ceiling. “How much?”
    “Two pounds for the remaining rehearsals with full orchestra, then one pound per performance.”
    “Three pounds for the rehearsals,” Pike countered, not wanting to appear too easy.
    “Done.” Klassen slapped Pike on the back. Pike’s knee locked and he almost fell over. Damned knee. No longer just a reminder of the war, the pain would forever dog him as an opportunity not taken—in more ways than one. “Margaretha will be delighted.”
    “Shall I still have a word with the gentleman from the front row?” Pike asked.
    “Please. But you must not put him off; he may have influential friends, and we need all the sponsors we can get.”
    “He obviously wants to impress Margaretha.”
    “As does Rear Admiral Millbank, a much more likely candidate, I think. If she pleases him, he will guarantee more bookings in the north of the country and, with luck, the Army and Navy Club, too.”
    “The admiral won’t find fault with the performance, I’m sure.”
    “The contracts rest on more than the stage show. I need not tell you that.” And then Klassen’s eyes widened and he whispered, “Don’t turn now, but the gentleman in
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